Argument
Richard Rodriguez argues that immigrants should adopt English as one of their main languages. By being bilingual, it helps benefit one for future career opportunities. In addition, it helps one become more comfortable with the society they are living in. Rodriguez states that as a kid he grew up speaking only Spanish, but when he started school he faced the complication of learning a new language. He believed that English is a public language while, Spanish is a private one. Spanish was a language of family closeness. As Richard's family adapted to learning a new language (English), they slowly began to lose the family bond and grew apart. The language once considered as his own was now a distant memory.
I believe that the author is saying that people should learn different languages and become bilingual. Learning a new language and assimilating into a new culture is not about leaving behind what you already know, but about using what you already know and taking it to the next level. You should not drop a language that you have been speaking since birth because you are doing poorly in school. One must learn to grasp the opportunity and use it to their advantage. Learning a new language has advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage for Rodriguez was that he lost his family bond and also his heritage. "One Saturday morning I entered the kitchen where my parents were talking in Spanish. I did not realize that they were talking in Spanish however until, at the moment they saw me. I heard their voices change to speak English" (Rodriguez 35). Spanish was no longer second nature to him anymore. As he continued learning and speaking English, he began to grow apart from his family life and heritage. Even though this happened, Rodriguez became a more confident person. Life is what you make of it. We all come across change in our lives and we need to make a choice. Whether we face it head on or let it consume us, in the end that is what helps us discover who we are as human beings.
Comments/Questions:
Is there anyone here who is bilingual? If so, what challenges have you come across because of your culture? Are there any similarities between you and the author?
http://www.sharingsuccess.org/code/bv/bebv.html This a link that explains why bilingual education is important and I found it to be very interesting and I hope other people do as well.
i am bilingual, and i code switch alot like described in one of the articles (i forgot which one). and i dont think it helps or weakens me in anyway
ReplyDeleteThis relates exactly what I posted on. It seems the approach taken on Rodriguez was one that taught him almost to think of Spanish as a "bad" language. This is the opposite of what should be done, which should instead insist upon keeping your culture while joining the culture of power. And being proficient in both cultures would be a great tool in life.
ReplyDeleteI'm bilingual also. I cant say i faced many challenges, but the main challenge is getting help at home with school work from your parents. I didn't have that, I had to depend on my teachers and when ever my older siblings could help me. I had similarities with the author, because my teachers asked my mom to talk to me more in English. My mom did, but didn't let go of our culture, she would just talk to me for a while in English and then go back to spanish.
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ReplyDeleteAshley , I completely agree on your thoughts about the authors main point. I felt as though even if English may not be your dominate language it is alright to gain knowledge about the English language as well as learn it. Especially when we live in a society where the English language is most popular. However if a person does take on English as their second language they should have the choice to do so and not forced, and always remember not to throw away their culture just to learn something knew.
ReplyDeletePS. I fed your Fish :)