Bilingualism Vs Bilingual Education

“Our culture, our traditions, our languages are the foundations upon which we build our identity.” - Unknown. Bilingualism has many different interpretations and definitions and can cause problems in the community or unite it. The concept of bilingualism represents several different ideas, two writers, Martin Espada and Richard Rodriguez share in their essays their personal stories about being immersed into the English culture and learning the language. They share their views of what bilingualism means to them personally and make arguments about the importance of the concept. The two essayists bring awareness to the major role bilingualism plays in the communities today and highlight the effects of disagreements between cultural groups.

In Richard Rodriguez's essay , “ Aria: A Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood ” he writes about how he struggled as a child who only spoke Spanish but lives in a society where the “public” language is English . He believes that speaking proper English will somehow help him fit into society and find his identity. Throughout the essay he contrast the Spanish language identity and English language identity. As a young boy, Rodriguez finds consolation and safety in his home where they only speak Spanish. He feels that he only has a true identity when he is at home surrounded by those who speak the same language as him

Bilingual education offers a completely different world for students of different ethnic background and thus creates a comfort zone limiting the risk-taking factor necessary for the maturation of a child to an adult. Rodriguez argues supporters of bilingualism fail to realize "while one suffers a

Rodriguez offers a different standpoint on bilingualism, and an argument he presents is that one must be willing to give up part of their native ways when learning a language to fit into the public. Rodriguez considered Spanish a private language and English a public one. This perception made him reluctant to learn English, but at the same time, it motivated him to become a part of the public by learning its language. Rodriguez uses his family life as an example of his native identity. He was not an English speaker when he was young, but upon learning the language, he drifted away from his family, and describes it rather frankly: “I was an American citizen. But the special feeling of closeness at home was diminished by then. . . . No longer so close; no longer bound tight by the pleasing and troubling knowledge of our public separateness . . . . When I arrived home there would often be

Espada even goes so far as to saying in his text, “Though most are at least somewhat bilingual, this is a community divided from itself by language, a consequence of cultural aggression” (234-237). Meaning Latinos with different experiences with the culture can’t unite behind each other. This means that they can’t be united against the same problem, which gives more power to the oppressors. Cultural aggression also creates more of a gap between two cultures. This aggression even affects kids. At one high school, the lunch lady overhead two kids talking in Spanish where she made the rash decision of banning Spanish in the cafeteria. This creates a gap between Anglos and Latinos ultimately dividing the two

By contrast, Richard Rodriquez, in his article entitled "Aria", strongly believes in surrendering to learning the proper English language, despite how strongly he feels his native tongue is a private language that once functioned to unite his family. Rodriguez creates a division of a public and a private discourse. He feels that he has a ‘right to learn the public language of los gringos'. He creates a visual clash of two worlds: a public world as represented by school and the need to learn English; and a private world as represented by his family and the use of Spanish within the home. He feels that in order to adapt and create assimilation that he needs to abandon the comfort of using Spanish to communicate and force himself to learn English – even if it meant alienating his family members.

Richard Rodriguez talks about bilingual education and says how it is impossible for a child to speak his family’s language in school. His reasoning later

The particular focus of Rodriguez’s story is that in order to feel like he belonged to the “public society” he had to restrict his individuality. Throughout his story, Rodriguez discussed such topics as assimilation and heritage. He goes into depth about the pros and the cons of being forced to assimilate to the American culture. Growing up Hispanic in America was a struggle for Rodriguez. This was due to the fact that he was a Spanish-speaking boy living in an English-speaking society, and he felt like he was different than the other children. Rodriguez writes, “I was fated to be the ‘problem student’ in class” (Rodriguez 62). This is referring to Rodriguez’s improper knowledge of English. It made him stand out as the kid that was behind. He wanted to find the balance between the public and private face. He believed both were important to develop. As I read this story it changed the way I looked at people who speak different languages, and how it must be hard to fit in with society if you are not all fluent in English.

As a child, I was simultaneously immersed in three completely different cultures. My mother was Chinese, yet spoke Vietnamese, my father was white, and I lived in a predominantly Spanish community. These contrasting lifestyles and cultures truly showed me the difference between a public and a private identity, and the importance behind bilingualism in the world today. However, before I can recount what I’ve learned, we must first discuss two contrasting concepts about bilingualism from two very accomplished and controversial writers: Martín Espada and Richard Rodriguez.

Although bilingual education has some merit, avoiding the implementation of the more popular language of a community is detrimental to the incorporation of mostly you people in society and hinders their ability to develop a keen sense of identity. For example, "language gets learned as it gets used (7).” In other words, one masters the language as he speaks it. Speaking and language skills tend to sharpen if they are used regularly. Rodriguez argues that learning both languages and using them rather than leaving one begins to lead to a better sense of identity and freedom. But according to Rodriguez it makes one become insecure, growing up

Rodriguez builds a formidable case against bilingual education with his bilingual childhood experiences. Rodriguez grew up speaking Spanish, but then learned how to speak English later in life so he knows what effects bilingual education has on bilingual kids who grew up speaking a private language at homes. When Rodriguez first came to the United States in Sacramento, California he understood “about fifty stray English words” (Richard Rodriguez “Aria: A Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood”). He was a Mexican immigrant whose family only knew how to speak Spanish. The neighbors of Rodriguez’s family didn’t like them, so when they were out walking they would tell Rodriguez’s parents “Keep your brats away from my sidewalk!” (Rodriguez 571). Rodriguez loses the “special feeling of closeness at home” when he learned English (Rodriguez 577). Personal experiences are what makes him a credible author. Rodriguez used strong ethos and pathos appeals, but he didn’t use strong logos appeals. He didn’t use facts or reasoning in his memoir to prove his points against bilingual education.

Bilingual Education where Supporters feel that students miss a great deal by not being taught in their family’s language. That children that retain their family’s language will retain a sense of individuality. Their ethnic heritage & cultural ties. Helping Students acquire the skills of a classroom crucial for public success. Rodriguez also discusses the use of teaching and using a single language.

Thesis - According to both Rodriguez and Espada, bilingualism is the separation of public and private language in society. to protect the rights of Spanish speakers.

In my life, I must speak many different languages: English at home, with my friends, in public, as well as Vietnamese with family. When speaking to my parents, I show respect and sometimes humor. I often even combine English with Vietnamese. With my siblings and friends, I use sarcastic and understanding tones. In public, I carefully choose my words in order not to offend anyone. With extended family, I quietly speak in the polite Vietnamese that my culture demands. Because I speak a variety of languages, my ability to communicate with others heightens. To me, bilingualism means communicating in public or private languages and embracing its culture. The dictionary definition does not encompass the importance or connotation of bilingualism. Martín Espada and Richard Rodriguez, esteemed authors, write essays about the role of bilingualism in their lives. Espada’s essay, “The New Bathroom Policy At English High School”, describes the superiority English holds over other languages, and Rodriguez’s essay, “Hunger of Memory”, details the sacrifices of learning English. Both authors speak Spanish and English, have received a myriad of awards for their writing, and have experienced the difficulties maintaining two languages.

This past school year, my family hosted an exchange student from Israel. He lived and interacted with us 24/7 - all while speaking English, his second language. I was amazed that he was able to speak so fluently, but also felt guilty at times that I couldn’t interact with him in his native Arabic tongue to make him feel more comfortable. I realized over time that my exchange student came to America fully aware and accepting that he wouldn’t be able to interact with many people in his own language, but he was comfortable in the discomfort of that. Over the last few months my opinion of bilingualism has evolved. I believe native languages are vital to maintaining global diversity, but people coming to the United States need to know English in order to survive amongst the majority population. Authors Martin Espada and Richard Rodriguez have very different opinions and first-hand experiences when it comes to bilingualism despite their cultural similarities. Espada stands more protective of his cultural tongue while Rodriguez exhibits a more open idea of English as a public, interactive tool. Nevertheless, bilingualism is a powerful resource that should not be stripped from people. Their history, culture and identity are all tied to language.