"Aria" by Richard Rodriguez

Richard Rodriguez's essay shows the reader a part of his life that few people have experienced. He points out the childhood struggles he had trying to adopt the English language. Rodriguez believes by speaking English he will fit better in society. During this time Rodriguez gives up on his native language of Spanish, both at home and school, to become a better English speaking student.

Passage of interest

• We remained a loving family, but one greatly changed. No longer so close; no longer bound tight by the pleasing and troubling knowledge of our public separateness. Neither my brother nor sister rushed home after school anymore. Nor did I.

As a child Rodriguez found comfort at home speaking Spanish; the family surrounded him with this comfort and love which was conveyed by using the Spanish language. In attempts to become a better student, he gives up on his native language, it becomes a forbidden language at home which leads him to feel a sense of isolation with his parents. A "new silence" has been born and Rodriguez feels the strain. Teaching ESL to students is wonderful, but to give up their native language is totally wrong. Let their culture live on with them...we must embrace those students with a second language, encouraging them to learn but not to forget where it is they came from.

• I also needed my teachers to keep my attention from straying in class by calling out, Rich-heard - their English voices slowly prying loose my ties to my other name, its three notes, Ri-car-do.

To me it seems the names have two different meanings. Richard was a scared boy who needed to find his place in the Americanized world. How was he to fit in society when all he spoke was Spanish? Ricardo was a boy who came from a loving home, who was comfortable with speaking Spanish to his parents. But Richard soon took over and pushed Ricardo out, he was learning that his family life was changing because of his need to learn English. Why can't children be bilingual? Who are we to tell them to stop using their language at home? In today's society being bilingual is very marketable....employers will pay extra $$ for those who speak two languages.....I wish I had the opportunity to learn Spanish in high school, I envy those who can..

No one culture is better than any other....I do think that Rodriguez could have kept part of his culture and still become Americanized. I think the main point of this essay was that Rodriguez feels it is necessary for people living in a culture that is not native to them to conform to that particular culture. I feel Rodriguez's writing was really well written....would you agree???