Español en la Calle.2007-2008.Service/internship listings.

Spanish 3 & 3H: Year requirement: Attend 3 different types of events and perform a minimum of 3 hours of volunteer/internship service at one venue. One item must be completed per quarter and the report must be submitted as least one week prior to the end of the quarter.

Most agencies in the Bay Area have some need for volunteers who speak the Spanish language.  Often the agency may not have a specific role for Spanish-speaking volunteers, but they may need help with projects (such as translation of written materials).   Agencies do appreciate long-term volunteers, people who will come in on a regular basis.  One-time service opportunities are usually experiences that include working on a specific event or project.  Be open to helping as they need and don’t forget to tell the agency what you do well!

You can work with kids, teach ESL, visit a senior citizen or help behind the scenes by translating documents into Spanish for clients to read.  Call a few agencies (list below) and tell them what you can offer.  Make sure you are clear that you want to help by using your Spanish skills.

Requirements:

• You must complete three hours of service.
• Please make a copy of the Español en la Calle:Service.Permission Slip.
• Your objective is to secure a volunteer opportunity where you can LISTEN TO, SPEAK and/or WRITE Spanish.
• You must submit a report written in Spanish about your service. The report should address the following:
• Paragraph 1: Describe the date, time, place and nature of the service. Give a brief summary of the event.
• Paragraph 2: What did you see, do, hear, say?
• Paragraph 3: What are 2-3 significant ideas and/or facts that you learned?
• Paragraph 4: How did you use your Spanish skills and how did the experience improve your Spanish skills?
• Paragraph 5: Describe how, by using your Spanish skills, this service project was similar to or

                     different from other service projects that you have completed.

• Paragraph 6: List 5 new vocab words that you learned. Give a definition for each in Spanish. Write an original sentence for each.

• The report should be a minimum of 200 words in length, typed, double-spaced and include a title.
• Take a picture of yourself at work on the service project and attach it to your report.
• Attach a copy of page one filled out and with the appropriate signatures of the Service Verification form found at http://www.siprep.org/christian_service/documents/ServiceVerification.pdf
• Attach a copy of the evaluation rubric to your report.

TIPS TO REMEMBER!                                                                                                         

• Give the agency time to respond:  many agencies are working with small staffs and hectic schedules so don’t call up expecting to volunteer that same day or even right away.  Realize it may take a few days for agency staff to call you back and be flexible with them.  Plan ahead!
• Have more than one choice: don’t have yourself “set on” volunteering only one place or else you will limit yourself and don’t “flood” one great agency with tons of calls. Be open to helping where you are needed and call at least 2-3 agencies.  If you need to decline volunteering, be gracious and offer to tell others that you found an agency that needs help. Collaborate with classmates when making calls and setting up volunteer times if several want to volunteer at one agency.
• Be clear when you contact the agency:  when communicating (either in person or on a message) be as detailed as you can.  Provide your full name, your school, your phone number AND good times you can be reached,  what type of service opportunity you are looking for,  and by when it would be helpful for you to hear back.
• Be creative:  Ask the agency what type of help they need and try to make that work for you
• Don’t assume you can volunteer  during holidays (like Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter):  these are the busiest times of the year and agencies tend to be overwhelmed with volunteers. Agencies do get full and will turn away volunteers not because there is no need, but because there are enough people helping.
• As for help:  use the resources of the Christian Service Center.  Ms. G (jgirard@siprep.org) is always available between 8:00am-8:30am and after school until 3:00pm.  She is also often available during recess and lunch periods.  The office has lists of great agency volunteer opportunities as well as a phone that can be used to help make agency calls!

SAN FRANCISCO

SAN MATEO

MARIN

EAST BAY

***If you find a site on your own via the internet or some other way, please get pre-approval from your teacher to make sure the site is appropriate for this project.