The writing disourse in the eyes of Amerika

Controversy arises when discussing whether or not students should have the right to write in their own discourse and language. Just hearing this sounds bizarre but only because it is breaking the status quo. We live in a country where everything is structured and in the educational system everything is set with common cores. None of those standards have ever included that students should write in their own discourse or language. But should they? According to SRTOL, students should be able to write in their discourse and language. This will empower students to write expressing what they feel in their own language. Zorn agues that SRTOL holds students back from meeting the standards they need.

As a student that grew up in a Spanish speaking home, I myself had to learn English when I started attending school. It was not easy but the bilingual classes that I was placed in facilitated my learning because I was in an environment where I had the right to express myself in my native language, which is Spanish. The teachers had specific times when we had to transition from Spanish to English and were very patient and nice to us which made us feel confident. Now that I am attending a four-year college I can say that English has helped me get this far. English writing skills have helped me deal with the real world such as applying for college, scholarships, and jobs. Even though I think writing in your own discourse should be permissible, I am more inclined with the idea of Zorn’s argument.

I do not want to discourage speaking Spanish either, Spanish is not only one of the most beautiful languages ever it is also one of the most important languages in the world. But in this country realistically speaking not speaking English would not get you so far.

I have the chance to tutor two 8^th graders who just came from Mexico and El Salvador and do not speak English. I know how they must feel not knowing English specially being in that stage where everyone who started school in the U.S knows English. I provide them with a space where they can free write in their own discourse on their feelings so far. There should always be a space to let students write as they please just like we do in this blog. I feel more motivated to teach my tutees English just like I learned it once as I see the eager that they have to learn it. I want my tutees to get far in this country and for that they will have to learn to be literate in English since it is the language that will get them far in this country. I also know that once they do many doors will open for them, as they will become bilingual.  

Just like many first-generation college students had to learn English, other students should learn English and meet the academic standards.

This Class is the Right Class

Now that we are on the topic of what we should learn in English classes, I believe the curriculum should stay the same. With the exception of teachers letting their students express their feelings; in a way just like we do in this class. Even though it would be a great idea for one to take classes in their primary language because they could easily express themselves and their ideas, in the United States of America they wouldn't be able to get around. I say this because even though we have become more interracial, there still is that Western ideology. There still is that idea that everything white is right, which if you ask me sucks.

It only makes it very uncomfortable for those people who aren't of the European decent to think negatively about themselves only because they don't speak english well or not at all. So keeping the curriculum the same where one learns English and its basics is only useful for those who don't speak or aren't fluent in the language. It would help then learn the universal language that is needed every day in the US.

But for students who are first learning the language, there should be special english classes for them with the best teachers who are in it for the interest of their students. A teacher who would take their time teaching their students the language and wouldn't get so upset if they were struggling with it. I think that has a lot to do with the way people learn because when teachers get frustrated that one isn't understanding, the more the student isn't going to understand and they are going to become intimidated.

As I mentioned earlier, by meaning the way we are taught in this class, I think its great that we read english pieces that are always in a way hidden controversies and write academic papers, but we have the blog where we are able to express ourselves however we'd like. Not just in our blogs are we able to express ourselves, but also in class. We are allowed to pretty much say whatever we can pertaining the subject and as I've noticed, there has never been a wrong answer and I like that.

I believe in the idea of always trying to relate something a students says back to the conversation that is going on in class so that the student never feels stupid. It is always good when students' ideas are made valid because they will participate in class a lot more and be more confident. And this is how every class, especially an english class that teaches such an important subject should be.  

White Writing is Right Writing

White Writing is Right Writing

When one enters grade school and then attends college, we were taught a curriculum and then tested on it to see if the information was grasped by students. This was done to see if one was ready to move on to the new information and to test ones ability of obtaining all the information that was taught. How can one judge if a student is ready for the next curriculum?  Every student grasp information differently because there might be a student that is grasping all the information but have weak writing skills and run on sentences.  One must think in terms as how do students feel more comfortable writing and expressing themselves. Because this makes students feel confident and more comfortable to write expressively then to write in a specific standard without being penalized.

I say this because I can relate to teachers letting me express myself in writing and even if it means saying some information in a different discourse. Every day students are given long books to read and annotate, book reports, and essays on different articles. But I bet if you asked all those students if they would rather write about their interest than the standard school material, they would go with their own interest. This leads to one to wonder why we can’t just combine the two. Have classes that help and meet the curriculum but at the same time help one understand that they can always write expressively.


 

There are students that fear English class and just simply dislike the course because of all the requirements they need to achieve. But I believe that’s not the problem I think that when a teacher put expectations and standards in classroom. Student’s mentally breakdown a little inside their head and think that if they don’t write in a proper English they will be marked wrong and get a horrible grade. But if teachers would simply tell students that they will not be graded by the way the write but simply by the value and effort but within class and assignments, there would be many students appreciated English more. But how will this help in the long run one like to say?

Yes there many people that say if one learns to just write an expressive term will they get a great career. I think that is true to a certain extent because the world will judge everything you do when you start a career everything must be written professionally and clearly. But when one learned to write with an open mind it helps them plot all their ideas better and feel free to express themselves at any moment.




 

Many times a simple answer to all this would be if an English course was just simply half curriculum and have expressive writing and reading. Although we need to prepare for the big world and what is out there. We need to learn how to perfect our writing skills by writing expressively, this will help one skills get better for the “real world”. We cannot limit ourselves in writing because we all express ourselves differently.

Why Write When it won’t be Right?

            

In institutions like grade school, colleges, and even higher education, teachers will expect students to demonstrate their mastery of basic principles such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and even English, through exams, class tests, readings, and all different types of assignments………….Did I just say?....YES ENGLISH! WE ARE TESTED ON THE WAY WE WRITE!



English Writing

If a student does not coherently understand the way California’s standardized English works, they will not do well on any educational English exam or class that is required in order for students to receive higher education. As a student throughout grade school in the state of California, I was expected to take English courses in order to advance my learning and knowledge on the English Language. So far, I have received a great amount of knowledge on the idea of what “Standard English” is expected to be. “Standard English” to be is the way my English teachers in the past have taught me and that is to write a five paragraph essay (nothing longer or shorter than that) that includes a thesis statement and transition points. As well as grammar errors, punctuation errors, and spelling. If I know that this is what English writing should be like then what about my own writing?

English Testing

What have I learned from my own piece of writing or discourse? Have I improved the way I express my own discourse? These are questions I have asked myself multiple times in the past English courses I have taken. What English teachers have taught honestly has not made me learn anything but how to train for exams. This is what kills me every time. Why is it that English teachers are only teaching you to help you pass classes or pass exams instead of teaching the ways of writing in my own style and learning how to improve it?

These questions still appear to be somewhat unanswered but I have found the majority of my answers. My questions have been answered through my new English course (English 214) with Ms. Caitlin Field. Through this semester in this class I am very proud to be a part of this class and I appreciate everything we do. This class is not structured as a “typical” English class that grades you through standard learning or testing students to know if they can understand “standardized” English. In this class, I am able to express my own discourse of writing and feel comfortable with how I portray my writing to be a good writing piece. I appreciate this class so much for the opportunity we have to express ourselves in our own way and took look at writing in a whole different perspective.

This English class has begun to not only change my perspective on English class but also, in opportunity to have a new insight on what my work is all about.

 

 

What is a Proper English class?

What is a proper English class?

All English classes have a special curriculum that teachers have to go by. Students should know most of what is on that curriculum by the end of the school year in order to be ready for the next level of English. But how do you determine if someone is ready? A student could know all that is on the curriculum but still has weak writing skills because of the writing assignments that were thrown at them. From my experience when teachers let me write something on how I feel, or about something

I can relate to I find it a lot easier to express myself. Yes we all had those long book reports and those topics where we have to do research but how many of us can actually say that we actually wrote about what we like or how we feel in middle school or high school, not many of us. I understand that teachers have to get us ready for the real world but I believe that it doesn’t necessarily have to follow everything on the curriculum.
  
I think that English classes should have both topics we can easily discuss and those that take time to research and that will prepare us. I know a lot of students that dislike English because they always have been limited on their writing. They have to write a certain way and if it is not that way it is wrong. It is unfair that we are not able to express ourselves through our writing. I think if we were able, it would increase our writing skills because most of us would be interested in writing and we would devote more time to the writings.

           
Half of the English class should be on the curriculum and half of free writing and reading. We do need to be preparing for the real world such as cover letters resumes and other writings within our career. But in order to increase our skills we need to keep on writing on things we can either relate to or have specific opinions on. We definitely should not be limited to specific writing instructions and there always should be some free writing practices.

Expressing Yourself Through Writing

Expressing Yourself Through Writing

Many people believed that STROL was a great system that allowed teachers to understand the true meaning of diversity and allowed students to express themselves in their own language. STROL was also used to allow students to write in their own discourses without the fear of rejection or teachers enforcing a standard way of writing. Many people came to realize that everyone is different and many people talk and write differently then Proper English, but that doesn’t mean you have to make them feel like their doing something wrong.  In the article Students Rights to Their Own Language stated, “We need to ask ourselves whether our rejection of students who do not adopt the dialect most familiar to us is based on any real merit in our dialect or whether we are actually rejecting the students themselves, rejecting them because of their racial, social, and cultural origins”. Rejecting people because they have different cultural backgrounds is not the right way to go about it. I think its very interesting learning about different cultures because it allows you to get a sense of who someone else is and how they do things that are different from the way you do things.

            Writing is used as a form of expression and some people feel the most comfortable when writing in their own discourse/language. Sometimes it’s hard writing when you feel like it’s not your true self because your teacher told you to write this way. Many people want to feel free writing the way they want to and not the way someone else wants to.

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            At times I have a hard time expressing my true self because the way I talk is different from the way I write. Growing up I was taught to write a certain way and that people should not use slang as a form of writing. If I write “Luv u 4 ever” in my essay I will feel like I’m writing in a wrong way. I was always taught to articulate my words properly in a way anyone can understand me.

            Jeff Zorn argues that STROL is not a great system for students. He believes STROL holds students back from officially getting them the standard academics they need. I think he feels that if students want to get far in life they need to establish proper English so they will be able to communicate with a variety of people. Zorn states, “SRTOL plants the seeds of Pyrrhic victory in students; it tells them they win when they continue to speak and write their vernacular despite all appearances (low grades, low test scores, bad interviews, bad job performance ratings, etc.) to the contrary. This was my mentors’ exact insight: the disadvantaged cannot afford Pyrrhic victories”. He feels that students are not achieving using STROL because they are not gaining any important skills that will help strengthen their writing. Many people may have different views on STROL but it still gives students the right to write in a way they feel secured.

The Unfairness of the English Language

I have always been a student who loved going school and learning new things. However, school hasn’t been an easy trip, at least not for me. English being my second language has given me many opportunities and opened new doors, although I’ve had a bumpy road.

Coming from a Latino background I first had to learn Spanish, the common language at home. I was actually born in another country and brought to the US at the age of eight. School was very difficult. I remember crying to my mother everyday and not wanting to return to school because of the language barrier. My parents did not speak a single word in English, which made it very difficult to complete my homework or even get my questions answered. It took me about two years to get the hang of it, yet I still have many flaws to work on.

My favorite subjects are math and science, so you may see the connection that English is my least favorite for many reasons. First of all, reading is not my thing. I understand that reading expands a person’s knowledge; however, reading bores me and makes me sleepy. I do enjoy reading thing of my interest, but when it comes to readings assigned by professors they don’t make me excited, although I tend to complete them.

I have always felt that the educational system is extremely unfair. Students don’t receive equal treatment. Neither do they have equal opportunities at school or at other public places. Students who’s English is their second language are placed at the bottom of the pedal stool from those who’s English is their first language. By having to test for proficiency levels in order to get admitted to college is almost like being discriminated. I personally feel like my English is good, but I am not sure if it will ever be perfect due to the fact that I have another language occupying my brain.

California is immensely diverse, which is why the education system should make changes that will provide equal opportunities to everyone who wishes to be educated and that is not particularly familiar with the English language.

As far as English 214 goes, I am having a very good semester so far. The readings are very interesting and contain material that some how some way relate directly to us. Professor Caitlin is very understanding and flexible. I appreciate her patience, because I myself don’t have enough patience. Everyone seems to get along, which makes it a comfortable environment to be in. If for some reason we don’t fully understand an assignment or need additional explanation, Professor Caitlin is always available. My favorite part of this course is that the professor makes it very welcoming for students by allowing us to call her by her first name, to make us all feel equal.

Assignments are self explanatory and very doable. I feel like the assignments were created for students to find their individual preference in writing and to understand hidden messages to the things we read. I have learned to explore deeper into readings. Before I would simply read an article and understand the obvious. However, I now take my time to fully understand the message of the article as well as to identify hidden invisible narratives that an author might not necessarily want the reader to see. I also hope to learn how to be confident with my writing and how to better express myself without being vague and repetitive.