What are the best ways to train volunteers who speak different languages?
Volunteering is a rewarding way to give back to your community, learn new skills, and meet new people. But what if you want to volunteer for an organization that serves people who speak different languages than you? How can you communicate effectively and respectfully with them, and with your fellow volunteers? In this article, we will share some of the best ways to train volunteers who speak different languages, based on our experience in the field of volunteering communication strategies.
Before you start training your volunteers, you need to assess your needs and goals. What languages do your beneficiaries and partners speak? How proficient are your volunteers in those languages? What kind of tasks and interactions will they have? How much time and resources do you have for training? By answering these questions, you can design a training plan that suits your context and objectives.
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The idea is to make yourself understood by the volunteers and the people who will receive the help! So you must balance: - the language your volunteers speak - the language your volunteer beneficiaries speak - the language of the countries where your volunteer works By balancing these 3 factors you should be set for success! A ideia é se fazer compreender pelos voluntários e pelas pessoas que receberão a ajuda! Então você deve balancear: - a língua que seus voluntários falam - a língua que seus beneficiários do voluntariado falam - a língua dos países onde seu voluntariado atua Ao equilibrar esses 3 fatores você deve estar pronto para o sucesso!
Training your volunteers who speak different languages can be done in many ways. Language courses, for example, can be offered online or offline, and self-study materials such as books, apps, podcasts, or videos can be provided. Cultural orientation is also important; you can organize workshops, webinars, or discussions with experts or experienced volunteers to help them understand the cultural norms, values, and expectations of the people they will serve and work with. Translation and interpretation services or devices such as dictionaries, apps, or headphones can also be provided to volunteers and they can be trained on how to use them effectively and appropriately. Peer support is also useful; you can pair your volunteers with mentors or buddies who speak the same or different languages to help each other with language learning, problem-solving, or feedback.
Once you have implemented your training plan, it is important to evaluate the results. Surveys, tests, feedback, and reflection are all great methods to measure the impact of your training. Surveys can assess language skills, confidence, and satisfaction. Tests can range from quizzes and interviews to role-plays. Feedback from beneficiaries, partners, and staff can provide insight into volunteers' performance and communication. Reflection encourages volunteers to think about their learning process, challenges, and achievements. Additionally, giving them a platform to share their stories and experiences with others can create a more inclusive, diverse, and effective volunteering team. Training volunteers who speak different languages is not easy, but with these tips it is achievable and rewarding.
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If the representatives of the host organization wish to show respect to their volunteers it is crucial to avoid speaking on their language until the volunteer understands at least a bit of it. Usually, international volunteers feel very isolated in a new environment and the language barrier makes it harder. It is important to offer free classes to them so they can understand the basics. If the environment gives a chance to develop basic language skills for instance volunteering in Kindergartens and Schools it is great and would be nice to practice language with beginner groups. In my case, while volunteering in kindergarten my host organization put a little sticker on items in the room so I would know how they are called in their language.
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