Alyson

Travel information

I am currently

Description

I enjoy doing things that make my home, neighborhood, community, and the world a better place. I'm happiest when I'm being useful toward a worthwhile purpose or a cause that is aimed at social justice and adult learning/education. I focus my spare time on varied volunteer opportunities that impact poverty, hunger, education attainment, community connection, and housing security. For example, I enjoy working one-on-one with adults who don't yet have their high school (secondary education) diploma to successfully pass high school equivalency tests, so they can use that credential to pursue better jobs and improve their family's financial stability. In addition, I have served as a language learning coach, helping immigrants in my home country to learn conversational English so that they can expand their employment options and feel more confident about engaging in the local community. Years ago, I traveled to Chad Africa to teach language at a missionary station that offered English classes to local residents in a small town. Also, I currently volunteer to build homes for an organization that strives for a world where everyone has a decent place to live. A few years ago, I traveled to Puerto Rico as part of a hurricane recovery team. Against the backdrop of significant storm devastation, I was grateful for the friendships that formed with the survivors and my fellow volunteers as we worked together to overcome significant challenges that the survivors faced to rebuild their communities.

Interests

Self development

Charity work

Politics / Social justice

Languages

Music

Camping

Yoga / Wellness

Hiking

Cycling

Languages

Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Intermediate
German: Beginner

More details about my language interests
I currently volunteer as a tutor for adults who are learning English as a second language. I take pleasure in getting to know my students and acting as a conversation partner to discuss interesting topics that help them gain confidence to speak English in common, everyday life situations. I speak Spanish to teach general education content (math, science, government, history, reading and writing) to native Spanish speakers. I am an intermediate speaker of Spanish, and my students seem to appreciate that I can provide instruction in their language. However, I would like to improve my conversational proficiency, so I can teach more effectively. My mother is German and I took three years of German as my foreign language elective in school, so I have some foundation in this language. However, I haven't had much opportunity to use what I have learned. I would like to build on what I know to become more fluent when I travel to Germany to see my extended family.

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Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn

Some knowledge of:  

Being an elderly companion

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Able to teach about:  

Helping around the house

Languages

Helping with Computers/ Internet

Teaching

More details about your skills

In my professional career as an instructional designer, I developed group and web-based learning products for companies. So, writing and presenting content for ease of understanding is a strong skill. I'm retired now. Among my post-retirement activities, I have taught English as a second language and as a foreign language (in Africa), helped adults prepared for high school equivalency tests on math, social studies, science, and language arts (in Spanish and English). I have worked on home construction projects with Habitat for Humanity and similar organizations. I play piano, I love to hike, bike, swim, and play softball and pickleball.

Age

68

What else ...

I like to travel and enjoy my destinations more as a resident than a tourist. I hope workaway hosts would allow me to do something meaningful or productive in their community as a way to broaden my awareness of their culture (including language) and perspectives.

Some more information

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  Smoker

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  Driver's licence

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  Allergies

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  Special dietary requirements