REFLECTION
Reading Aria made me really think about the personal cost that sometimes comes with learning English in America. Rodriguez’s story about growing up in a Spanish-speaking household and then being pushed to embrace English at school was really powerful. His description of feeling like he was losing part of his identity and connection with his family really hit me, it was something I couldn't even conceptualize. It’s not just a language shift, it's an emotional and cultural transformation, and not always a comfortable one.
This made me reflect on my volunteer experience in Southside Elementary where most of the students are bilingual. I’ve seen firsthand how these young students switch between languages, Spanish with their friends, and English with me and their teachers and in the classroom. It made me wonder if any of them are already feeling some of what Rodriguez describes, the pressure to sound “American,” the confusion about where they belong. I hope that this isn't the case as the students who speak Spanish also get tested in Spanish, they still use their language often.
One part of Rodriguez’s story that really stuck with me was when he described how his home went quiet after he started speaking English more. That silence wasn’t just about sound, it was about distance, about something being lost. I think about how the students I work with might be going through something similar, and how important it is to make sure their cultural and linguistic identities are honored in the classroom instead of pushed aside.
This reading challenged me to think about how schools often frame English as the “right” or “normal” way to speak, without always realizing how that can make students feel like they have to choose between success and staying close to their families or heritage. Rodriguez’s story reminded me that language is about more than just communication, it’s about belonging, memory, and family. Aria was a powerful reminder to create classroom spaces that affirm students’ full identities, not just their ability to speak English well.
No comments:
Post a Comment