TWO-WAY LEARNING

FOFA’S ENGLISH TUTORING PROGRAM

This autumn FOFA will launch its fourth round of online English tutoring in which we pair an English-speaking volunteer with a Oaxacan folk artist. The program is now under the dynamic leadership of FOFA volunteer Alejandra Maudet, a Mexican-Argentine residing in Reno, Nevada. A former school director and English as a Second Language (ESL) professional, Alejandra is excited to expand FOFA’s project. She leads zoom meetings for tutors, assembles helpful curriculum materials, and is creating a vocabulary reference guide specific to folk art genres. Alejandra began her FOFA work as a pandemic-era tutor, and then participated in Oaxaca in August 2022 as a competition winner interviewer.

Alejandra Maudet, Chair of the FOFA Tutoring Program

The main objective of the tutoring program is to help the young artists who have participated in a FOFA competition sell their work and share their stories. FOFA recruits volunteer tutors who can make a minimum commitment of four months, with lessons typically taking place weekly for one hour.. Some are experienced ESL teachers, and others are unexperienced but have the willingness and dedication to help an artist.

Marco Antonio López Guzmán

(First Prize, decorative painting of wood carving, 2022) (Tutor: Barbara Harman)

“I want to thank tutors for their time, their effort and their patience in teaching us, because you understand how difficult it is to learn a new language. And to thank FOFA for supporting us with workshops and courses and for dignifying our craft.”

FOFA provides tutors with some teaching materials and on-going support. Tutors help students develop the vocabulary and fluency necessary to go beyond greetings and price quotes. The goal is to enable the artist to share his or her personal and family history as it relates to their work (artists take for granted what we find fascinating) and to be able to describe the process and materials of their particular craft. In the process, tutors and artists often develop a personal relationship which can be an important morale booster and a source of satisfaction for both.

Every week tutor Robert Cane communicates with his student, ceramicist

Iriana Berenice Pérez Velasco (Honorable Mention 2022, ceramics) by Zoom.

There are challenges, of course, which can include class scheduling (life sometimes gets in the way) and network connectivity, since some artists live in areas where phone service or internet are not reliable.

This year’s group began in early February with 18 pairs. Ten pairs have continued their lessons beyond the initial four-month period. Participants filled out a questionnaire at the end of the four months; the artists expressed gratitude for the time and effort that tutors put into their lessons, and confidence that they felt were making strides in their English language skills. Many tutors responded that they are happy to participate in the program and are pleased to continue beyond the four months or start with a new student. 

Backstrap weaver Wilmer Levi Sosa Méndez

(Second Prize, Other Textiles, 2022] (tutor: Randy Hecht)

“Everything is going very well. I am very grateful to the FOFA foundation for this great opportunity that it offers us, it has been very useful, and I have improved my English a lot.”

At times the relationship goes beyond weekly lessons. One tutor worked with her artist on an introductory letter and resumé to submit to an international craft marketing organization. The artist is now being considered for that organization’s annual catalogue. He had been unaware of the organization until it was brought to his attention by the tutor. Several tutors have travelled to Oaxaca, encouraged by their students, and met for in-person study and a meal.

Ceramicist Jennifer Teresa García López

(Honorable Mention, 2022; Winner, Creative Youth Award 2018, 2016 ) (Tutor: Liz Alspach)

“Thank you for the opportunity and for the ease that knowledge of English gives us to provide better customer support to the tourists who visit us in our workshop.”

A Young Tutor Reflects on Her Experience

The tutoring program has always been considered to be a two-way teaching experience, with artists gaining confidence and vocabulary to talk about their work and lives, and tutors being exposed to the talent and daily lives of the artists. Many of our tutors are retirees, and many have some direct experience with Oaxaca, but here’s a story of a passionate 15-year old Punjabi-American who reached out to FOFA to participate.

The Power of Connecting with Our Ancestral Traditions

By Raashi Sachdeva

15-year old FOFA volunteer Raashi Sachdever with her dog Poppy

Nestled in the breathtaking foothills of the Himalayas is a small town in India called

Saharanpur, my beloved ancestral home. Every summer during our annual India visit, my family and I would sit together and look at my mother’s childhood pictures, in which she is always dressed in clothes hand-stitched by my grandmother. One summer, my grandmother brought out all the cherished pieces from my mother’s childhood and entrusted them to me, urging me to keep them safe for future generations. In that moment, I came to grasp the profound value of ancestral art and the significance of passing down these time-honored traditions.

Raashi’s mother, second from right, wears a sweater handstitched by her mother in Saharanpur

From that point onward, my perspective shifted whenever I saw street vendors

showcasing their exquisite, handcrafted art. I also understood why we, as a family, chose to support these local artisans over larger corporations. Through these interactions, I not only acquired unique and artful creations but also became a champion of family art legacies that spanned generations. With these experiences and understandings at the forefront of my mind, FOFA’s mission instantly resonated with me, motivating me to apply as a tutor.

I have some experience tutoring, having taught English online to my younger cousin from India during the pandemic. While I learned a lot from that experience, I knew that the techniques used for teaching a child would not be suitable for teaching an adult, so I started from scratch, researching and carefully creating lesson plans.

Jacobo Mendoza Vásquez, Third Prize Shuttle Loom Weaving, 2022, Raashi’s student

During my first class with Jacobo, who described himself as an intermediate level student of English, we talked about his background and what he wanted to achieve by improving his English. I discovered that Jacobo is a highly skilled fourth-generation weaver in the Zapotec tradition, with an impressive 18 years of weaving experience. His remarkable talent has been recognized by prestigious institutions such as the Textiles Society of America and FOFA, where he has received honorary mentions and awards. Jacobo wanted to learn advanced vocabulary to accurately describe his art pieces and encourage people to buy them. He also mentioned that he wanted to master the skill of making small talk to connect with his customers on a more personal level.

Jacobo showcases a rug he wove at his home studio in Teotitlán

Throughout our journey, I realized the true meaning of the old adage - “To teach is to

learn twice.” Sometimes, I found it challenging to explain how to start a casual conversation or make small talk. To facilitate Jacobo’s learning, I spent time on weekends brainstorming activities and ways to clearly explain key concepts. Sometimes, I would add helpful YouTube videos to our weekly Google Slides to help him see new perspectives.

“The classes help me better structure my sentences and organize my thoughts. Thank you FOFA for always making it so that we learn more things” – Jacobo Mendoza Vásquez

Over time, I witnessed Jacobo’s hesitation fade away as he became more confident

with the vocabulary and phrases that we practiced. For instance, I suggested that instead of saying “very very fine details” to describe his art, he could use the words “intricate” or “complex.” The next class, he told me that he used both words when talking to customers and surprised them with his English knowledge. Hearing this anecdote from Jacobo made me feel that I was making a positive impact on his work.

Working with Jacobo was a profoundly inspiring and humbling experience. Teaching

Jacobo not only helped him grow but also enriched my own understanding by teaching me lessons about patience and dedication. Watching his transformation was truly rewarding, both as a tutor and a student of literature. I am immensely grateful to FOFA for providing this beautiful opportunity.

FOFA is grateful for Raashi’s dedication to the tutoring program. Early on she volunteered to create a user guide for WhatsApp video, which has been helpful to all the tutors. If you are interested in becoming a tutor, watch for emails this fall about our new cycle, or write to Alejandra Maudet at amaudet2015@gmail.com

FOFA celebrated 15 years in June.

Please make an anniversary gift to support FOFA's efforts to enable talented young Oaxacan artists

achieve sustainable livelihoods.

For a comprehensive look at FOFA's programs, visit our website at: www.fofa.us