Vargas-Guadalupe 1 Vernica Vargas-Guadalupe Rebecca Agosta English 1101-68 September 23, 2013 Cover letter The easiest part

of writing this essay was that because I learned English, which is my learned literacy, in such a short period of time I was able to make it very straightforward. I chose to make it chronologically so it would be easier to read. It was kind of difficult to actually remember some details of my experiences because I dont have a very good memory. I was also having some trouble on how to start a snapshot or the introduction to it. Also, not only the introduction was difficult but also how to end them without leaving them uncompleted, especially the last snapshot. The snapshot of my dictionary I am sure I want to keep. I know for a fact that even though I need to make some changes I am going to keep it. The reason is that I really think of the dictionary as a very critical and important sponsor, which helped me a lot in the process of me learning English. One snapshot that I am not sure I want to keep is the one about the ESL classes. The reason is that I think that I wrote on my opinions and I cant be sure it works because what if it works in other schools but in mine it didnt? So I think that I would change that one for something else, or just change my approach to it. I wanted to ask my peers what they thought about the ESL class program in their old school. I personally did not believe that the ESL classes were effective. I believed that instead of finding improvement I was moving backwards. I wanted to see if other people had the same opinion as me. I wanted to find out if this program was

Vargas-Guadalupe 2 effective and if not why was this the case. Another one I did not really like was the last snapshot which talks about my family as sponsors. I feel like they were sponsors to me the whole time and I cannot find a way to put it in one experience or snapshot. I feel like it would not be fair to them to just write about one thing so I am debating if I should just not write about it.

Vargas-Guadalupe 3 One step forward At the time I did not know the reason that the teacher asked for me to be put in that class. I did not even know her that well. It was the first day of class, and I was very happy that it was my last year of middle school. I remember thinking to myself, I am almost done with ninth grade, and soon I will be in high school. Of course, back then that meant that I was finally going to be a grown up. Anyways, I did not understand why my homeroom class was so small. It usually has about 40 students but this one consisted of only 18. I asked Mrs. Cruz, our English teacher, why this year was different, and she explained to everyone that this was a special class called Read 180. This class chapter was organized by her, and its purpose was to teach students the English language. At first I was confused because it is mandatory that we take an English class since we were in Elementary school, so it still did not explain why it was different and special. Mrs.Cruz kept explaining and she then said that the students in this class were chosen by other teachers, and were supposed to be the responsible and applied students, the ones that take school seriously. The reason she said this was that even though taking an English class is mandatory, ninety eight percent of the students did not take it seriously or were not interested in it. So she said that she wanted to make a difference and thats why she organized this class, which she hoped would be more successful than the other ones we have had in the past. I was not sure of how to react to this change. I was reluctant at first by this decision but then I understood that this would actually benefit me greatly. The Read 180 class was not so bad, but the students that were chosen to be in it were not serious about it and that was very irritating. They were no different than the other ones. The only thing that saved this special class was that Mrs. Cruz was so strict that students knew that they had to actually work for their grades or they would fail the class and have to repeat it. We

Vargas-Guadalupe 4 learned really basic stuff, just think of a high school Spanish class in a really basic level. I remember that I learned the colors, how to say time (sometimes, it was not my forte), and we would read a lot. Even though I did not understand what I was saying, I would still do it. I was actually one of the few people that was enthusiastic and interested in the class. The other students just wanted to get it over with, but I really did want to learn, especially after I found out that my dad was thinking of making me move to the United States with him. The lesson plan was very simple but I still gained some valuable information that helped me in the long run. I can say that even though I did not learn as much as I wanted in the class, I am thankful for what I did learn and I realized after I was already here in North Carolina that some stuff was easier than others because of the Read 180 class. I think of the Read 180 class as a base or a seed that was planted inside my brain because when I returned to my English studies in the United States, I already had a basic knowledge and knew what to expect.

I remember like it was yesterday when I first came to the United States. I was in a completely new world and I did not know what to expect. I can recall the first day of high school because it was a negative experience for me. It was a day full of embarrassment and frustration for me. I remember being in the car with my older brother, and he was driving me to school. He noticed how nervous I was, and he said, Dont worry; everybodys nervous on the first day. I know that he was just trying to help me out and make me feel better, but to be honest, it didnt make much difference. My nerves were at an all time high because I had no idea of what to imagine. I was in a completely new country and I did not know how to react. He dropped me off on the entrance of the school and just left me there, alone, by myself. I was surrounded by

Vargas-Guadalupe 5 people I didnt know. I experienced a sense of culture shock. I was unfamiliar with the fashion and speech. I was accustomed to a completely different culture. I finally went inside the school, after thinking how should I do it and what to expect over and over again. The overall condition of the school building was amazing. I was used to the typical awful Puerto Rican school building and so I was completely amazed by the school both inside and out. The school was not in open air like my old one. It had air conditioning; I could not believe it. It was clean and smelled really good. I was just so happy and thinking that it was the best thing that could ever happened to me, until I got pulled back into reality. After I went in I was just leaning back on a wall just waiting because I didnt know what to do. People would come up to me and would speak but all I would hear was blah blah blah. I was so scared and embarrassed. I didnt know if people were coming up to me because they saw the face I had, and how lost I was and they just wanted to help, or if they were just making fun of me or insulting me. I didnt know how to react, so all I did was just nod. I kept nodding my head up and down pretending to understand, but in reality I had no clue. They realized after a while that I was clueless, and they would just leave. There was a girl that saw me and helped me out. She came up to me and started speaking to me. She was asking if I was feeling okay and what was wrong with me. I answered her without even realizing that she was speaking Spanish to me. It came so naturally, and I was so happy and relieved to hear someone I could actually understand. She told me how I was not the only one going through that, and then we introduced each other. She said, My name is Yesenia Ponce, whats your name? After I told her my name she asked where I was from. I thought that it was so weird because I have never been asked that before. Where I am from there is no

Vargas-Guadalupe 6 diversity, everyone is from the same country. I told her I was from Puerto Rico, and then she said she was from El Salvador. We talked for a long time and then she showed me around the school and told me everything I needed to know. She showed me where all my classes were, so I would not get lost. We saw each other again during lunch. She sat with me and we talked and talked without ever imagining that we would become best friends later on. I always say that I do not know what would have happened on my first day of high school if it wasnt for Yesenia. I probably would have been lost, and not know what to do because I did not even know how to ask for help.

People would look at me weird because I stood apart from everyone else by constantly having my dictionary but I didnt really care. I wanted to improve my skills and it did not bother me that people were judging me. They looked at me as an outcast because I did not know the language. I knew the reason they did, but I thought that carrying it with me benefitted me more than anything else. I did not listen when anybody would tell me to put it away; my dictionary was critical in my life. It helped me so much. I would ALWAYS carry it around with me at all times. It was a big bright half orange half yellow dictionary; I am the one who chose it like that so I would never lose it. Because it was kind of big it did not fit in most of my purses, so I would carry it in my hand as if it was one of my textbooks.

Vargas-Guadalupe 7 Every time I needed to translate something, I knew that it was going to be there for me. I did not trust phones or the internet because I did not always have signal and it was not very reliable at the time, but I knew that the dictionary would never fail me because it was there with me 24/7; it never left my side. Even when I would go out, to the mall for example, I would have it with me because what if I got lost or something? I couldnt risk it. My dictionary was my lifesaver because I was able to use it when really necessary. I think that the worst feeling I have ever had, and I felt it more than once, was when I was in a place in which I didnt know anybody and I was just lost. Not physically lost but mentally lost. In my mind I didnt know what to do or what was going on, just like my first day of high school. It feels like people are plotting something against me. I would get very paranoid. I have seen so many movies in which a girl gets kidnapped and killed in a foreign country. I knew that it was not likely to happen but that was all I could think of. Having my dictionary helped me be in peace because the first words I learned were that kill means matar and kidnap means secuestrar. I had always liked to read horror books since I was little, but when I came to live to North Carolina, my favorite book was the dictionary. I would read some of it every day. After a while I didnt need it as much but I would still carry it with me just in case. Just like my mom always said, you can never be too careful.

Vargas-Guadalupe 8 When I started school in Riverside High School the principal wanted to put me in ESL (English as a Second Language) classes. My dad was furious; he even wanted to change me to another school, and he did everything he could to put me in regular classes and he accomplished it. He would have never allowed me to be in an ESL class. I didnt understand why at the beginning but I later learned the importance of his initiative. I was even mad at my dad because he didnt understand how hard it was to not understand a word of what a teacher is teaching me, and he did not listen to me when I would tell him I did want to be in the ESL classes. Yesenia convinced me that it was best not to take those classes, but she didnt tell me why; the only thing she did say was, When you graduate from Riverside, compare your achievements to the people that took ESL classes. I had already forgotten of Yesenias words but now that I go back to it I realized something. My dad and she were right. I had so many Hispanic friends that were just like me. They did not know English when they started high school and most of them took ESL classes. Now I see that it was a mistake, because they started their freshman year and finished their senior year taking ESL classes. I was already fluent on my second year of high school, and by the time we graduated, they were still not able to maintain a basic conversation with a native English speaker. Not only were their language skills behind but also their class credits and their knowledge of the courses. Because they took ESL classes all their high school years, they were not able to take any regular classes, let alone any honor and AP classes. I believe that it is key for international students to be in the same classrooms because otherwise they are not given the same opportunites. I honestly think that ESL classes dont really work because it just makes the student lazy. If you are taking a class in a foreign country, but they are speaking your native language, you are

Vargas-Guadalupe 9 not going to put as much effort to learn that foreign language because you do not need it as much. My case was different; I had to learn English because I had no other choice. Either I learned English or I had the risk of failing my classes. I feel like that motivated me into putting more effort and be more interested in learning the language.

I took regular classes and I actually did very well in all of them. My GPA never got lower than a 4.0. I was impressed with myself. One of the classes that helped me the most was my English 2 class; actually not the class but the teacher, Ms. Phillis. She was so sweet, and she was always worrying about her students wellness. She would have special meetings with me, and she would ask me how I was doing and if I needed help. She would even give me extra homework, and even though it will sound weird, I actually liked it. She gave me some tips to do better in school. Even though it was harder and double the work, I did what she told me. Every time I had to do an essay I would write it in Spanish. Then I would translate it word for word without using the internet, just my dictionary, and she would help me with my grammar. I still find myself using this process because it really helps me to create superior assignments. By the end of my English class I could write essays without having to do it in Spanish and then translate it, but I would sometimes do it just to be sure. I had the highest grade of the class, and sometimes my classmates would ask me for help, which I thought was kind of ironic. After that, I was convinced that I could handle more, so I decided to take honor and AP (Advanced Placement) classes. My dad actually told me to wait for my second year so that I was

Vargas-Guadalupe 10 better prepared, but I told him I believed I could do it. I am glad I did because the harder the classes the more effort and time I had to put into my education. I put a lot of effort to prove to others that I was capable of accomplishing anything that I set my mind to. The obstacles that I was able to overcome can measure my success. Sometimes people ask me how I learned English in such a short period of time and I think that could be a good answer. Unlike Malcolm X,whom basically thinks that with determination anything can be accomplished, I do not think that motivation is all you need for success and achieve what you want, but I think it is a great and very important component of it.