Adjusting to a new school environment can be challenging, especially for students learning a new language at the same time. Luckily for the English language learning students at Aliso Niguel High School, the Student to Student Program is available to aid students with their classes and practice their English. Volunteers are able to assist individuals every Wednesday during Wolverine+ sessions in the library.
Student to Student is run by Mrs. Villasenor. Located in room 303, she teaches ALD 1, ALD 2, ALD 3, ELD Advisement and Honors English I.
The Student to Student aims to help students who need language and academic support through peer tutoring. The program’s goal is to help students who are new to the country get used to the academic culture, create peer relationships and practice conversing in English. The tutors are student volunteers, often familiar with a second language, who specialize in assisting students with a particular subject.
Tulika Chandra (11), a Student to Student tutor, said, “We as tutors, offer help in subjects we are familiar with. A student might interact with a few different volunteers to get help with each subject.”
The new students are matched with older students, some of whom are bilingual, bi-literate, both or none. They try to help support the new students in their native language if possible. With the diverse population at ANHS, there are a variety of languages spoken by the students. Many of the volunteers also benefit from being able to practice a second language with a native speaker.
Aside from accommodating a student’s academic needs, volunteers might also teach the students colloquial phrases and slang to help them understand their peers better. The program intends to smoothly integrate new students into the school.
Mrs. Villasenor said, “With the Student to Student program, we first start working with our newcomer students. We have designated English Language Development courses on our campus. Those courses are specifically designed to specifically support those who are new to speaking the English language. We offer multiple levels of support going from ELD levels one through three, followed by Academic Language Development courses that go through levels one through four.”
To become a volunteer or to receive tutoring during Wolverine+, students must contact Mrs. Villasenor. Students are mainly signed up if they are currently enrolled in ELD 1 and ELD 2 and many volunteers are from the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation. Everyone is welcome to sign up. Volunteers commit to volunteering every Wednesday during their Wolverine+ for the semester.
Mrs. Villasenor said, “I have taught ELD for 15 of the 19 years that I’ve taught on this campus, and I love the program. I love what it can achieve, I see the benefit it has for so many students and the goal is the keep the program available and going for every student that needs it.”
The Student to Student program will be available throughout the entire year during Wednesday Wolverine+ sessions.
