Speaking their language: Binghamton student volunteers in local school

Jason Li experienced a different upbringing than his peers. Originally born in Brooklyn to immigrant parents, Li’s early childhood was marked by a language barrier that separated him from others.

“I first spoke Chinese,” said Li, whose family sent him to China to live with his grandparents when he was 2 years old. When Li returned to the United States, he found himself behind his peers. “When I came back to the U.S., I didn’t know a word of English.” He struggled in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes throughout middle school, feeling disconnected from his classmates and the education system around him.

As Li continued his schooling and moved upstate, something began to shift.

“Things started to improve. I began to pick up English, little by little,” he said. As Li became more proficient, he discovered an interest in understanding and helping other children with similar upbringings. This understanding led Li to get involved in volunteering once he became established at Binghamton University, where he is studying biology.

“I wanted to help kids like me — kids who were struggling to adjust,” he said. “I knew how hard it could be, and I felt like I could make a difference.”

That’s when a friend introduced him to the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) and the Youth Initiative program, through which student volunteers are placed in local schools to provide academic assistance and social support to students of all ages, increasing their self-esteem and overall motivation for school work. Li was placed in an elementary school where he could make the most impact.

“When I told the CCE team I spoke Chinese, they knew there were a couple of students — twins — who needed help. It seemed like a perfect match,” Li said. He worked with Brooke* and Brianna,* Chinese-speaking twins in third grade who had just moved to the U.S.

“They didn’t know much English, so I helped translate for them,” Li said. “I assisted with their schoolwork, and I became someone they looked forward to seeing each week.”

As the months passed, Li found himself forming a strong bond with the twins. The twins’ parents, who are recent immigrants, were grateful for the help, and Li found motivation in knowing he was making the family’s transition smoother.

“Now I’m working with Bryce,* their little brother, who’s in kindergarten,” Li said. “At first, Bryce used to cry when he was separated from his sisters, but he’s doing much better now. I keep him busy by playing with him, and we speak in Chinese, just like I did with Brooke and Brianna last year.”

While Li, who plans to graduate in May, still helps the twins, he recently has dedicated more time to Bryce, helping him adjust to the new environment.

“I try to make him feel safe and comfortable,” Li said. “It’s been rewarding to see him becoming more confident.”

One of the biggest challenges Li faces is balancing the use of Chinese and English in his lessons.

“It’s different with each child,” he said. “For Brooke and Brianna, I encourage them to read English passages first, and if they don’t understand a word, I translate it for them. But I also help with pronunciation and spelling, explaining how letter combinations make different sounds.”

For Li, the most rewarding part of volunteering for is seeing the children’s progress.

“I really relate to their struggles, because I went through something similar,” Li said. “Watching them improve their English and interact more confidently with their peers feels full-circle for me.”

*Names have been changed to protect children’s identity.