By Andrea Villegas, 2024–2025 English Literacy Tutor
Literacy First offers literacy tutoring in public schools, welcoming students with a diverse range of backgrounds and early learning experiences. This past year, about 65% of Literacy First students identified as multilingual, who spoke a language other than English at home or were enrolled in a dual language or English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom. Although our program supports literacy development in either English or Spanish, many of our students speak other languages as well. One of our English literacy tutors, Andrea, supported a French-speaking student who was simultaneously learning to speak and read in English. Andrea shares how she adapted her approach to best support her student’s multilingual learning process and subsequent growth.
When I first met Marcel he was a quiet kindergartener who didn’t speak any English—not even “hello” or “thank you”—as French was the language he spoke at home. He spent most of his first few weeks at school silently observing the world around him. At just five years old, Marcel was suddenly immersed in an English-speaking classroom, surrounded by unfamiliar sounds and words. The experience must have been overwhelming for him, and at times, I could see the frustration on his face as he tried to navigate this new environment.
During our first Literacy First session, I shared a few things about myself—from my favorite animal to how many pets I have—trying to establish a connection. Marcel looked very confused. I realized that regular exposure to new words and phrases would be essential to his English language development. In those early days, our sessions were a mix of gestures, smiles, and visual cues. I acted out words, drew pictures, and used every prop I could think of to make our time together engaging and meaningful. We celebrated small victories, like the day he correctly identified the letter “M” or sounded out “Mom” for the first time. Each win was hard-earned, and we both understood how important each achievement was.
What struck me most about Marcel was his eagerness to learn, despite how daunting it must have felt to face a new language and environment. He never gave up. Even when he didn’t know how to express himself in English, Marcel found ways to communicate through his eyes, his facial expressions, and eventually, his growing vocabulary. Week by week, I watched his self-esteem grow. He began greeting me with a cheerful, “Hi, Teacher!” and soon started pointing to objects in the hallway, proudly naming them in English. His reading assessments improved steadily. During one session, he correctly identified all of the sight words we had previously reviewed together. It was an incredible moment to see my student—who had once been overwhelmed by the alphabet—now actively use it in his second language.
When Marcel entered the program, he could not identify any English letter-sounds correctly. By the end of the year, he not only knew letter-sounds but he also began reading words with ease. He spoke in full sentences, joked with his classmates, told me about his favorite foods, and even shared the things he didn’t like. The transformation was remarkable! Marcel no longer appeared stressed when trying to communicate; instead, he interacted with others confidently, often with a smile on his face. I was so proud of the progress in reading and communication that he made in just a few months. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store for him.
My work with Literacy First has taught me so much about patience, persistence, and the power of one-on-one connection. More than anything, working with Marcel reminded me that learning a language is not just about vocabulary or grammar—it’s about building trust, celebrating effort, and showing up every day with belief in a child’s potential. Marcel’s journey has been one of resilience and joy, and I feel lucky to have played a small part in it. Watching him blossom into a confident English speaker and reader has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my AmeriCorps service.
Andrea Villegas served as an English Literacy Tutor with Literacy First as an AmeriCorps member during the 2024–2025 school year and will return as a leader for the 2025–2026 school year. Before joining Literacy First, she worked as a litigation clerk and completed internships in public health, government, and at the Texas Capitol. She became a tutor to help bridge gaps in early literacy and make a meaningful impact in her community. Andrea is excited to return for another year with Literacy First and looks forward to continuing her education. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, listening to music, and going on walks. If you’d like to connect with Andrea, you can find her on LinkedIn here.