Encouraged for use after a volunteer's first session.
Advanced students may benefit from open-ended conversation instead of or in addition to the plans.
Accessing Materials:
Log in to your ENGin account on the appenineprogram.org.
Navigate to the "Resources" section, then the "Session Materials" tab.
Materials are only available after completing the onboarding process and being matched/waiting for a match.
Session Materials:
Volunteers receive detailed versions of the plans.
Students have access to shortened versions without detailed explanations/instructions through their accounts.
Volunteers can download and share the detailed files with students if desired.
Plans are tailored to various levels and interests for productive and engaging sessions.
Current Offerings:
Young Learners (Ages 9–13): Cover modern, popular topics; designed to be engaging and relevant.
Beginner Level: Includes 60 session plans; students should progress to higher levels after completion.
Intermediate/Advanced Students: Over 15 units, each with 4–5 session plans, covering contemporary and controversial topics.
Special Editions: Monthly lesson plans dedicated to holidays and celebrations to promote intercultural exchange.
Plan Structure and Activities:
Each plan includes pre-session instructions for students and volunteers, as well as detailed in-session instructions.
Activities are informal, including games, open-ended discussions, storytelling, videos, debates, and role plays.
Beginner and Kids plans are more structured, use slides, and are designed for 30-minute sessions (as an hour may be overwhelming).
Pre-Work:
Students are often asked to complete short pre-work (e.g., watching a video, reading an article, preparing to speak).
Pre-work makes session time more useful.
If a student can't complete it, volunteers can work through it together during the session.
Adapting Content:
Volunteers are encouraged to adapt content to meet specific student needs.
If a plan is too long: Select preferred activities.
If a plan is too short: Spend more time on activities, ask follow-up questions, play more rounds of a game, or chat informally for the remainder of the session.
If a plan is too easy: Use optional challenges, more difficult questions, advanced articles/videos, or ask students to discuss topics "on the spot" without preparation.
Alternatives to Plans:
Volunteers can opt for less structured sessions, simply discussing topics that interest the student.
This works best with advanced students or once the volunteer and student know each other better.
Additional Resources for Discussion Topics:
Current events.
A website (listed in the video description) with hundreds of conversation questions for English language classrooms.
Preparation is Key:
Read session plans ahead of time.
If not using plans, plan conversation topics and activities.
Give students any pre-work at least 3–4 days before the session.