"Aria" by Richard Rodriguez 

Hyperlink: 

I could really relate to this text, because I have been taking language classes for a long time, because I want to be a Spanish teacher.  Often times, I have been so lost in what is going on in the classroom. because of the language barrier. It makes it much more difficult to learn the material. I can't even imagine what he felt, by not understanding a language that he had no prior knowledge of.  It has taken me a long time to adjust and become fluent, but I think that knowing more than one language makes you more well rounded and aware of different cultures and perspectives. The fact that he lost his fluency and ability to even think of spanish words is sad.  He lost a part of himself, that the can never get back. His native language was what comforted him when nothing else did. It reminded him of home, and then it was taken away because it was too "different". I wrote a paper about how the U.S should be encouraging bilingual education. It would benefit children very much, if they could obtain knowledge of many languages at a young age. Children are at the best age to learn a language, and if they already speak another one, then that should definitely be encouraged. The fact that the encouragement of different languages in school isn't happening, is a poor reflection on the education system. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I6Y0HAjLKYI

The link to the video I have provided, reminded me so much of this author in relation to the struggles that he faced trying to learn english. Moises in the video, has such a hard time learning but unfortunately he cannot be given the test in his own language. How are students expected to take a test when they don't even know what the words mean? It astounds me that these children cannot even be given any extra help. The child's mother and father did not speak English, so they couldn't even help  their son. The fact that they can't speak it, is not their fault, although many americans think that people from other countries and cultures need to assimilate right away. I have to disagree with this notion, it goes back to heritage and being proud of the culture you come from. No one should have to banish their native language from their lives, just because another one is more prominent in society. 

Question: Why aren't language programs being incoorperated into schools more now, when the demand for being bilingual is so high in this country? Some schools across the country are already adding these programs and that is great, but I think it needs to be stressed more in schools. Connecting globally is the key to success and understanding others, and that can be done through language.