August 2016 Volunteer Spotlight: Ben Byun

Posted on by Boston Cares Posted in Beating Poverty, Corps, Volunteer Spotlight

BenAbout Ben:

Originally from Westborough, MA, Ben joined the Boston Cares community in February of 2015 and has since logged over 100 hours of service! When he’s not teaching or hanging out by the Charles River, he spends his time volunteering as an ESOL tutor through our Corps Program.

 

 

 

Creating Community with Boston Cares’ ESOL Corps

Q. Why do you volunteer?

To put it simply, I volunteer to give. I find that life is more gratifying when you give more than you take, and there is almost no better way to give than with your time.

 

Q. Why did you choose to serve/how did you get involved with ESOL opportunities at Boston Cares?

I had been actively volunteering at Boston Cares for about a year when the opportunity to join the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Corps came up. I’ve had some experience with teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and decided it would be a good fit for me.

Q. What has been the most meaningful part of your service with our ESOL partners?

Volunteering is all about working alongside like-minded people — caring, thoughtful, empathetic people — to help those in need. Through Boston Cares, I’ve been able to connect with these like-minded people; however, the opportunity to build a relationship with those we were helping has been more limited. The ESOL Corps changed this. Through the ESOL Corps I have connected and bonded with both volunteers and students alike. These relationships have been by far the most meaningful part of my service with the ESOL partners.

Q. Why do you think others should serve at Boston Cares’ ESOL projects?

Those that manage the ESOL program are wonderful, the volunteers are dedicated, and the students are just delightful.

Q. Do you have a favorite story about your Boston Cares experience you’d like to share?

No specific story, just plenty of good feels! Boston Cares is a fine organization that I highly recommend to anyone looking to give back to the community.

 

Want to get involved?

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The Boston Cares Corps program is an impact driven opportunity for volunteers dedicated to building and strengthening their skills, deepening their community engagement, and making a difference in the lives of Greater Bostonians. The Corps program combines Boston Cares’ signature flexibility with a focused commitment to an impact area, and the resources to make a measurable change.

Corps members will have the opportunity to be a part of a network of volunteers with common interests, skilled professionals, and specific non-profit organizations dedicated to the Corps’ thematic service model.

Boston Cares currently has four different Corps to choose from:

  • ESOL Corps: Support volunteer ESOL instructors in the classroom, work one-on-one with students to improve specific skills, or lead conversation groups to better equip students for everyday interactions in English.

The Boston Cares Volunteer Spotlight features volunteers in action and the projects where they serve. Suggest a Spotlight story idea by filling out this nomination form.