Interviewing a Classmate

In class we were instructed to interview one of our classmates in order to learn more about their backgrounds. I interviewed Kevin about his different language and cultural ways. Kevin and his parents are from Illinois but his grandparents are originally from Ireland and Italy. He does not know any fluent languages that relate to his culture but he does remember growing up and having his grandparents interact with him in Italian. They taught him a few words as he got older but he never stuck to it or was ever determined to learn more. Kevin and his parents/family interact at home and in public speaking English. Growing up, Kevin also remember being involved with the Irish culture. He has been celebrating St. Patricks Day almost every year. Although Kevin is not very based with his culture/language, he still celebrates and continues to represent where his generations are from.

Getting Personal

Personal essays are a form of writing in which the author must trust themselves enough in order to ensure that they convey the meaning that they are attempting to display. It is not simply based off of grammar and punctuation like a normal essay but instead is more importantly about conveying a message. Personal essays are meant to connect to the reader on a more emotional level instead of simply informing them about a certain topic. They engage the reader and force them to think about the opinions of the writer. They are broader than a simple informative paper and can have many depths to them.

Changing Genres

Genre is important when trying to inform the reader of the message that the writer is trying to convey. For every piece of writing there is a genre in which it would be most appropriate to bring meaning to the piece. You would not want to choose a genre that inappropriately conveys the message. If the writer chose an inappropriate context of conveying their message than it could lead the piece of writing to be misleading for the reader. We must all learn the context in which we are trying to give purpose to the piece. This is an important skill to have so that you can be a informed writer and have the reader accurately interpret your writings.

Language

I came to the United States when I was four years old. It was very hard to adjust to the "American Culture". School was an even harder task. I had to attend ESL (Enlgish Second Language) for a couple years in order to learn English. I had a big accent when i was little. Like Mellix, I was able to take the "Standard English" language and transform my accent. My family is very big on speaking Egyptian at home. My parents knew English beffore we moved to America, they believed it would be better for me to learn Egyptian when I was young and to essentially be taught English in school. They do not want me to forget it and feel it will help me in the future with school and jobs, they always tell me I should pass it down to my future children. I feel that I have grown into the "American Culture" and learned the language very well. Although it was difficult, I am glad I was able to adjust at a young age. I feel that it is harder when you are older and have to learn and adapt to new situations, especially when it involves language and culture change.

From Outside In Discussion Questions 2 & 5

Growing up, Mellix learned to use two different types of English. As a child, Mellix used "Black English" in her everyday speech. It was easily accessible for her because that is what the people around her (family, friends, etc.) were accustomed to. On the other side of the spectrum, she had to learn how to utilize "Standard English" to the best of her ability in order to accomplish her goal of becoming a teacher. Mellix now feels accomplished that she was able to transform her speech from "Black English" to "Standard English". 

Throughout school, Mellix was able to learn "Standard English" by the teachers speaking "Black English". In order to learn the language, she had to imagine herself as apart of the culture of that language. She had to write, rewrite, practice, and experiment to achieve her language skills. She discovered "that through writing one can continually bring new selves into being, each with new responsibilities and difficulties, but also with

new possibilities". 

Short Narrative - My Sister

Have you ever had a friend that you never thought in your lifetime would impact you in such a good way? My best friend, Marion Mitchell, was one of the biggest influences in my life. I met her six years ago in highschool. We were hesitant to start speaking at first but we soon found ourselves talking up a storm. She is the kind of person that I can still go to even when we are fighting because I know we are mature enough to put the arguments aside to help each other out. She is always one to put others before herself and knows how to cheer anyone up with a good laugh. Her advice giving and listening skills is what I admire the most. Marion does not hold back on what she thinks of any situation or advice I may need. We are bluntly honest with each other, but we understand that we mean nothing to help. She is one of the few people in my life that I can tell anything and everything to. I know no matter what, she will not judge me. We can go a week without talking and pick up the phone as if we spoke earlier in the day. We have been through so much from fighting for days to two week family vacations together. Marion is half Japanese, half African-American. She is very cultured with her family, just as I am with mine. We teach each other the languages and we can even speak back and forth with understanding everything. Marion and I have gotten so close over the years, I truly consider her as a sister to me.