Englishes- Fernando B.

Carillo Questions-

I completely agree with what Carillo is saying throughout the entire text because there have been many times that I have wondered why our education system is based on memory. I have always wondered why we had the state test and why it determined whether we passed the grade or not. Throughout my entire school life, I never liked the fact that we were supposed to accept things were done a certain way and when you dared to do things your way, there was always the chance of you being scolded. When it came to the subject of math I always wondered why certain people didn’t understand how to use simple equations and one day I decided to take a different approach to a given problem and found it easier. When I introduced this method to my friends they seemed to understand it better than the teacher’s explanation. However, the teacher did not agree with my method and said his way was the only way even though we got the same answer. I feel as if teachers let us use our own methods with their guidance then I believe many students can actually get decent grades.

I have always question what was the difference between knowing something and understanding something. To me, it always seemed that you had to understand something to know something. However, after reading the text I seem to understand that knowledge doesn’t mean you have the capability to understanding and the same thing can be said the other way. This is important in today’s world because many people seem to read things online or on social media and seem to accept what they read without giving it much thought. They later go on and spread what they “learned” even though they probably don’t even understand the true meaning of it. In today’s world, people tend to understand how to read certain situations or texts but do not know how properly address the issue. It seems to be that in today’s world there are those who know and those who understand.

Tan questions-

When I read Lyiscott and Tan I seemed to connect easily because I seemed to have some of the same experiences or similar forms of thinking as Amy. As a Mexican-American and someone who comes from an immigrant family I understand the struggle of having to understand my parent’s “Broken” English. Not only that but I remember when I started to learn English and how bad I felt that I had to be in a separate room from all the others kids and the struggle of pronouncing words and forming sentences. When Amy said “I have described it to people as “broken” or “fractured” English.” I felt that because I used to feel so embarrassed and accepted the fact that my English did not sound good. But me speaking English was a blessing to my parents because ever since a young age I have had to translate for my parents and even teach them some English. Though my parents are delighted that I can speak English to me it seems I just replaced one language with another because not only can I speak English fluently now but I have forgotten how to say many words in Spanish my original language. In today’s world I have seen that people do not care what you have to say if they can not understand your English and also see you as less than them if you can not even speak or understand English.I have also come to realise that there are many forms of English I use in my daily life. There is the English I speak which I call “street” english because that’s when I use curse words or make up sentences that don’t seem to make sense. Then I have “home/work/school” English where I sound professional and educated and confident which I mainly use when I am around adults or my parent’s. I have come to understand that neither is correct English because as Americans we have made many forms of the English language that no matter which way you speak it, it sounds correct in one group or another.