WEEK 11: TONGUETIED

     The stories for this week's readings depict the struggles that people face when learning a new language and attempting to assimilate with mainstream culture.  People need to be more cognizant and sympathetic of the hardships that immigrants face when they arrive to a new country.  It is even harder on immigrant children because they are less resilient than adults, so they feel the pressure to assimilate even more than their parents do.  These children enter a new school where there is a new language and a new culture, unlike their own.  In addition, they are expected to give up their native culture in order to fit into the mainstream culture, which may not be so welcoming to them.  
     In the story "Wasicuia ya he? Do you Seak English?", what resonates the most to me is that despite the narrator's grim depiction of reservation schools, he was able to form a meaningful connection w/ teacher who engaged the students in a fun and interesting way through music.  This is important because when teachers fail to connect with their students on a personal level, the students become unmotivated and disengaged like the students at the reservations schools.  All teachers should try to get to know their students and incorporate their culture and learning preferences into the curriculum in order to make learning more meaningful to their students.
     In the second story "The woman Warrior", it was hard to read about the challenges (including bullying) that the little girl had to encounter during her silent period.  For ELLs, the silent period is the stage when they start to learn the new language and all they do is listen.  They do not speak.  I think that this period for ELLs is critical because it can affect the way they view their own culture and create mixed feelings about their own identity.  ELLs should not be forced to speak or singled out during this stage.  Being a member of the minority group and feeling the pressure to fit in can cause lots of anxiety and stress for these students.  Moreover, if they have a negative experience during the silent period (such as being bullied for being different), it can affect their self-confidence and prolong the silent period.
     The story "My Hawai'a"  sheds light on the sad and unfortunate reality of how immigrants risk losing their own culture when they try to assimilate with the new culture.  I think that it is important to maintain your identity and culture, while trying to integrate yourself into the new culture.  Teachers should validate their students' cultures and make them feel respected, so that they can feel proud of who they are, rather than feel inferior or ashamed.  When students feel inferior, they tend to give up their personal identity just to fit in.