Students enrolled in LING 1900 volunteer to work with one of our Community Partners. CU student volunteers, or 鈥淏uff Buddies,鈥� meet with children and adults in the Boulder community and act as mentors for literacy and language learners. Follow the links below to learn more about our Community Partners as well as the expectations and rewards of being a Buff Buddy!
University Hill Elementary School (New Program!)
University Hill (Uni Hill) is a dual immersion elementary school in which all learners are studying in Spanish and English across the curriculum. Buff Buddies who volunteer with the Uni Hill program serve as classroom assistants with teachers in grades 1-5. Our partner teachers teach a range of class types including: English language development (ELD) courses to newcomers from various countries - mostly in Latin America; bilingual component classes - taught in English and Spanish;聽and, subject area classes (e.g., Math, Writing).聽Speaking Spanish is not a requirement, but may be a perk!聽
Boulder Public Library
The mission of the BoulderReads! program at the Boulder University Library is to help children discover the power and joy of reading. Buff Buddies meet with their elementary school 鈥渞eading buddy鈥� at designated sites in Boulder once a week. During these one-on-one tutorials CU Buff Buddies select and read a book with their Little Buddy. Over the semester, you also work with your Little Buddy to聽create a book that you present together in a celebration at the end of the semester. Read Buff Buddy blogs about this program here and here.
International English Center (IEC) at 兔子先生传媒文化作品
The IEC provides high-quality English language education for international students who are taking advantage of this intensive English proram to improve their academic English. The IEC also offers English language courses to CU employees who work in various sectors on campus (e.g., facilitites, dining services, housekeeping). In a placement with the IEC, CU students will either work one-on-one with an international student or CU employee, or assist in one of the classes that the IEC offers to international students and employees.
Reading Partners is a national nonprofit that mobilizes communities to provide students with the proven, individualized reading support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade.聽Reading Partners Colorado聽partners with under-resourced schools in the Denver Metro area. Volunteer reading partners work one-on-one with students who struggle with reading. Volunteers provide hour-long tutoring sessions to students鈥� following a structured, evidence-based curriculum developed with an expert team of curriculum advisors.