Becoming Something Different

    In “Becoming Something Different” by Fairbanks, Crooks and Ariail, readers are introduced to Esme Martinez and her journey through education with her peers.

     Upon reading this article, I immediately see connections between the Rodriquez article and the Kozol article. In terms of Rodriquez, Martinez is developing her English language proficiency all through middle school. She finds herself getting frustrated when she is not able to display her feelings and ideas on certain matters but she was grateful for any help she received. At home, Spanish is the dominant language, but that doesn’t stop her English illiterate parents from trying to help her. Throughout all these, Martinez saw herself as increasingly American while her father enforced certain rules that wore among the traditional Mexican practices and beliefs. This connects to Rodriquez because although she comes from a strong Mexican background, her education and her school environment is drawing her more into an American lifestyle, and not so much Mexican. She doesn’t even recognize herself as Mexican, instead she calls herself American. She speaks very little Spanish outside of home and attributes her improving grades to her improving grades to her improving in English proficiency.

      This overall connects to the Bozol article and the impact of institutions on individuals. Esme goes to a school that is teaching her how to speak, read and write in English, which has affected the way in which she views herself and the way she wants to live her life. She only considers herself a good student because of her difficulty with English, but when that improves, so do her grades. She believes that by improving her English proficiency, she is getting smarter, which better impacts her life both in and outside of school. The institution of ESL classes affects Martinez and the direction in which her life is going. A teacher at the same high school Martinez attends describes the ESL program  and its impact on the school’s students at http://larryferlazzo.com/Positiveimpact.html.