Reading a volunteer program notice
Read this notice from a volunteer program in Lima. «Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, have intermediate English (B1 or higher), and commit six hours per week for three months. The program starts on 2 March with a mandatory orientation. Volunteers teach basic reading to children on weekday afternoons. Applicants must send a short email explaining their availability and experience.» Ana is 19, studies at a university, and has a B1 English certificate. She can volunteer four hours on Tuesdays and eight hours on Saturdays, but she will travel to Arequipa for two weeks in April. She wants to know whether she is eligible, how to describe her schedule, and how to ask for a temporary absence. Her draft email says: «I have 19 years and I am available in weekends.» The coordinator answers by email and values clear, polite requests.
1. Is Ana eligible? Answer with evidence from the notice and identify the main obstacle.
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Ana meets some requirements: she is 19, so she satisfies the minimum age; she has a B1 certificate, which matches the notice's intermediate English requirement. However, eligibility is not automatic. The notice asks for six hours per week for three months and says teaching happens on weekday afternoons. Ana offers four hours on Tuesdays and eight on Saturdays, so her total hours are enough, but her availability does not clearly match weekday afternoons, and Saturday may not be a teaching slot.
The main obstacle is her two-week trip to Arequipa in April, which falls inside the three-month commitment. She should ask whether a temporary absence is allowed before assuming she is eligible.
2. Correct Ana's draft sentence and explain the two errors.
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Corrected sentence: «I am 19 years old and I am available on weekends.»
In English, age is expressed with the verb be: «I am 19 years old», not «I have 19 years». The preposition for days is «on»: «on weekends», not «in weekends». The adjective «available» is fine, but the sentence needs the correct age form and preposition to sound natural and accurate.
3. Write a short email (2–3 sentences) asking about the April absence and clarifying availability. Use polite modals.
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Dear Coordinator,
I am 19 years old and have a B1 English certificate. I am available on Tuesday afternoons and Saturdays, but I will be in Arequipa for two weeks in April. Could you please tell me whether a temporary absence can be arranged and whether my schedule meets the program's needs?
Sincerely, Ana
The email is short, states the relevant facts, and uses «Could you please» to make a polite request rather than a demand.