English the American Way: A Fun ESL Guide to Language and Culture in the U.S. » Unit 15: Helping Out
Sometimes, the best way to make yourself at home in your new country is to get involved by helping out in the community. Actually, volunteerism is a very important value to Americans. We are aware that we have many advantages, and we value showing appreciation for this by sharing with others who may have less. Giving back doesn’t only mean giving things. It also means giving time, or sharing talent. The number of ways to help others is almost limitless. You might think, “I’m new here. What can I do?” Actually, newcomers have plenty to offer. In fact, the talents of people new to the United States have always been huge assets to the country. Your community needs you!
Where do you start? Well, what do you like to do? Do you sing in the shower? How about going to a nursing home and singing for the residents? They’ll love it (well, we hope they’ll love it), and if you sing in your native language, they may think you’re a world famous star! Can you knit? Do you enjoy carpentry? Do you know a lot about plants and landscaping? Libraries and large stores are always looking for people to demonstrate special skills for small groups of people. This is a great way to practice your English! Do you have special job experience? Sometimes it’s difficult to get the same kind of job in a new country that you had in your home country. A good way to stay connected is to volunteer in your field. Maybe you were in the health-care field. Hospitals and care centers would love to have you. Even if you just spend time talking to patients, you can boost their morale.
Don’t forget that your language is a talent, too! Lots of times people come to a hospital or town office with no English language skills at all. Maybe you could volunteer to be a go-between and help them explain what they need. There are plenty of families that want their children to learn another language. If you offer to tutor a child, you may find that your English skills get better, too.
Do you know where everything is in your community? Can you find your way around? A great way to discover new places, roads, and neighborhoods is to volunteer to drive seniors or patients to appointments and treatment centers. Homebound shut-ins often need help with grocery shopping or meals. Organizations need people to help with Meals-on-Wheels and other food assistance programs.
You may have more talents than you realize!
LIA: Alan! Where are you rushing off to?
ALAN: Yikes! It’s almost lunch time! I’m running behind!
LIA: Haha. You must really be hungry. I don’t remember you ever running around like a crazy person just to go to lunch! Are you meeting some friends?
ALAN: Well, see, that’s the thing. I’m not eating lunch. I’m serving lunch this afternoon.
LIA: Alan! I didn’t know you got a job as a waiter! What restaurant are you working at? I’m going tonight, just to watch you balancing trays!
ALAN: No, no, no! I’m not working as a waiter, Lia. I’m serving lunch at the soup kitchen this afternoon, and later I’m working at the food pantry. I decided I wanted to do something to help people in the community, and a friend told me the Gilmore Street Food Pantry needed some help. I help out there twice a week.
LIA: Alan, what is the Gilmore Street Food Pantry?
ALAN: It’s a great organization. They run a soup kitchen at the homeless shelter, and twice a week the food pantry is open on Gilmore Street for families in need. I feel lucky that my family has enough food to eat, so it’s an honor to help people who need some help while they’re getting back on their feet. And talking to them helps me with my English. Maybe they’re the ones who are doing the good deed.
| Tip 1 | If you’re not an expert in something, but you’d still like to help, don’t worry. Volunteer organizations will train you so you’ll know exactly what to do. |
| Tip 2 | Sometimes a volunteer job can lead to a real (paying!) job. Volunteering helps others, but organizations also need paid workers to help run everything. If you’re really good at what you do, you may be offered a job in the organization. |
The present continuous tense (form of to be + -ing form of the verb) works very hard! Many people use the present continuous tense to talk about something that will happen in the near future.
Take a look at these examples from the dialogue (see if you can find any more).
- Are you meeting some friends?
- I’m not eating lunch.
- I’m serving lunch this afternoon.
- I’m working at the food pantry.
Helping out in the community is a great way to show respect for the people you live with, and volunteering is a wonderful way to be a good citizen. Of course, becoming an actual citizen of the country is a legal process. However, you don’t have to be an actual citizen to be a good citizen. Being a good neighbor, friend, co-worker (you get the idea) is what U.S. citizenship is all about.
Perhaps the most sacred document to all U.S. citizens is the U.S. Constitution. This is the statement of all the rights and basic freedoms that every person is entitled to. It says, for example, that people have the right to free speech. But being a good American means using this right for good purposes and in the service of helping others. A good citizen will express his opinion on important issues, but he will also respect the opinions of others—even if those opinions are different from his. In fact, this may be the most important part of living in this country: using the rights and privileges that are ours as citizens to help all of the society we live in. Loving the country; respecting its laws; being part of the family, neighborhood, town—all of these show respect for the country that protects these rights for us.
Enjoying our rights as citizens is something that people should never take for granted. Because they were hard-won, and because there are so many who would be honored to have these rights, it’s important that people pay their dues. Although we may be firm in what we believe, it’s a citizen’s duty to allow neighbors to keep their beliefs as well. Respecting people, respecting laws, and acknowledging responsibility and duty all come with the territory.
U.S. citizens should do all that their country asks of them. Becoming part of the process helps keep it strong. Citizens should vote, to express those opinions that they are free to have. We need to do our part to protect the environment. And while everyone likes to complain about them, paying taxes is what makes so many of our programs work. Even something as simple as jury duty is an important way to be a good member of the community. Rights and privileges are part of what makes this such a great country; people taking responsibility is what helps keep it strong.
LIA: Oh, no, I can’t believe this. I just got a notice that I’m being called for jury duty.
ALAN: Wait a minute! Why “oh, no”? Don’t you like the American jury system?
LIA: Oh, of course, I like the jury system. It’s just such a pain in the neck. Now I have to take time off from work, I have to figure out how to get there, and I have to wait around until they call me in. Then if I get picked for a jury, who knows how long I’ll have to spend in court? I don’t have time for this! Why can’t they just ask someone who has nothing better to do?
ALAN: Okay, it does take a commitment of time. But, Lia, what if someone you care about was on trial? Wouldn’t you want them to have the best people possible serving on the jury?
LIA: I know, I know. You’re right. I guess the best part about the court system is that someone can have her case heard by a jury of her peers. It just seems like there’s never enough time to do everything.
ALAN: I know. Everyone wants to have the privileges and advantages of something, as long as he doesn’t have to make any effort. If everyone stepped up to the plate and did his part, it would be a much fairer system for everyone. Even the people with “important” jobs need to make a contribution to society and be good citizens.
LIA: You’re right. If I want to take advantage of all the good things that I have in this country, I should at least take my turn at sharing some of the responsibility. That’s it. I’m calling them this afternoon and I’m telling them I’ll be happy to do my jury duty.
ALAN: Great! Now let’s go get lunch.
| Tip 3 | One very important right enjoyed by a citizen in our democracy is the right to have a jury decide his guilt or innocence. Sometimes a person may ask to have the judge make the final decision instead; then there will be no jury at the trial. |
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