Rodriguez Article

Extended comments on Donna's Rodriguez Blog

Donna raised some great questions in her Rodriguez blog. As an ELL or ESL teacher Donna has put forth some great incite as to what it is like for a student in ELL.

Donna states, "Research has shown that for pre-literate learners making sense of their native language helps to anchor overall literacy development which also helps learn English. This seems to contradict the author’s experiences." This notion would only make sense, but if he is not given the opportunity to express himself in his native language, this method will not work in a positive manner. Likewise, maybe if the nuns had not pressured his parents to speak English to their children at home, this may have helped him. I do feel that the English language should be reinforced at home if possible, but it does not have to be the only language spoken. I am sure that Richard's parents were learning too, and that they could learn together. But I think culturally, and in more social situations it is just as important to remember their roots and culture and continue to speak Spanish. They are obviously all comfortable with the language and are able to express themselves mroe freely with worrying if they are using the right termanology. It's upsetting that because the English language was spoken at home that Rodriguez felt disconnected from his family. I feel that his family should not be sacrificed to "learn the language of public society."

With that being said, Donna raises another question that has me thinking, "What do Rodriguez’s experiences say about providing bilingual education in public schools?"
We briefly touched upon this topic in class and it was one that never struck me until then. Why is it that learning a second language as an English speaking student is so brilliant, when ELL students are being asked to brush their native language aside? What I think is brilliant is when a student learns fluent English and remains fluent in their native language. Nowadays, when jobs are so scarce, people that are bilingual are going to be able to obtain jobs when most educated English speaking people cannot. Being bilingual provides so much opportunity for people and it should treated as a gift, not as something that must be changed.