I have been volunteering with Failte Isteach for over 4 years, and I have been teaching conversational English 3 times per week since day one. I have taught groups of all abilities, from beginners (who have no English) to advanced students.
Initially, I got involved to help Ukrainians, as being Irish, I have lots of empathy for them, but over the past number of years, I have had lots of different nationalities in my various groups – French, German, Italian, Turkish, Spanish, Afghan, Africans, Georgians, Syrians and obviously Ukrainians. Timing is everything in life, and volunteering with Failte Isteach coincided with my early retirement.
I do a lot of other volunteering, but volunteering with Failte Isteach is certainly very different to anything else I have ever done in the past. I have found it to be very rewarding, and I get lots of enjoyment out of it. It’s great to be able to help people who need help and appreciate your efforts. I have met some amazing people, volunteers and students, and have learned a lot from other people’s cultures and experiences.
A lot of my earlier students learned enough English to get employment in Ireland, so they have moved on with their lives, which is positive.
As a result of volunteering with Failte Isteach, I have made lots of new friends, and I have managed to enlist a few other volunteers along the way! I have also managed to get siblings to volunteer in other parts of the country.
I still keep in contact with some of my earlier students, and we meet up now and then for a coffee and a catch-up.