Week 2 – Wed. Sept. 1

Homework Due Monday, Sept. 13th

PLEASE Comment on or reply to a comment of AT LEAST ONE of your classmate’s! 

  1. Read “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan, write a response to the questions in a comment below. 
    • What did you think of this text? Explain! 
    • What is it mostly about? Write a 2-4 sentence summary. Be specific. Refer to the text itself. Use quotes even! 
    • What is the genre of the text? What is the tone?
    • Amy Tan writes, “Recently, I was made keenly aware of the different Englishes I do use.” What does she mean by this? What different “Englishes” does she use? When does she use them?
    • What does Amy Tan mean when she uses the term “mother tongue?”   
    • What was Amy Tan’s perspective on her mother’s English as a child? How does it change over time? What influences led to her shift in perspectives?
    • Why do you think Amy Tan wrote this article? Who do you think is her intended audience?
    • Think about your relationship to the languages in your life. Describe at least two different languages or forms of language that you use either in speaking or writing. For example, when you text or email vs. when you speak. Or when you speak to a family member vs. a friend. Or a professor vs. a friend. Does it change depending on your audience? How? Why?

2. Write a micro-autobiography (60 words or less!) Possible ideas – examples – a 10 word memoir, a poem, a Haiku, an online bio, a dating profile! Post in the comments below. 

3.  ***Draft of Project 1 Due Mon. Sept. 27th***

 

39 Comments

  1. Alan Pun

    I thought of the text as very interesting.
    It’s mostly about the mother’s English.
    The genre of the text is personal essay.
    They speak different languages and forms of English.
    Amy Tan wrote this article to inform that people speak in many different ways.
    Language changes when speaking informal or formal depending on the person.
    2) People make forms of English in different ways. They speak differently. They show how they can be someone that can make a difference.

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Alan,

      Good start. Great observation on the genre of the text. I would love to see you provide more explanation and textual evidence (quotes, examples) to support your thinking. Tell me why you think this, what you learned, how you learned it, etc. I want the details. Each response should be about 3-4 sentences. You should use quotes and evidence from the text. Does this make sense? Let’s discuss, if not!

  2. Justin

    1 I think that the book is interesting because its talk about how different people learn different ways of English
    2 I think the book is about how language can be tough different ways from different families and background
    3 I think the genre is a person because it’s talking about how she understands her mother in her own way the tone is informative because she gives different ways she can understand languages
    4 I noticed she uses Chinese but with her mother she fully understands English
    5mother tongue means it only understands by her and her mother
    6 she didn’t think much of it but she got used to it and her personality kinda change because she knows the differences between the two
    7 she wore this to inform people that language can change depending on who you talk to and the audience could be the people who can speak more than one language
    8 everyone who I come into contact with I speak differently as in tone for example I would talk to my friends way different than talking with my mother

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Justin,

      Good start. I am glad you found the personal essay interesting. I would love to see you provide more explanation and textual evidence (quotes, examples) to support your thinking. Tell me why you think this, what you learned, how you learned it, etc. I want the details. Each response should be about 3-4 sentences. You should use quotes and evidence from the text. Does this make sense? Let’s discuss, if not!

      Warmly,

      RC

  3. WaldyG08

    1. I thought the text was compelling. I was very interested in the story the author had to tell.
    2. The book “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan talks about her mothers English, and how her English is different from how a good English speaker would sound. Amy describes her English “as the English she used with me, which for lack of a better term might be described as “broken”; my translation of her Chinese, which could certainly be described as “watered down” which describes how Amy knows that her Mother’s English is different from others.
    3. The genre of this text is personal essay because its about a personal life experience she had and what she had learned from experiencing it.
    4. When Amy says she uses a different English it means that she’s aware that she speaks differently when she is around different people. For example her English is more formal and well spoken when she is giving a lecture or is talking to a group of people, rather than when she is speaking at home to her husband or her mom.
    5. The term “Mother Tongue” means her Mothers way of speaking that can only be understood by her.
    6. As a child Amy thought that her Mother’s English was embarrassing and “broken” she said “I was sitting there red-faced and quiet, and my mother, the real Mrs. Tan, was shouting at his boss in her impeccable broken English.” which describes when Amy had to go with her to complain to her Mother’s boss, she was embarrassed with a red face because of the way she spoke. Later in her life Amy is less embarrassed and cares more about her Mother’s understanding and speaking of English, as she felt disturbed for speaking formal English in a lecture her mother attended.
    7. I believe Amy Tan wrote this article for Asian people and mostly Asian students who are struggling with the English language in their life and in their studies. She wrote it to inspire others to not let their limitations take a hold of what they are capable of achieving.
    8. The way I speak and the language I speak does change depending on who I am talking to. When I text I have a less formal tone compared to when I am sending an email to someone. If I am talking to a Professor it is different from me talking at home to one of my family members. My English changes because I make sure I am understood to who ever I am talking and so that makes me change the way I communicate based on who I am talking.

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Waldy,

      Excellent! This is a fantastic response. I particularly liked the quote you chose and how you describe how you change the way you speak depending on your situation. We will be discussing this more in class.

      Warmly,

      RC

  4. ibrahim

    1. i thought the text was helpful and surprised with the detail.
    2.the text was mostly showing how challenging it is being raised with a parent that know little english. One quote is “You should know that my mother’s expressive command of English belies how much she actually understands.”
    3.the genre is a personal essay talking about her troubles.
    4.When amy says “Recently, I was made keenly aware of the different Englishes I do use.” what she means is there’s more then one english, there for she uses english her mother knows how to speak she uses them when speaking to her mom.
    5.when amy uses the term “mothers tongue’ is that her mother dose not speak full english and that she speaks her language mixed with english.
    6.As a child amy thought her mothers was broken and a quote she says is ” I
    was ashamed of her English.”
    7.i think amy wrote this to show that its not easy being raised by a parent who knows little english.
    8.Some languages that i use is mix arbic with english it changes on the person im talking to.

    I am not the best writer, but i do enjoy writing when i have that feeling in my blood like im going to fight someone. Even though that rarely happens i play games go out eat ect.. but one this i always liked is power and what i could do with it for example you can be rich in moments and also own half the world with that power and i find that very cool.

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Ibrahim,

      Good job. I really like the quotes that you chose to support your thinking and how you explained what the quotes meant. I also like that how you describe the way you use Arabic and English. I am glad that you found the piece interesting.

      Good job.

      Warmly,

      RC

  5. Kiana Alcala

    1•
    As someone who feels very strongly about the negative treatment people with accents receive, I agree with the message that Amy Tan is expressing in “Mother Tongue”. Many of us have been raised around, whether in our families or our environment, different “Englishes”. When Amy Tan says “I know this for a fact, because when I was growing up, my mother’s “limited” English limited my perception of her. I was ashamed of her English. I believed that her English reflected the quality of what she had to say.”, that is something that many people in this country are guilty of. The way a bilingual or multilingual person speaks English should be respected, how perfect their ability to put together their thoughts in English should not be used to determine the importance of their thoughts. I personally think the fact that someone learned two different languages is incredibly impressive, no matter how they piece together their words to express an idea.
    This is a personal essay with an empathetic but also a bit of an angry tone. One can feel the anger in Tan’s descriptions of the way her mother has been treated due to her imperfect English. The instance when her mother had a trip to the hospital for an appointment but resulted in a lost CAT scan and no answers, despite her mother stating “… she had spoken very good English, her best English, no mistakes. Still, she said, the hospital did not apologize when they said they had lost the CAT scan and she had come for nothing. She said they did not seem to have any sympathy when she told them she was anxious to know the exact diagnosis since her husband and son had both died of brain tumors.”. Tan’s mother is aware that the way she speaks English has an impact on the way she is treated and how seriously she is taken by others. This made me feel both sadness and rage, to think this is such a common and well known thing that non-native speakers have to endure. Amy Tan’s perspective on her mother’s English went from judging and being embarrassed by it, to writing with her mother’s language and understanding in mind. Deciding to envision her mother as the reader of her writing, made her appreciate what is not often seen by others, “her intent, her passion, her imagery, the rhythms of her speech and the nature of her thoughts”. I can see how Tan might’ve written this essay to make others aware of the beauty and importance of someone’s own mother tongue.
    My first and preferred language is English, but I also have different forms of language. I write more expressively and freely than I speak, sometimes using words that I avoid using in conversation due to my mild stutter. I speak to my grandmother, who is a native Spanish speaker, in a more “simplified” way – much like Amy Tan describes. Both are things that I no longer realize I am doing, because I am so accustomed to it.

    2•
    Pillars labeled “shy” and “careful”, compete with others named “passion” and “freedom” within me.

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Kiana,

      Excellent job! This is a fantastic response. The section on Tan’s mother’s treatment in the hospital made me really angry and sad too and I and I loved how you highlighted that and responded to it as well. Thank you for sharing so candidly about how you speak. It is so powerful.

      Excellent.

      Warmly,

      RC

  6. Justin Irimia

    1) The article “Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan gives readers an insight into growing up with immigrant parents. Everything described within is fairly accurate and true to life. As this is coming from someone whose parents are immigrants themselves. The concept of multiple English’s is something that I understand very well, sometimes it’s easier to talk to them in simpler English as it gets the point across. Using regular English like I am using currently is more for writing pieces and scholarly matters. Such is life, the way I talk to my friends is different than how I would talk to an employer. The same is true for Amy Tan as she details her experience, which is just about the same. Though it is evident that getting used to this type of English is a process. I personally was never ashamed of my parent’s broken English at times, the same cannot be said for Amy. Initially she had been embarrassed by her mother’s skill in speaking the English language. Eventually accepting her mother for who she is despite her flaws and shortcomings. Mainly written in the autobiographical genre, the main purpose for all this wonderful writing seems to inform the reader the importance of the English language and arts. The tone gives us the feeling of a friend telling you stories of old late at night. All and all “Mother Tongue” is a well-crafted narrative about her mother’s tongue, or in layman’s terms her style of speaking.
    2) To others my life is not that incredible, but their opinions are of little value. If I feel that I did well and that I satisfied my goals I will deserve to say I life a live well lived.

    • Marzan Alam

      I agree with you as in I too, can relate to speaking a simpler English with my parents. It is almost like our own personal language, a side of my vocabulary only they get to hear.

      • Rebekah Coleman

        Thank you for responding to your classmate!

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Justin,

      Excellent job! This is a fantastic response. I really enjoyed reading about your experience with multiple “Englishes.” Great micro-autobiography!

      Fantastic work! Thanks!

      Warmly,

      RC

  7. Christian Luna

    Part 1:
    1) What I thought about this text is that it really brought out the emotion that the author was trying to convey, such as her embarrassment when the mother was yelling at the stockbroker’s manager in her “broken” English. “And sure enough, the following week there we were in front of this astonished stockbroker, and I was sitting there red-faced and quiet, and my mother, the real Mrs. Tan, was shouting at his boss in her impecca- ble broken English.” (3rd column, 4th paragraph).
    2) The text is mostly about the different types of languages that are used in a family and in everyday life. It’s also about how the different languages create multiple barriers between people and determine how people act towards each other. “And I had plenty of empirical evidence to support me: the fact that people in department stores, at banks, and at restaurants did not take her seriously, did not give her good service, pretended not to understand her, or even acted as if they did not hear.” (2nd column, 5th paragraph). Different usages of different languages cause people to act differently towards each other and why there are different situations to use different languages.
    3) The genre of the text is Memoir, because Amy Tan focuses more on her experiences with different usages of language and how it has changed her and the way that she sees everything. The tone of the text is informative and formal because she addresses us as a reader and the whole text is informative about the different examples of language.
    4) What Amy Tan means by using different “Englishes” is the different types of manners people talk to certain people, such as talking to a group of strangers vs. talking to your best friends. The different “Englishes” that she uses are talking professionally to the audience that she first talks to in the beginning of the text. Another “English” that she uses is where she talks in incomplete sentences when she’s with her husband and her mother. Another type of English that she uses is when she talked to a stockbroker for her mom and she spoke with a professional manner to sound sophisticated.
    5) What Amy Tan means when she uses the term “mother tongue” is that it’s her mother’s own unique way of speaking English to everyone and it’s her “tongue”, her own way of speaking. Amy can understand her mother when everyone else cannot.
    6) Amy Tan’s perspective on her mother’s English as a child is that she was embarrassed of her mother’s “broken” English and also felt that her limited English reflected the quality of what she had to say. The way it changes over time is that she sees how her mother’s own language is her own unique way of speaking and how there’s no way to change that. The influences that led to her shift in perspectives is her seeing that she could do better in math and science but decided to go for English because she wanted to disprove assumptions made about her.
    7) I think Amy Tan wrote this article because she wanted to show people that are in a similar situation as she once was that it doesn’t matter what is in the way, that if you want to follow your dreams, you should go for it because you will overcome those obstacles. I think her intended audience are people who are struggling with their dream because of something that is perceived differently such as “broken English” and seems like they can’t do anything because of it.
    8) Two different languages that I speak when speaking to a professor vs. a friend is that when I speak to a professor, I talk formally and try to speak with respect because I don’t know them very well to speak in a different language. On the other hand, when I talk to a friend, I talk to them casually and without proper sentences because they understand what I’m trying to say without saying the proper sentence. I speak very different languages depending on the person and how long I’ve known them.

    Part 2:
    I’ve tried to make the best of what I can get in my life, no matter how small or big, I always appreciate everything that happens.

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Christian,

      Excellent job! This is a fantastic response. You chose great quotes to support your thinking and explain your ideas really well. I particularly like how you describe the different ways you speak depending on your circumstances. Great micro-autobiography.

      Excellent work!

      Thanks!

      Warmly,

      RC

  8. Ahmed shah

    1. I thought that this was a really interesting text because it shows how the way you speak English affects how people see you and treat you for example if your English is bad then the people won’t treat you as nicely as they would treat a person who has nice English. They wouldn’t take you as seriously and would ignore you or won’t bother helping you.
    2. So basically it is mostly about how your English is affected by your parents and how other people interact with you if you have good or bad English.
    3. The genre of the text is a personal essay. The tone is sad.
    4. She means that she realized that she uses different Englishes in her life, for example, she had to use easy English with her mother because her mother’s English wasn’t that good but she used pretty decent English with other people.
    5. She means that even if her mother’s English is really bad, she still understands her properly because she is used to listening to her broken English all the time.
    6. Her perspective on her mother’s English was that she was really embarrassed by her mother’s English by how bad it was. Her mother was shouting at the boss while using broken English really embarrassed her. She had to step in the conversation because she knew if her mother kept on shouting the boss would ignore her mother. It changes over time because she started to realize that her mother is trying her best to speak good English but is still “broken” This shows that she appreciates her mother’s effort in trying her best.
    7. I think that Amy wrote this article to show people that it is really hard to live with parents who speak “broken” English and how it affects their English too.
    8. The two different types of forms of English I speak with my teachers and my friends. I talk to my teachers with good English and try to be very polite with them but with my friends, i don’t even bother using good english and i am usually not polite with them.

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Ammed,

      Good job. This is a thoughtful response. I would like to see you include specific quotes or examples from the text, but I like how you describe the genre and her purpose for writing the piece.

      Good job!

      Warmly,

      RC

    • Jin teng kam

      i agree that Amy use different english with different people because she know that her mother english were not that good so Amy would use simple english with her mother and use standard english with other people who is good in english

  9. Ahmed shah

    2. I Always appreciate what God gave me because i know that whatever i have other people don’t have. Always be thankful for what you have.

  10. Jasmin Castro

    1. What I thought about this text was that it was interesting because it made me start thinking of the different type of ways we speak to people. The language we use when we talk to people that we know compared to others.
    2.I think the text was mostly about the author writing about how her language with her mother has impacted the way her language is. The author mentions in the text how when she was giving a talk to a large group it was her first time having her mom there and realized how much different the way she talks to her mom than how she is talking now. For example, “I was saying things like, “The intersection of memory upon imagination” and “There
    is an aspect of my fiction that relates to thus-and-thus”-a speech filled with
    carefully wrought grammatical phrases, | burdened, it suddenly seemed to me, with nominalized forms, past perfect tenses, conditional phrases-all the
    forms of standard English that I had learned in school and through books, the forms of English I did not use at home with my mother”.
    3.The genre is a personal essay because she is talking about something personal about her mom and going into depth about how different the language with her mom is compared to others. The tone is informative because it is making the reading realize how in their lives the language they use with other is not the same with someone like your mom, sister or family member.
    4. I think what Amy Tan means by using different “Englishes” is that they type of English she uses with her mom is completely different from how she talks with a large group of people that she does not see everyday. The language she chooses to use with her mom is not perfect when it comes to grammar or complete sentences because that is how she grew up with her mom. Instead, with the large group of people the things she said like, “-a speech filled with
    carefully wrought grammatical phrases, |burdened, it suddenly seemed to me,
    with nominalized forms, past perfect tenses, conditional phrases-all the forms of standard English that I had learned in school and through books,
    The forms of English I did not use at home with my mother”. This shows how she was not use to speaking to her mom the same way as she was talking in the moment.
    5. The term Amy Tan uses by “Mother’s Tongue” is how her mom has her own way of speaking English that is not they way she would speak it.
    6. As a child Amy Tan was embarrassed by her mother’s english by saying it was “her impeccable broken English.”, this shows how she would think of her mother’s english. Amy Tan’s perspective changed on her mother’s english through time and understood how it was okay and cared more about helping her mom understand. I feel what led to her changing her perspective was when she started majoring in English and writing more.
    7.I think Amy tan wrote this article to inform people who have parents that are immigrants to not be embarrassed that their parents can’t speak perfect english. Amy Tan wants her audience to be informed about her situation and how many others with parents who English isn’t their first language is to help them understand and to not be ashamed.
    8. My language with mom is completely different from talking with a teacher. It changes because my mom does not speak English perfectly because it was not her first language so when it comes to speaking to her I don’t think about using the write words or phrases to her because I care about her understanding me. On the other hand, speaking to a teacher who know English more than me I want to get the words write because that is how they will understand me better.

    Part 2: No matter how challenging it gets, always keep going and trust the process.

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Jasmin,

      Excellent job. This is a fantastic response. I really liked the quotes you used to support your thinking and how you described the different “Englishes” you use at different times.

      Excellent job!

      Warmly,

      RC

  11. Marzan Alam

    1:
    -I really enjoyed this text because how much I was able to relate to the writer. As the child of immigrants, I have spent my entire childhood trying very hard to assimilate to my American peers. I can relate to Amy when she described being embarrassed when her Mom spoke English as a kid.
    -“Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan is an autobiography of her journey from childhood to adult life with her heritage specifically her language. She brings us through her once embarrassment for her language to her now, acceptance and admiration for her mother tongue.
    -What she means by her different “Englishes” is the code-switching she has had to adapt to over the years as the child of an immigrant. This is the case for many first generation Americans. The way you speak to your American friends is different than the way you speak with your family. Amy realizes how she often downplayed her words with her Mom, She got rid of the challenging words and simplified her vocabulary when speaking to her mom.
    -What Amy means when she uses the term “mother tongue” is simply the language her first grew up with. I’ll bring this back to my previous point where even though first generation American children are born in America, the languages we are exposed to as toddlers were usually still the languages our parents spoke. We’ve grown up speaking both our parents native language and English at the same time.
    -Amy Tan’s perspective of her mother’s English is very different than what is once was. She grew up ashamed of her mother’s “broken” English, she’d have to impersonate her mother on the phone doing her best to not give away the fact that she is a child. All this lead to her resenting her background and it took a long time, well into adulthood, to realize the importance of her mother tongue. She began to realize that her mother was a strong woman who was not embarrassed of her heritage unlike herself. She realize how much more knowledge her mom had over her and that her “broken” English was not damaged and needed to be fixed.
    -I believe Amy Tan wrote this article for the other children of immigrants who have been in the same boat as her. Her audience are these same people who felt the pressure to correct and scold their parents English for not being up to par. They are just doing there best and it is definitely not easy to learn a new language while juggling moving to a foreign country to start new life.
    -My way of speaking definitely differs depending on who I am speaking to. I am not completely fluent in my mother tongue, Bangla, so I speak a mixture of Bangla and English to my parents. My family comes from a small island off the coast of Bangladesh where the dialect is very different from the Bangla spoken throughout the rest of the country. This leads me to code-switch in my mother tongue as well. I find myself feeling restricted when trying to communicate with Bengalis who are not from the same region I am.

    2:
    I may seem timid and reserved but once I open up to you, I’m loud and full of strong opinions.

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Marzan,

      Excellent job! This is a fantastic response. I really like the connection you made to your personal experience and how you describe the “different Englishes” you speak every day. Excellent work.

      Warmly,

      RC

  12. Adrian Bucko

    1
    I think the text was very interesting , made me see a difference in how people are treated from their “broken” language . The text connected. With me in a way as my parents aren’t from the United States and I can’t imagine how hard their lives may be every single day .
    2
    The text introduces the writer Amy Tan a writer that noticed the language she used had changed drastically from when she spoke at a talk however this talk ,her mother was present . All those phrases learned in English class wasn’t applies to her mother .this is a “language of intimacy, a different sort of English that relates to family talk,the language I grew up with”. She goes to tell multiple stories in which her mothers “broken “ and or “watered down” English made her get ignored , and just not given the same care for .her mother being a foreigner to the country speaks in a different way that to some just isn’t understood the same way in which people don’t receive a calling to her speaking as stated “some of my friends tell me they understand fifty percent of what my mother says . Some say they understand eighty to ninety percent .some understand none of it , as she were speaking pure Chinese.”
    3
    The genre of this text is a personal essay as its an excerpt of her personal life in which consists what she experienced and what she overall learned from these experiences .
    4
    when Amy says that she used a different English she is reflecting on how the English spoken in her speeches are much more formal compared to her mothers or husbands repossess which are better understood because of their level of intimacy , “a family talk “she “grew up with”.
    5
    The term “Mothers Tongue” means that with the way her mother speaks isn’t proper English and can only be understood by her daughter Amy ,
    6
    As a child Amy thought that her Mother’s English was embarrassing and “broken” she said “I was sitting there red-faced and quiet, and my mother, the real Mrs. Tan, was shouting at his boss in her impeccable broken English.” A time in where she went with era mother to complain to her boss after calling and leaving a message in complete proper English the day before . She was embarrassed however later in her life she noticed that it didn’t matter what People though but more that her mothers opinion and point be heard ,after all the times she’s seen that it hasn’t she wants her mom to be heard .
    7
    I believe Amy wrote this article for people of foreign countries to not limit themselves in what they are capable of doing especially the Asian community as she states herself she thinks “why there aren’t more Asian-American represented in American language “
    8
    The way I portray my thoughts in classroom or work environment or drastically different in which i would in a family or friend matter .my English will tend to be very more formal and make sense without needing to know any inside joke as if it was to a friend . I make sure to change to way i communicate with others to make sure they can understand the best way i can say it to them,being formal with who i am intended to be with.

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Adrian,

      Good job. This is a very good response. I like the quotes you use, how you noted that it is a personal essay, the purpose you describe and the connection you make between her experience and your parents. Great job!

      Thanks!

      Warmly,

      RC

  13. Jamal Antar

    The passage a mothers’s tongue was a very interesting read. i think its mainly because some many families can make that connection author Amy Tan so some of us have family members who are not the most well spoken when it comes to a language that is not their first.
    – The passage was about author Amy tan discussing how different people look at you by the way you speak. in the passage Amy’s mother dealt with this the most because she was’t the best speaker out there. cause of this she is put in a disadvantage in numerous scenarios. in paragraph 9 amy’s mother will make her pretend to be her mother on the phone as they were trying to get money for a trip to new york. this showed me that if the. mother got on the phone instead she knew there would’ve been issues.
    -the genre is a autobiography, the tone of the text i would is at times curious and sometimes disappointing.
    -what amy means by “i been keenly aware if the englishes i do use” is what she says around different groups of people. this was evident as she stated in the passage that her mother never heard her speak a different kind of english until she was with other group than when she was with her.
    -what amy means by the term mother’s tongue is her mother’s language, and her understanding of language.
    – as a child amy thought her mother’s english was broken and not good cause there were times where amy would answer calls for her mother but as time went on she began to understand it better and thinks its clear the way she hears it.
    -amy wrote this text to see if her mom can read and understand the english/writing she puts out there. the target audience was without a doubt her mom.
    -when working with a professionals i try using more formal words when speaking to them as to my friends i break it down a little easier and even use slang when speaking to friends.

  14. Christopher

    1. I think the text is very eye catching because it expresses a relationship that I also have with my mother. The text is about Amy Tan who is raised by her mother who barely speaks English. Being raised by a parent who speaks limited English can make it difficult for others too communicate with that person ,but isn’t really different for the person that is being raised. In the text Amy states “Some say they understand eighty percent. Some say they understand none of it, as if she were speaking pure Chinese. But to me, my mother’s English is perfectly natural” expressing her relationship with her mother. The genre of the text is a personal essay and I would say the tone is frustration because the text shows how it is difficult for Amy’s mom to speak English. When Amy states “Recently, I was made keenly aware of the different English’s I do use” she was referring to the way she speaks English with her mother compared to speaking with others. In the text it states ” And it was perhaps the first time she had heard me make a lengthy speech-using the kind of English I have never used with her” speaking more clearly. The term “mothers tongue” means what Amy refers to as “broken” or “fractured” English. Amy wasn’t comfortable with her mothers English ,but she have gotten used to it as she grew older and fully understands her mother when she speaks even though others may not. I think Amy wrote this article to make individuals who speak limited English comfortable with who they are and don’t change for no one. I may speak different with my mom compared to how I would speak with my friends because she was born in Haiti ,but I understand her “broken” English because I grew up around it so even speaking with anyone who speaks limited English I may understand them.

    2. Persistence is key because you always have room to grow.

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Christopher,

      Good job. I love how you describe the connection you make between the reading and your personal experience with your mom. I also like the quote you chose to use.

      Good job!

      Thanks,

      RC

  15. Amadou Niangadou

    Amadou Niangadou

    I think that this text is very interesting because it describes the importance of language and how language is used daily and how you can use English to speak to people differently. ”Mother Tongue “ by Amy Tan is about how english is different and she goes on to compare her english to her mothers english in which she realizes her mothers english isn’t as modern as hers. “Mother Tongue” is a narrative in which the narrator uses an essay style to describe how language has played an important role in her life and how it can be different from one another. When Amy Tan says ““Recently, I was made keenly aware of the different Englishes I do use.” Given that she is a writer , She is using language very often and in many instances she can shift the way she speaks such as in writing she can make her writing sound more sophisticated and compelling or make it entertaining. When she uses the phrase “Mother Tongue “ she describes the difference between broken english and standard english as she describes her mother as having broken english. Given that her mom’s English was broken Amy Tan describes how challenging it became for her and that she was ashamed that her mother couldn’t fluently speak english.

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Amadou,

      Good job. I like how you notice the different “Englishes” that the author uses and describes in this essay and how you include a quote. Do you think that Tan’s point of view changes throughout the piece toward her mother’s English? How so?

      Good job.

      Thanks!

      RC

  16. SaraBeharry

    1. I thought this story was very good. It really shows you what people who don’t speak proper English go through. I have a grandmother who would speak broken English.
    2. This text is about how people who speak broken English tend to have it harder than those who do. Tan states ” I had plenty of
    empirical evidence to support me: the
    fact that people in department stores, at
    banks, and at restaurants did not take
    her seriously, did not give her good ser-
    vice, pretended not to understand her,
    or even acted as if they did not hear”. This shows how hard it can be for people who struggle to speak proper English.
    3. The genre is language. The tone is informative.
    4. Tan uses proper English when doing talks or when writing but with her mother she talks in broken English. She uses proper English for speaking to people for her mother as well.
    5. Amy Tan realized her mother is has difficulty expressing through her words but she does know that her mother has quality thoughts.
    6. I think Tan wrote this because she wants people to understand her mother more and understand that it can be a struggle.
    7.My English changes when I’m with my friends sorta but I would say it still stays the same for everyone. I don’t have nicknames for my professor. Although on text I use text language like lol or omg or gonna. So that changes

    I love doing makeup and sewing. I also like to cook. I would love to travel and see the world one day. I strongly believe that being myself is the most beautiful thing so I have no desire to fit in with everybody else.

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Sara,

      Great job! This is fantastic. I like how you describe the different forms of English you use in different situations. Let’s discuss genre more! Great work on the summary.

      Good job!

      Warmly,

      RC

  17. Jin Teng Kam

    i think this text is reflecting on me because I’m experiencing her pass that i have to translate to my parent while they do not speak “Standard English” and i can fully understand how the is author expressing. This is about how she can understand her mother language but other might not understand and how people with “Broken English” got treated differently by restaurant staff, banking, and trading because they could not speak “Standard English” the society wanted. The genre of this is essay because the author is saying how her experience is and how people got treated in an very unfair way. the tone is sad because she can pretend to be her mother in a phone call but in reality she could not help her mother much because her mother don’t speak standard English that everyone understand. Amy Tan writes ” Recently i was made keenly aware of the different English I do use” i think what the author mean by this is she would use simple English with her mother like she would say “this is so hard” to her mother and “this is complicated” to the society because she know that her mother would understand her with simple English but for society she had to use standard English because it sounds more professional. Amy Tan mean Mother tongue its language that her and her mother would fully understand with simple English. Amy Tan perspective on her mother is embarrassed because her mother would be screaming with broken English to her boss that did not give her their check which make her mother to have a very difficulty to communicate with others. I think Amy Tan write this article is to show others how every family have their language at home that others would not understand but they have used it in their whole life and the audience is for people who disrespect het mother because of having broken English and does not treat her important. In my family language i would say simple English like ” faster la why you so slow” and i would speak different with friend like” could you hurry up? i have a meeting to attend” this is different because i would use the accent i had with my family and with my friend i would use more format English because they would not understand my accent. my accent would change depend on my audience because i have no choice which in the pressure of the environment. i seen many people say don’t let other take away you accent, be your slef which i thing is not possible if you were a immigrant because you have to repeat like 5 times of what you say with accent. Some people understand you but some dont because some other people want to hear Standard English.

  18. Jin teng kam

    i think this text is reflecting on me because I’m experiencing her pass that i have to translate to my parent while they do not speak “Standard English” and i can fully understand how the is author expressing. This is about how she can understand her mother language but other might not understand and how people with “Broken English” got treated differently by restaurant staff, banking, and trading because they could not speak “Standard English” the society wanted. The genre of this is essay because the author is saying how her experience is and how people got treated in an very unfair way. the tone is sad because she can pretend to be her mother in a phone call but in reality she could not help her mother much because her mother don’t speak standard English that everyone understand. Amy Tan writes ” Recently i was made keenly aware of the different English I do use” i think what the author mean by this is she would use simple English with her mother like she would say “this is so hard” to her mother and “this is complicated” to the society because she know that her mother would understand her with simple English but for society she had to use standard English because it sounds more professional. Amy Tan mean Mother tongue its language that her and her mother would fully understand with simple English. Amy Tan perspective on her mother is embarrassed because her mother would be screaming with broken English to her boss that did not give her their check which make her mother to have a very difficulty to communicate with others. I think Amy Tan write this article is to show others how every family have their language at home that others would not understand but they have used it in their whole life and the audience is for people who disrespect het mother because of having broken English and does not treat her important. In my family language i would say simple English like ” faster la why you so slow” and i would speak different with friend like” could you hurry up? i have a meeting to attend” this is different because i would use the accent i had with my family and with my friend i would use more format English because they would not understand my accent. my accent would change depend on my audience because i have no choice which in the pressure of the environment. i seen many people say don’t let other take away you accent, be your slef which i thing is not possible if you were a immigrant because you have to repeat like 5 times of what you say with accent. Some people understand you but some dont because some other people want to hear Standard English.

    • Jin teng kam

      Don’t give up when you struggle keep working until you beat the struggle

  19. Diamond Williams

    1. I thought the text was very interesting because it got to find a different prospective .
    2.This text is about Amy tan coming to realization that she used to feel embarrassed about how her mother speaks English .
    3. The genre is personal essay ,the tone is realization
    4. When Amy Tan writes, “Recently, I was made keenly aware of the different Englishes I do use.” ,I think she meant that she changes the way she speaks depending on who she is talking to for example,”The nature of the talk was about my writing, my life, and my book, The Joy Luck Club. The talk was going along well enough, until I remembered one major difference that made the whole talk sound wrong. My mother was in the room. And it was perhaps the first time she had heard me give a lengthy speech-using the kind of English I have never used with her. I was saying things like, “The intersection of memory upon imagination” and “There is an aspect of my fiction that relates to thus-and-thus”-a speech filled with carefully wrought grammatical phrases, burdened, it suddenly seemed to me, with nominalized forms, past perfect tenses, conditional phrases-all the forms of standard English that I had learned in school and through books, the forms of English I did not use at home with my mother. Just last week, I was walking down the street with my mother, and I again found myself conscious of the English I was using, the English I do use with her. We were talking about the price of new and used furniture and I heard myself saying this: “Not waste money that way.” My husband was with us as well, and he didn’t notice any switch in my English. And then I realized why. It’s because over the twenty years we’ve been together I’ve often used that same kind of English with him, and sometimes he even uses it with me. It has become our language of intimacy, a different sort of English that relates to family”.
    5. I think she means the way her mother speaks English .
    6.I don’t speak and write different depending on who I’m I don’t change the way talk to be more “professional” who is somebody to tell my that how I speak isn’t “professional” , but compared to other people my age I don’t text with slang or texting language .

    • Rebekah Coleman

      Dear Diamond,

      Excellent job! This is a great response. I love how you use quotes to support your thinking and how you describe your use of English! Excellent!

      Warmly,

      RC

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