VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

This month we introduce you to Julia Katz who joined Aspire as a volunteer in the spring of 2021. Julia is teaching ESL online. What makes Julia’s volunteering unique is that her students are in Dallas, and she teaches from her home in Boston, Massachusetts. A native of Boston, Julia brings to Aspire a love of helping others. Our volunteers come to us with varied backgrounds and careers and Julia is a great example of the special people who serve our students.

PERSONAL LIFE

• What is your background? Family growing up. Where are you from? Have you lived in different cities?

I grew up in Massachusetts, north of Boston. I have also lived in New York and Virginia.

• What did you do for fun or hobbies?

My hobbies include cooking, crafting, and hiking.

• Did you go to university or college? Field of study?

I received a BA in English literature at Cornell University. I recently finished my master’s in teaching at Salem State University.

• What were you like as a student?

As a student, I loved learning about literature and languages.

• What was your first job? Professional life?

My first job was working at a library in my hometown. My previous jobs have included English teaching and administrative assistance.

VOLUNTEERING

• What has the Aspire experience been like for you?

I began volunteering with Aspire in the spring of 2021. The experience has been very positive. I have found the staff and other volunteers supportive, and the students motivated and engaged. I learned a lot about ESOL and using digital tools to teach online.

• What motivated you to volunteer? / What sparked your interest in volunteering at Aspire?

My master’s in teaching program required the completion of a field experience. I was particularly interested in teaching through Aspire because I wanted to gain experience supporting adult students.

• How has online teaching changed your experience with the students, if any?

I have learned how to incorporate tools like Zoom, Padlet, and Kahoot into instruction. Although I wish I could have met some of my students in person, I appreciated the opportunity to teach students in Texas while living in Massachusetts.

• What do you enjoy most about your classes?

I most enjoyed interacting with the students and witnessing their progress throughout the program. I am proud of their willingness to “put themselves out there” in a new language.

• What do you hope for your students?

I wish my students the best in their journeys going forward and hope the skills they have learned through Aspire will help them to achieve their goals.

We are grateful to Julia and the many volunteer teachers who live in and outside North Texas. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Aspire, please contact Cassy Lujan, Volunteer Director, at CassyLujan@AspireToLearn.org.

Learn more »

Important Dates

• 07-04-2022
   Independence Day

• 08-01-2022
   Fall Registration Begins

• 09-07-2022
   Start of Fall Semester

• 09-22-2022
   North Texas Giving Day

• 10-27-2022
   Legacy of Literacy Breakfast

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