"To succeed in the classroom, I needed psychologically to sever my ties with Spanish" (77).
Reading this quote about how Rodriguez, in order to graduate and obtain success in education, had to completely let go of his cultural and life. Why is one expected to grow up in a house that only speaks Spanish, to just have to abandon it once he or she reaches university? Colleges and universities have become so reliant on texts and strict translations that they have drifted away from the true beginnings of a cultural, such as that of the Spanish-speaking. Rodriguez states that the language he says on the pages in his classrooms are foreign to him, even though he has just learned to read Spanish himself. Rodriguez and his lack of connection with his own language inside his studies shows the blatant disregard for sustaining the humanities of life, and instead sacrificing them for superficial success and rewards. Rodriguez, and all other persons of minority races, should not feel "out of place" or "uncomfortable" with themselves just to lead a good life, to obtain a good education. Outsiders should not feel proud of minorities for graduating just because they are a minority, but instead be proud because he or she is a person working hard for his or her goal.
Rodriguez feels as if he has to cut ties with the Spanish language so he can accept and understand the foreign languages that he is studying. I believe he should approach it a different way. Rodriguez needs to use the resources he has with the Spanish language to understand these foreign concepts.
ReplyDeletei think that he was trying to learn all of the languages including the foreign and i also feel that with the help of the he will come around on the different languages. And i also feel like he gone make it happen because of the hard work that their really putting in.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the fact that it's ridiculous that he feels as though he has to drop his native language and culture all together just so that he can study english as his major. I think it's good that he's passionate about what he wants to be in life, but the fact that he's dropped practically everything to do so, is sad.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is wrong that he had to give up his ties to his culture in order to succeed. It is unfair to have to give up something so large in our life when that one thing such as a Spanish culture could have such a positive change and impact on our society.
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