Vallejo Vignettes – Making new friends through Vallejo's adult literacy program

The Vallejo Vignettes are reader-submitted stories of something fun, quirky or inspiring that happened to them in Vallejo. If you'd like to submit a Vignette for publication, please email your submission of 50 to 800 words to vallejovignettes@vallejosun.com.

In Fall 2023 I was a recent arrival to Vallejo while also experiencing sudden empty nest and the breakup of a long-time relationship. I was lonely. I needed more human contact. 

One day, talking with one of a handful of new Vallejo friends, I told her that I wanted to meet more people and volunteer, perhaps tutoring someone in English. Shortly thereafter she told me that she had seen a sign at the JFK Library in downtown Vallejo announcing  “Volunteer English Tutors Wanted.” I went down there and got the info: Solano County Literacy Services was seeking tutors to help adults improve their reading, writing and English speaking skills. 

I emailed the contact and heard back right away from Shauntel Jacob, a Literacy Program Assistant. That was around Thanksgiving 2023. In January, I received a thorough and interesting tutor training and got assigned to my learner, C. We met for the first time on January 23, 2024. 

C. was born in Mexico and has lived in Vallejo for 20 years. She is married, has three children, and works outside the home. When we started meeting, she had a basic understanding of English but was quite shy about speaking the language. She had worked with another tutor six months prior but they didn’t have a compatible teaching/learning style. 

I majored in English and I am a word and grammar nerd. I also know a bit of Spanish and studied French in school. Decades before, I had tutored an adult native English speaker who needed help with his reading, so I had some experience, but this would be my first time working with a non-English native speaker. 

My first meeting with C. was pretty awkward. I was talking at my normal speed and trying to cover too many topics. Shauntel advised me to slow it way down and keep it simple. Another fellow tutor, assigned to be my mentor, said he had a learner who liked playing Scrabble. I was able to score a nearly new Scrabble game on the Facebook group Buy Nothing & Freeshare Vallejo. C. and I found that Scrabble offered us a nice break from grammar and reading comprehension. 

We recently celebrated our one year anniversary of working together. C.’s understanding of the English alphabet and phonics, vocabulary, contractions, verbs, reading and how to put together English sentences has improved a lot. A bigger part of our sessions now is conversation. Early on, she liked meeting at the library, now she likes meeting up out in the world. 

What’s most striking to me is C. 's growing confidence with English. I really knew she was improving when she told me that she had spoken up to her boss at work on behalf of herself and some colleagues…in English. 

Shauntel, whom I call “our handler,” is fantastic. She has given us multiple books and resources. There are additional materials we can borrow at JFK. She checks in with us in person twice a year and is always an email or phone call away if we need supplies or have a question. 

This is one of the most supported volunteer positions I’ve ever had. Once a quarter, there is a tutor roundtable with 25-30 volunteer tutors and literacy staff, usually in person, to swap strategies and discuss how things are going. 

Working with C. has been super satisfying. She’s more at ease communicating and moving around in the English world, and I enjoy sharing what I know and having a new Vallejo friend. 

— Keira Williams. Keira is a color consultant and interior designer living in the Vista neighborhood in Vallejo.

If you would like to work one on one with somebody – and potentially change a life – you can volunteer to help someone improve their English! 

Help an adult improve reading, writing and English speaking skills.

• No experience necessary
• Flexible hours
• The Adult Literacy Program prepares you and supplies all materials

Tutor Qualifications:

• At least 18 years old
• Average reading and writing skills
• Willingness to make a 6 month commitment
• Interest in helping another adult.  No teaching experience needed!

For more information, please contact someone in the Literacy Office at 707-784-1526 or 1-800-450-7885.