FROM MEXICAN FOLK ARTISTS TO WRITING LAB
I began tutoring during COVID-19, helping my cousin excel in creative writing despite limited resources. My guidance boosted her skills and confidence to the extent that her teachers noted her improvement and inquired about her tutoring.
I then moved on to volunteering with Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art (FOFA), a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Oaxaca’s folk art traditions by supporting young Oaxacan artists. I tutored them in English, empowering them to communicate more effectively with American buyers, strengthening their identity, and preserving ancestral art techniques.
Both experiences enriched my ability to support others in their learning journey and bridge language barriers.
Example FOFA Tutoring
As a FOFA tutor, I helped Oaxacan artists work on their English in order to enhance their communications with American buyers. In this video, there are samples of my teaching styles, including role playing interactions with customers, pronunciation practice, and my student’s thoughts on his classes.
First FOFA Student
My first student at FOFA was Jacobo Mendoza, a master weaver of naturally dyed tapetes. I helped him improve his conversational English through role-plays, pronunciation drills, and storytelling techniques to better connect with customers and share the meaning behind his work.
Writing Lab Tutor
My English teacher, Ms. Avvakumovits, nominated me to be a Writing Lab Tutor. My role involves tutoring across all stages of the writing process, including prewriting, drafting, and idea feedback. We tutors must be committed, supportive, patient, enthusiastic, compassionate, and skilled writers to help other students learn, succeed, and grow from the experience.
Tutoring Chicago
Tutoring Chicago provides a safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environment, delivering the power of education to children facing economic barriers through one-to-one tutoring and holistic programming that supports both academic growth and personal development. As a volunteer tutor, I had the privilege of mentoring a dedicated student each week. Drawing on my experience in English, Math, and Spanish, I adapted explanations to meet his learning style, clarified challenging concepts, and supported his homework. Despite his struggles with executive functioning, I was able to build a consistent, supportive relationship that made our sessions not only productive but engaging and empowering.