Sunday, August 26, 2007
Response #3
English represents a lot of things to me, it is a representation of who i am because i without my native language who would i be. It is how i express my ideas and emotions, and it is hard to think what it would be without it. In Tan's reading, it would be hard to be in America and people don't respond or critize you because you dont speak english that is up to thier standards. I know some people that say your in America so you should learn how to speak English, and it is not as easy as it seems. We have been brought up to speak this way and use our language to its advantage. Sure I think it is easy, i have been brought up with this language. I think that it would be hard to go to another country and speak their language as your second, it is a barrier that a lot of people deal with and these writers explain it well.
week 2 response tan, agosin, gillan
What the English language means to me is that it represents freedom and democracy. It also represents the language of business, because most business deals throughout the globe is primarily spoken in English.
It has been said that English is the most difficult language to learn, whether you agree with this statement is a matter of opinion, but with are past perfect predicate sentences, words that sound the same but are spelled differently, double negatives, and so on and so forth it's easy to understand why immigrants to this country would have trouble understanding and speaking the English language. In fact, many native born English speakers have trouble speaking English, its no wonder that Agosin preferred to write Spanish instead of English. I know personally when i went to the Philippines to visit some friends of mine over there, they were ashamed to speak English to me for fear that i would not be able to understand them as well, but in fact i was able to understand 90 percent of what they were trying to articulate to me and when i read Tans piece that same point was brought out as well.
To conclude, English to me is the language of the world, a language that most people speak or are learning to speak. It is the language of trade and commerce and also of travel.
It has been said that English is the most difficult language to learn, whether you agree with this statement is a matter of opinion, but with are past perfect predicate sentences, words that sound the same but are spelled differently, double negatives, and so on and so forth it's easy to understand why immigrants to this country would have trouble understanding and speaking the English language. In fact, many native born English speakers have trouble speaking English, its no wonder that Agosin preferred to write Spanish instead of English. I know personally when i went to the Philippines to visit some friends of mine over there, they were ashamed to speak English to me for fear that i would not be able to understand them as well, but in fact i was able to understand 90 percent of what they were trying to articulate to me and when i read Tans piece that same point was brought out as well.
To conclude, English to me is the language of the world, a language that most people speak or are learning to speak. It is the language of trade and commerce and also of travel.
#3
In my life, to be able to speak English is very important because it is my way of communicating with those around me. Being able to speak English or any other language for that matter is a way to express how one feels, whether it be writing or speaking. Currently I am majoring to become an English teacher and by taking all the English classes that I am required to take, I am working at mastering the English language even more than what I already have. To me, to be able to speak your own language does not mean that you have it mastered, you have to be able to use that language to basically get along well in the world. In Tan's article when she discusses the way in which her mother struggles with language it reminds me of my brother. My brother has a talking disability and he struggles alot with the English language. When Tan has to call in to the hospital to check on a CAT scan for her mother ( due to her mother's struggle with English) it reminds me of when I have to translate what my brother is trying to communicate to others. Sometimes I find it rather annoying that people don't understand him or look at him funny because of the fact that he struggles with the English language. Since I grew up with him, I understand almost everything he trys to communicate but yet when there are those moments where I don't understand what he trys to communicate, he finds an alternative route such as finding a certain object or showing me online what he wants to say.
Knowing, understanding, and being able to speak English is very important to me. It's the way I communicate in every day life.
Knowing, understanding, and being able to speak English is very important to me. It's the way I communicate in every day life.
Response #3
For me, English represents the way in which I communicate with others. I often find myself thinking about the words I want to say, before I speak. I take pride in the way that I use the English language. I strive to effectively communicate in a way that properly represents who I am.
Since English is my native language, the task of forming sentences to convey my thoughts often goes unnoticed. I think about what I want to say and speak the words at virtually the same time. Although the process of dictating my thoughts is not one that I can remember ever struggling with, this is not the case for Amy Tan's mother. In her piece "Mother Tongue," Tan tells the story of her mother's struggle to translate thoughts into English sentences. Since English was not her native language, Tan's mother often thought things in her mind that she could not properly communicate with others. This frustration led Tan to write a book that would be easily understood by people struggling with the same issue as her mother. While many people strive to use big words and impressive sentences, Tan's goal was to write in such a way that people would understand.
After reading Tan's article I have a greater appreciation for the way in which I am able to use the English language. Having proper control over the way in which one uses a language is a skill that everyone should continually work toward.
Since English is my native language, the task of forming sentences to convey my thoughts often goes unnoticed. I think about what I want to say and speak the words at virtually the same time. Although the process of dictating my thoughts is not one that I can remember ever struggling with, this is not the case for Amy Tan's mother. In her piece "Mother Tongue," Tan tells the story of her mother's struggle to translate thoughts into English sentences. Since English was not her native language, Tan's mother often thought things in her mind that she could not properly communicate with others. This frustration led Tan to write a book that would be easily understood by people struggling with the same issue as her mother. While many people strive to use big words and impressive sentences, Tan's goal was to write in such a way that people would understand.
After reading Tan's article I have a greater appreciation for the way in which I am able to use the English language. Having proper control over the way in which one uses a language is a skill that everyone should continually work toward.
Response to Agosin, Gillan, and Tan
My use of standard English is something that I often take for granted. I never really stopped to think about how hard it would be acclimate to a culture in which the native language is held in such high regards. America is such a progressive, fast-paced, technologically based society in which communication is very important. In order to function successfully in our country you have to be able to understand others, and for some its not as easy. I feel that my use of the English language represents myself and my ideas. I would feel extremely frustrated and lonely if I could not communicate my wants and needs with those around me.
I feel that the authors all successfully display their frustrations in their pieces. By using different techniques and styles such as free-verse poems, narratives, and a piece that combined both, I was able to get a better understanding for how the language gap between the authors (or in Tan's case her mother) really effective their lives emotional. The fact that an adaptation had to be made by these people in order to appease the demands of an English speaking society, was hard to grasp, almost as if their identities were a hindrance. The authors felt a sense of shame because they were extraordinanry in prodominantly English speaking culture.
I feel that the authors all successfully display their frustrations in their pieces. By using different techniques and styles such as free-verse poems, narratives, and a piece that combined both, I was able to get a better understanding for how the language gap between the authors (or in Tan's case her mother) really effective their lives emotional. The fact that an adaptation had to be made by these people in order to appease the demands of an English speaking society, was hard to grasp, almost as if their identities were a hindrance. The authors felt a sense of shame because they were extraordinanry in prodominantly English speaking culture.
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