Residential College Spanish Language Internship Program
The Spanish Language Internship Program (SLIP) links Spanish-speaking students with community-based partner organizations in Ann Arbor and Southwest Detroit in order to provide you with unique service learning opportunities in the Latino community. Through your volunteering activities, you will gain insight into the cultural, political, and socioeconomic issues affecting this group, with opportunities to practice your Spanish. Furthermore, all students have the option of volunteering through SLIP or can register (RC Core 309.006) for 1, 2 or 3 LSA Academic credits. For those who are interested in traveling to Detroit, you will need to clear a 6 hour block of time, 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Monday or Tuesday’s, in order to provide sufficient time to travel back and forth to Southwest Detroit and volunteer at your chosen site. Students who are interested in working with one of our local groups should leave a three hour block of time open one day per week. The SLIP program provides you with transportation to and from Detroit and you will always travel in a group.
There are 14 openings for Southwest Detroit and 15 locally. All will be offered to those interested on a first come basis. Please contact Teresa Sanchez-Snell, tssnell@umich.edu, (734) 647-6713 (office), for an interview as soon as possible.
Ann Arbor Sites
Planned Parenthood of Ann Arbor
Students who volunteer at the clinic are required to be fluent in both written and spoken Spanish. Students assist with translations of medical terminology to patients receiving care, translation of written materials related to patient education for services, assisting with scheduling of appointments with Spanish speaking clients.
FUMC, Ypsilanti
A new collaboration has been forged with ROC MI in providing ESL classes geared to those who are currently working in the food industry. Students will have the option of coaching in either a basic ESL class or the ROC MI class. Classes are on Mondays or Wednesday from 7 - 9 pm. Students are required to be fluent in both written and spoken Spanish.
University of Michigan Poverty Law Clinic
Students who intern with the law clinic will be filling the much needed gap as translators of documents and interpreters for Spanish-speaking clients. Interns will receive training, work along side of UM law students, and gain knowledge of legal issues, translating experience and able to develop a relationship with Spanish-speaking clients. Fluency in written and spoken Spanish is necessary for this site.
Ann Arbor Senior Community Center
Students volunteering at this site teach a basic conversational Spanish class that immerses adults into the Spanish language and culture. This beginning language skills course will feature, beginning conversational Spanish, current events, and cultural venues including music, poetry, and art.
Family Learning Institute
This site offers an excellent opportunity for students interested in supporting Spanish speaking Parents of elementary students. Students meet with parents once a week for conversations in English and Spanish. Students explain phrases, introduce basic English conversation, and encourage participation in conversations. Students also have the option of serving as coaches to middle school students who need tutoring in English. Day and Time: Wednesday evenings from 6 – 8 pm
Spanish Healthcare Outreach Collaborative (SHOC)
Students will work alongside program coordinators to assist Latinos in accessing public health benefits. Based out of the Public Health Department, volunteers will attend enrollment meetings, assist with administrative work, conduct home visits with coordinator, and work with SLIP students and attorneys at the Law Clinic.
Southwest Detroit Sites
Academia de las Americas
Students work along side teachers in Detroit Public Schools where there are students are taught in Spanish all day long! Here elementary students are using "Spanish only" in order to gain proficiency at an early age. SLIP volunteers will assist inside the classroom and with after school tutoring. Interns who are placed at this site need to be fluent in both written and spoken Spanish, must get a Detroit Police background clearance done and need to have good interpersonal skills to build relationships and trust with the students. Volunteering at this site requires 5-hour block of time one day per week.
Priest Elementary School
New to our program this semester, Priest Elementary offers students the chance to interact with a predominant Latino student population while assisting lower grade teachers with tutoring and translating classroom instruction from English to Spanish in the classroom. Students need to be fluent in both written and spoken Spanish, must get a Detroit Police background clearance done and need to have good interpersonal skills to build relationships and trust with the students.
Restaurant Opportunity Center, ROC MI
Students will have the opportunity to work with the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan (ROC-MI), a non-profit center for Detroit metro restaurant workers dedicated to organizing to improve working conditions and opportunities for all Detroit metro restaurant workers. ROC-MI is an affiliate of ROC-United, a national restaurant workers' organization featured in the recently released book, The Accidental American. Student interns will have the opportunity to put into practice their Spanish skills by working with ROC-MI to develop programs for Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area restaurant workers, including assisting with ESL classes, job placement services, and monthly membership meetings where restaurant workers will organize and develop a policy campaign to improve conditions in the industry.
Website for ROC-Michigan/ROC-United: www.rocunited.org
Website for The Accidental American: www.accidentalamerican.us
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation
Students who volunteer at this site are able to select from the areas: ESL Classes in the Adult Education Department, The HIV/AIDS Prevention Department and the after school programs in the Youth Department. Students who volunteer at this site need to be fluent in spoken and written Spanish in order to meet the needs of the Spanish-speaking clients. Students must get a Detroit Police background clearance done and also have good interpersonal skills to build trust with clients.
COMPAS, Center of Music and Performing Arts Southwest
COMPAS, opened its doors in September 2007. Currently serving more than 100 students, COMPAS is a collaboration of local performing artists and organizations such as Living Arts, Mosaic Youth Theatre, and The Sphinx Organization. Sixty percent is Latino programming as well as classes offered in ballet, hip-hop. Guitar, violin, voice, and African dance & drumming. Students interning at this site will work alongside the Executive Director on an administrative level and assist with community outreach and program development.
