Volunteer Testimonials
Yukiko (Japanese Torus Ambassador)
"As an online English learner, I have been a member of Torus since June 2020. I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn and connect with others through English, even though my life during COVID-19 has been closed off. Here in Portland, there are many people who reach out to people like us who cannot speak the language and have gaps in their lives.
Although I cannot directly repay the kindness I have received from these people, my motivation for participating in this event is to repay the kindness I have received from society. I use the English I have learned in the form of hosting the Torus Japanese meetup.
The participants of the Japanese Meetup come from all over the US, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, France, Germany, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, India, and other countries with different climates and times.
These people come together for one hour a week to learn Japanese, and it is a very enjoyable meeting where they can encourage each other.
I'm excited to see more diverse people coming together online and creating new possibilities. One of my pay-forwards may be to open up a new world and connect."
Shelley (ESL Facilitator)
“I met Ramin in 2019, and he helped me through my very first community ESL class (and many more thereafter) while I was completing a teacher training program in Portland, OR with the goal of teaching in Japan through the JET Program.
When the pandemic made it impossible to hold in-person group classes, Torus provided the opportunity to dive into the world of online one-on-one ESL facilitation. I knew I would have to confront the weaknesses that I was able to avoid in group settings... which I wanted, but it was also really intimidating and scary at first!
That said, this experience really changed my life in such a lovely way. I worked with a variety of learners and got to know them in a more personal way than I was able to in group settings. As of October 2021, I’ve been working with the two of my learners for a year and a half, and they’ve become indescribably precious to me. I’ve learned so much from them, and I think of them as my family. I even met a tutor of my own through Torus connections, and she and her family are like family to me, too!
Beyond the meaningful connections I’ve made, I’ve also gained so much confidence in my base facilitation skills and my ability to be flexible and work on the fly. This confidence has expanded into almost every aspect of my daily life. I’ve been able to learn a lot about myself and others through these experiences, and I feel more well-rounded and empathetic as a teacher and person in general.
I reached my goal of going to Japan through the JET Program and plan to use the skills–and personal connections–I gained during my time with Torus, and I hope to continue as a volunteer, too!”
Conall (ESL Facilitator)
“I started teaching group English classes in Beaverton and Portland as a volunteer back in 2018. I wasn’t expecting it to turn into anything long-term at the time, but I enjoyed it a lot as a way to develop myself while helping others and I decided to continue teaching online with Torus in the early days of the pandemic. With Torus, I’ve been able to meet a lot of great people and improve my teaching ability while having a really flexible schedule. I’ve especially enjoyed facilitating the weekly group classes recently, giving learners updates on COVID and attempting to explain Daylight Saving Time. I hope to teach English in other countries for a bit after college, and Torus has provided great opportunities for the skill development that I will need.”
Emma (ESL Facilitator )
“Hi! My name is Emma Cicio, and I volunteer through Torus as an ESL tutor. This was my first time ever teaching anyone and working with Torus made all the difference. I feel more confident as a teacher and have learned so much! The best part of volunteering with Torus is literally changing someone’s life! They give you the space and support to center every lesson around the needs of your own student--I was able to help my student pass her driving test in less than three months. I would recommend Torus to anyone who wants to do work that transforms lives! It has been the most rewarding experience and even helped me get a job teaching in New York City--full time”
Chie (Japanese Torus Ambassador)
“Hello, this is Chie Kotani. I'm a volunteer in the Japanese Meetup program. I came to the U.S almost four years ago from Japan because of my husband's job. At first, I learned English in ESL classes, and I improved my English skills there. After that, I studied the TESOL method because I became interested in supporting people who want to learn a new language, like me!
My friend introduced me to the Japanese Meetup program, and I decided to support people who have the motivation to learn Japanese. I used my own experiences studying a new language, and the knowledge of TESOL to provide an understandable and enjoyable program. I enjoyed joining this program because participants can improve their Japanese and enjoy our session. This situation makes me happy and motivated me to continue volunteering!”
Jessica (ESL Facilitator )
“Hi, my name is Jessica Lee. I am a predental student majoring in biology. I decided to volunteer with Torus because I wanted to get more involved with the community during the pandemic. I was inspired by my family members who struggled to learn English when they first came to America. I always told myself I wish I could’ve helped them transition and learn the language. This was the perfect opportunity to help out people in similar situations. I am very grateful for Torus and what they are doing in our community, especially during the pandemic!”
Masha (ESL Facilitator )
“Hi my name is Masha and I’m a volunteer ESL tutor with Torus. I grew up as the child of two Ukrainian immigrants which taught me the value of language and the difficulties that come with not knowing the dominant language of the country where one lives. By volunteering with Torus, I am able to give back to people who are learning English as a second language. I would highly recommend volunteering with Torus to anyone who wants to make a tangible difference in the lives of non-native English speakers.”
Laura (ESL Facilitator )
“I started ESL volunteer teaching within the greater Metro Portland area after I retired my two businesses in 2016. Initially I was a classroom assistant at IRCO and then as a teacher with the Beaverton Literacy Council, the Tigard Senior Center location; now virtually with the Tigard TIELLA group and now with Torus. My learners tend to be from Asian countries because I enjoy deploying my knowledge of Mandarin and Japanese from my formal university studies, which allows me to better support those English learners. What I especially like about the Torus organization is the freedom it gives me to choose my teaching frequency, the days/times, and the design of my lesson plans. I receive weekly suggested supplemental plans and other information to incorporate into the lessons. The volunteer tutors also supported with helpful staff members and a training program for those who are new to ESL tutoring/teaching. At Torus I’ve found all the elements I need to enjoy teaching ESL along with the fun of connecting with English learners from many countries and cultures.”