I have two questions for you as we think about the intersection of language, culture and identity. One, as you reflected upon, and rewrote, your essays, what did you find most interesting about your essay? What parts made you think the most? Of what parts of your essay are you the most proud, and why? I saw many examples of powerful writing, interesting examples and some thoughtful analysis. --Please share with me those parts of your essay which you feel are the best-- and consider what mde those sections strong-- how can you make more of your essay(s) equally strong?
Second, as we watched "El Norte" I was struck by the role of language in the film. In one scene, we see Rosa and Enrique being interrogated by the INS (la migra). The INS officers speak fractured Spanish to Rosa and Enrique, while reverting to English (a language that Rosa and Enrique are, as yet, completely unfamiliar with each other) when they do not want Rosa and Enrique to understand them. Rosa and Enrique do exactly the same thing-- speaking to each other in their indigenous lanuguage when they don't want to speak in Spanish in front of the border patrol. In addition, we see variations of Guatemalan and Mexican Spanish, spoken-- in one scene, a Guatemalan friend of Enrique advises Enrique that he should swear a lot if he wants people to believe that he is Mexican instead of Guatemalan. What things were you struck by as you watched this film? Which parts, so far, were strongest, most interesting? Did you make any connections to our unit on language, culture and identity?
-the most interesting thing that i found about my essay is that i understood what the author was talking about.i was also able to write about how he felt about his experience
ReplyDelete-the parts that made me think the most was when he was talking about how when he heard the voices behind him talking in spanish
-in my essay, im most proud of how i did the intro. how i was able to remeber how to write and how to put everything together and make it into a good essay. i was able to write it without using the guidline paper.
Honestly I did not like the prompts but I feel I did well on this Essay. My essay was on Pat Mora's peom "LEGAL ALIEN". I really felt that I related to her she has the belief that I do Chicanos are diiferent. In this country the Americans look at us as Mexicans and in Mexico, Mexicans see us as Americans. We are just a little bit of both we are American becuase we were born in the U.S. and have papers and a social security number legally. But inside we are Mexicans our blood and our culture comes from Mexico. We are diiferent viewed by some as minors but viewed by others as heroes.
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ReplyDelete.i found that the author's quotes reflect upon what kind of way people interacted with their use of languge and culture. a specific part in my essay that i felt was strong was when i tried comparing Nava Veary's and Gloria Anzaldua's quote. if i could have made it stronger i would include life observations and more examples from the short essay.
ReplyDeleteas i watched "el Norte" i was struck with the idea that Guatemalens thought that mexicans swore a lot and had little respect. -the part of the movie that i felt were the strongest and more interesting were when Rosa and Enrique were crawling throug the tunnel to get to the other side, el norte .
my essay im not proud of it because i didnt do that good becuause we didnt get enough time to do it so i rushed it. The movie el norte i didnt make any connection to the unit on language.
ReplyDeleteEnrique said that he has to use a lot of foul language so that he could act like a Mexican. Enrique friend tip really did help him out alot because he was they do use a lot of foul language and it kept them from going back to Guatemala when they were caught by the la migra. That there are some people that you8 can not trust in the world. They might say that you will do this for you but at the end they will rob you or kill you for your money. In the beging they will say that will take you across the border but once you get to the middle they try to rob and leave you for dead after they get there money.
ReplyDeleteI learned that culture, pride, and language are very important. With these three thing we can live and know who we are, and where we come from. In my essay i learned without language you are lost, without pride, your culture is gone, and without culture your past, present, future are all taken away and lost forever.
ReplyDeleteIn the movie I learned that,many people struggle to come to America, and the thing they do to get here is unbeliveable. I also learned that the story goes somewhat to my essay. They left there language,culture, and pride. After that they lost there Identity, and the way they live.
the things that is good about the essay is i feel proud of it because i m from an immigrant family and i dont think leaning a new language and culture will lost ur original language and culture.
ReplyDeletei think that i did understand well the prompt and knew what i suppose to do on the essay, so i feel i did not bad on my essay. i'm proud of my essay b/c i can feel connected to other essay as other immigrants.
ReplyDeleteI think the strongest part in my essay is the way it is stuctured. another part that makes my essay strong is my thesis and conclusion.
ReplyDelete-using the quotes from the reading and making this essay more of an opinion type of eassy rather then a research type of essay.
i didnt get a chance to see the movie.....
The part that I found most interesting when doing the essay has to be the part about aria because the author contradicts himself in at the end of the story by saying that he is happy with what happened when he says in the beginning that he hates what is happening. It was also a little hard to compare both essays since there was little in common other than culture and language.
ReplyDeleteFor the second question I found interesting that it is true that Mexicans swear a lot. Whenever my family gets together no matter what there is always someone swearing especially my grandfather and grandmother. Even when it’s just my dad and uncle talking about a normal day they are always swearing. It was a very smart idea to use the officer’s tactics against them by doing the exact same thing. Most people probably wouldn’t ever think of doing that. It does show that even though there are some languages that are the same they can become different with just a slight variation by just adding a word or changing a way that a word sounds.
*After i worte my essay, i realize that Chinese is kind of similar to Hawaiian which many people are speaking it, but not really know the true meaning of the words. Wiriting this essay makes me reconsidered my background and my culture. Maybe I should learn more about my culture so that it won't be fade away...
ReplyDelete*I think "El Norte" was a good movie. From this movie I saw Rosa&Enrique struggle alot to go to the "land of opportunity" the north. I wonder their life would really get better if they are still illegal immigrants. I think it is going to be hard for them. the saddest part in the movie was when Rosa&Enriquen trying to cross the tunnel to get to the north. It was horrible that mice got all over their body.
I think that the most intersting part in my essay is when I used quotes from the authors because i understood what the writer was talking about and i explained what i think.
ReplyDeletethe most inresting part that i found in the movie "El Norte" was when Rosita and Enrique was crawling trouh the tunnel as many people have to do to get to "The Norte"
I think my essay was good, but it would have been better if I were to haev fniished it. I had time to but I was stuck because i did not know what to write. My problem with essays is that i tend to get suck in the middle and i take a long time to think of what i should write.i could have putten more quotes and supported them to.
ReplyDeleteI liked the movie "El Norte" it was very interesting and tragic at the same time. The part that was very interesting to me was when
I think my essay was good, but it would have been better if I were to haev fniished it. I had time to but I was stuck because i did not know what to write. My problem with essays is that i tend to get suck in the middle and i take a long time to think of what i should write.i could have putten more quotes and supported them to.
ReplyDeleteI liked the movie "El Norte" it was very interesting and tragic at the same time. The part that was very interesting to me was when Enrique was offered to get a job in Chicago he, at first had said no because he didn't want to leave Rosa his sister, then he wanted go because he needed the money. Little did he know Rosa was getting sick because she was bitten by rats. Enrique did not care at the moment because he needed the money. I did not like that part because he did not care about his sisters health. Overall the movie was good. I would like to watch it again =]