Advanced English Composition
Sunday, February 29, 2004
Response to Sehoon’s reaction by Byungseob Lee
I read Sehoon’s response. After I read his reaction to “Hunger of Memory,” I thought about his situation. I am interested in his situation because he also has a baby who was born in the U.S. The baby also has to learn and speak English. His situation is similar to Richard’s father. If his baby is a bilingual, I wonder how to deal with his baby. I think that this situation has to be a common situation because the world is smaller than before. He wants his baby to teach Korean before he learns English. According to Noam Chomsky, he insists that language has a rule like mathematics, and he presents some rules in his theory, “Aspects of the Theory of Syntax.” I also agree with Sehoon’s statements and I hope that he will be a good father as Jiwon’s father.
Response to Boram's reaction by Jongsik Park
I agree with Boram’s response. I also have two cuisines who speak English fluently and little bit of Korean, however, their families don’t have troubles communicating. In fact, my uncle and aunt use Korean in conversation, even though my cousin speak little bit of Korean. My uncle think though he, my cousin, was born in America so he is American, his bloodline is Korean. Since my cousins are well trained to listen to Korean because they’ve heard of it ever since they were little, parents talk in Korean and the kids respond back in English. First time, I feel weird when he response in English. But it doesn’t seem to have any troubles in their feelings. I think Rodriguez case is a special. The more you learn language, the better you can get advantage.
Response to Sung-wan Kang’s response by Song Seungho
I strongly agree with Sungwan’s opinion that conversation between parents and children is important. Also I agree speaking second language at home can be barrier to master first language. In addition, he should do conversation with his parents. And his idea that lack of conversation cause misunderstanding between family members is very good point for the article “Hunger of Memory.” Because the writer looks forgot importance of cozy family relationships. I think if he shows his reason of opinion, his response article will be more good article.
Response to Sung-wan Kang’s response by Islam Ahmed
I strongly agree with Sung’s opinion especially when he says that conversations between family members are very important. I also agree with him when he says “I also believe that practicing second language at home is not a good idea because they may improve some expressions and speaking speed, but it disturbs accent and pronunciation.” I agree with this sentence because sometimes when second English speakers speak English together they make grammar or pronunciation mistakes, and repeating those mistakes for a long time makes them harder to correct. Therefore, I think second English speakers should start practicing English with non-English speakers only when they are sure that they will not make mistakes and that there English language has become good enough. However, this is just my opinion, and that does not mean it has to be the right one. It might be right and it might be wrong.
Response to SORA HONG’ s Response to “Hunger of Memory”----Agatha Yang
Somehow, I agree with the point made by Sora Hong in his response that the author’s parents might have mistaken the decision of only speaking to him in English, but I think even though this decision could be wrong, I still feel grateful about how the parents of the author have sacrifice the opportunities to speak Spanish with their son for his future. I agree with Sora Hong that if Rodriguez’s parents have spoken to him in both languages, he might be living a much happier life now, but we can never know that whether he would have a lower English level or not if the parents talked to him bilingually. It is a good example that the author uses about the friend, self-experience is always the best evident. But me, I can never understand thoroughly about people in Rodriguez’s situation but I can imagine that is hard.
Response to Seung-ho's response by Sung-wan Kang
I find Seung-ho's resonse puzzling because it is hard to get his main point. Unlike he says in his response, I think writer's family is not weird. They just want to do something for their childeren. Rodriguez also says, "What would they not do for their children's well-being?" (21). I strongly believe doing someting good for children is parents' common nature. His parents just want to help children's English fluency. There is another wrong point Seung-ho made in his response. The family did not stop conversation to speak English. They just talk fewer because parents' English is not good enough to communicate with their children. I also disagree with Seung-ho's idea that family should speak Enlish in easy topic, and speak Spanish in important topic. I wonder who decide what is easy, and serious or important topic. Money and grade that Seung-ho mentions may not be serious and importand to some people. I believe that it depends on indivisual.
Response to the Boram's reaction by Yongmin
I read Boram’s response, and I agree what she said. It is funny at the first time that hearing Asian looking people speak in both of the languages (native language and second language). I also saw many parents talk in Korean and the kids respond back in English or respond back in mixed up languages. I think the family like the story or who is similar situation should do is that parents speak both of the languages at the first time, and once the kids speak the second language fluently parents can speak the native language much more. When the kids go to school or hang out with their friends they speak only the second language, it is possible that they forget the native language, so that the parents speak the native language much more.
Response to SORA HONG’ s Response to “Hunger of Memory”----Agatha Yang
Somehow, I agree with the point made by Sora Hong in his response that the author’s parents might have mistaken the decision of only speaking to him in English, but I think even though this decision could be wrong, I still feel grateful about how the parents of the author have sacrifice the opportunities to speak Spanish with their son for his future. I agree with Sora Hong that if Rodriguez’s parents have spoken to him in both languages, he might be living a much happier life now, but we can never know that whether he would have a lower English level or not if the parents talked to him bilingually. It is a good example that the author uses about the friend, self-experience is always the best evident. But me, I can never understand thoroughly about people in Rodriguez’s situation but I can imagine that is hard.
Response to one of your classmates blogs. By. Joerel Morales
I going to respond Thomas Kim blogg, When I readed Thomas blogg I was very amazing with his summary about Richard Rodriguez autobiography because I agree in the information that he posted there.
One of the thing that I agree with Thomas is that he informs in his blogg that the summary is informative and he explains the reasons that are similar to my reasons.Then,I agree with Thomas because he explains that bilingual education no only affected Richard also his family and is certainly is true.I also agree with Thomas because he explains that for foreing students is tough to learn english and those persons need to understand the American Culture.Finally this is a serious problem in the United State because there is a lot of hispanic people in america that cant comunicate with other people becuse they dont have the education and that result in serious problem to those peoples.
By.Joerel Morales
< Response to Jongsik's reaction by Sora Hong >
I am interested in his reaction of "Hunger of memory", because he tells about the paternal love. I also sympathize with the author when I read that article. But I thought only the collapse of relationship between Richard Rodriguez's family, not about parent's love and sacrifice. So, I am moved by his response. Richard Rodriguez's parents decided to not to use Spanish when they speak with their child even though their native language is Spanish. It's all for their child's bright future. I think most parents in the world want their children to be well at all their cost. Also, my parents decided to my going to study abroad despite the fact that they can't see their lovely daughter during many years. Therefore I agree with his thinking about the paternal love which is not expressed directly but felt throughout the article.
Response to Boram's reaction by joey
I find Boram Kim’s response is very interesting, because she talked about similar experience as mine, which tells me that she lived kin similar circumstance like where I lived. However, I do not agree with one thing. She said that she was confused when she read the autobiography, but in my opinion, there is no such thing like confused in the autobiograph. She said that according to her experience bilingualism work well, yet, I think that is only the tip of the iceberg. All of her experiences are based on Korean American, not Spanish American which is in the autobiography. Therefore, in my view, bilingualism might not work well..
response by Thomas Kim
Se Hoon Kim’s article was thought provoking to me, because he points out the problems of bilingual education which could be mine. He said that he was still confused how to teach his baby who was born in the United States. After I read his response, I realized his present situation can be mine within 10 years. What if I settled United States and bring up my children in this country? Obviously, I will be faced language and cultural problems with my child. Because I am fully focused on my own problems and near future, I haven’t had a chance to think about these matters. Through reading his article I can finally visualize that situation. Therefore, I would like to thank to Se Hoon to show his own example to give me a better understanding about this situation.
Blog Assignment #8
Response to Sung-wan Kang’s response by Young-Kyun Lee.
After I read Sung-wan Kang's responese, I have had the same opinion with his some part. He seemed to think that learning English is not only important, but also family relationship. He was concerned about that a good relationship of family may be spoiled if there is no family's conversation and I agree with this part. However, Kang previously stated that practicing Englinsh at home is not a good idea. But, I believe that practicing Englinsh at home is a good idea because only repeated praticing can be improved English. Next, for me, family is the most important thing in my life. Unlike Rodriguez, if I must have a choice between English and my family, I will choose my family, not English. I do not want to be like Rodriguez's situation in his autobiography.
Response to Sung-wan's reaction by Boram
I strongly agree with Sung-wan when he says people need to speak their native language at home even if the family lives in another country. People should not forget about where they are from and their unique culture and customs in order to not to lose their patriotism as well as a bond to their own families. I’ve seen many language schools in the United States, such as Korean schools or Japanese schools. Those schools are for people who are born and raised outside of their own country, and need to improve their native language ability. I think it is a really good idea to establish schools like that to help others not to forget about their native language.
Also, I agree with the part where he says, practicing second language (English in our case), is not a very good idea, because it might cause some troubles along with it. They may learn wrong sense of English, such as in pronunciation, grammars, or in expressing themselves with idioms, etc.
MIN WANG the reaction to Young-kyun Lee’s response
I find Young-kyun Lee’s response is very interesting. He doubts the behavior of the author with strong feeling “he already could speak English well now, so it was not obligation to speak only in English. “ He also strengthens his opinion using “How come?” and “How dare!” I am very happy to read Lee’s response because
I hold the same opinion with him, but I never think about to express it so directly.
Response to Boram’s response by Kay.
I read Boram’s response and I agree with what she said that she didn’t think the case in the autobiography is typical. I met many Korean immigrant families since I came to the US and I’ve never seen families who have this kind of problem. Most of the families who I know speak both languages with their family and some of them speak in English only with their family like the author’s family; however, the parents teach their children Korean sometimes. So their children can speak both English and Korean without any problems, besides they speak Korean good enough for conversation. She also mentions about advantages of bilingualism, and I agree with her. I think bilingualism certainly gives us some advantages when we look for a job. That is the reason why I come to the US, and I guess that is the reason why many people study two or more languages.
Response to Boram's reaction to the article "Hunger of Memory" by Gulsah Gunenc
In her respond to the autobiography "Hunger of Memory",Boram finds it confusing because she hasn't testified something like Rodriguez's situation in her family. She gives an example from her country about practicing second language at home. She thinks Rodriguez's situation doesn't always happen. I think the possibility of bilingual to harm relationship in family changes according to family's way of behaving. If they care about it and keep the communication nothing will bad happen. Sometimes parents can't see that they harm their children while they want to help them. The other thing she points out is the benefits of bilingual. I really agree with her about knowing other languages will help our career. In my country,employers always want people want to know at least one foreign language. The other point is having self confidence. I really feel this because of knowing foreign language.
Response to Thomas Kim’s response by Se Hoon Kim
I have chance to read Thomas Kim’s response of “hunger of memory”. After I read his response, I had exact same feeling about the Richard Rodriguez’s autobiography. I also heard about problem between first-generation and second-generation of Korean-American via news. When I saw the news, I didn’t care about them because it was none of my business at that time. However, this is the most serious problem to me after having a baby who was born in here. I really worry about Rodriguez’s situation even though Kim doesn’t fully understand the whole text. I think he will understand if he has a baby. I am still confused how I teach my son, but I agree with his statement that at least this autobiography gives me information about American Culture.
Summary of the article "Hunger of Memory" By.Joerel j Morales
In the article "Hunger of Memory" (Bantam books,NewYork,Toronto,London,Sydney)the protagonist Richard Rodriguez explains to readers his strugles with the English language in United States. He was a hispanic student that his first language was Spanish and in that moment his English was nothing.Then, teachers noted that and informed to his parents and they recomed to Richard parents to speak english in his house and guess what? resulted. Richard english was getting better and he was ready to comunicate more in the class.
In my opinion I think that this article is informative because first is an autobiography and explains the strugles of a hispanic student in United States and how he achieve his goal of English learning with the help of his relatives.
Joerel Morales
morales.69@osu.edu
Summary of "Hunger of Memory"By.Joerel j Morales
In his autobiography "Hunger of Memory"(Bantman Boogs NewYork,Toronto,London,Sydney)Richard Rodriguez the protagonist of this autobiography explains how he learned English and the differences that these process bring to his life. First in the article he describes the difficulties that he confront learning English.In that taught process his teachers doesn't help him to achieve his goals. However ,Richard mind in that moment was only thinking that he don't need to learn English and he really need it to succeed in this country, Richard teachers informed to his parents because in Richard house they only talk Spanish and the teachers recommended that if you talk all the time English he going to learn the language and the parents agree.
In my opinion this article is informative because first is an autobiography and explains Richard struggles with the English language and how after the practice and the help of his relatives he succeed in the school.
finally teachers noted the progress of Richard in the school and the english of Richard was getting better.
By.Joerel j Morales
Friday, February 27, 2004
Summary of “The Education of Richard Rodriguez”
Thomas kim
In his article, “The Education of Richard Rodriguez” (Hunger of Memory, New York, Toronto, London, Sydney, Auckland: Bantam Books, 1982), Richard Rodriguez describes his English learning experience which impacted a lot to not just himself, but also his family relationships. First, Rodriguez explains why he experienced so many difficulties to learn English. Then he presents how his teachers’ (nuns) visitation affects him and his family. Next, he reports how his English ability is improved. Then he describes how the family relationships are changing, affected by the improvement of English capability of the children of his family. Finally, he concludes that although bilingual education gave him more confidence, it also caused the collapse of his family tie.
This article is informative to me, because it presents the problems of bilingual education which I never thought before. Although I watched some news reports which describes about it, I believed that is only personal matters. In his article, Rodriguez asserts that bilingual education affects not only for children themselves but also their family. I’m little shocked the changes of the writer who said he felt uncomfortable when he heard his parents conversation in Spanish. Although I didn’t fully understand the whole text, I think I gain certain information which leads my better understanding about American Culture.
Thursday, February 26, 2004
THE RESPONSE AND SUMMARY OF ＂HUNGER OF MEMORY”
-- SONG SEUNGHO
In his autobiography, “Hunger of Memory,” (The Education of Richard Rodriguez), Richard Rodriguez talks about effects of bilingual education on his experience. First, the writer describes his difficult situation that is about the public language English and private one Spanish. Next, he states his experience that is how he overcomes in speaking English in school. Second, he says, after nuns visited his home, how hw and his family try to learn speaking English. Then he talks about after he learn English, although he can speak English in his class and recover his confidence the silence time was increased between he and his family because of language barrier.
I think this article is so interesting because I thought that to be bilingual has only bright side.The reason of why is can speak two language looks nice. However after I read this article, I found that brings some amount of sacrifice. In addition, I think the writer and his family are so weird because ,although they have same native language, they stop conversation between family to learn English. Also I cannot understand why his parents do not say to his son. I think family‘s conversation is important as much as speak English. After I read this article , I thought how about using English in easy topic and speaking Spanish when they are talking serious or important topic as grade or money.
Blog Assignment #7
Name : Young-kyun Lee
1. Summary of the article “Hunger of Memory.”
In the autobiography, “Hunger of Memory.” (Bantam Books, 1982), Richard Rodriquez says bilingualism and how bilingualism was difficult for him. In this article, Rodriguez next refers English as a public language and Spanish as a private language. Next, he explains about the reason why he was afraid of speaking English. He reminds after nuns who were his teachers at school visited his home, his family changed. He describes that his all family tried to speak only English. Later, he states that his English was very improved. However, he is concerned about as his English was getting improved, his family was not the same like before. Finally, he concludes that he was confident of his public identity.
2. Response to reading #2.
I think this autobiography is interesting because I am also learning English as the second language. When I read his autobiography, I partly agree with him. Like in his article, I think that in order to improve English, whoever who learns English must use English everyday in even your life while you are in the U.S. Like him, I think that ceaseless using for English can only improve it. However, I think there is a problem to learn bilinguage. I think that if some young children have to learn bilinguage, confusion will come to them. As they are growing, they may ask question like “Who am I?” to themselves. They may lose their identity.
In some part of his writing, I disagree with him. No, actually I was a little upset to him. In his article, Rodriguez stated, “We remained a loving family, but one greatly changed. No longer so close: no longer bound tight by the …” (23) He stated he could not feel a friendly relationship to each other like before. He said that whenever they talk to each other, they felt a difficult because of a language barrier. My opinion is, “Why did not you Rodriquez try to speak in Spanish when you want a conversation with your parent?” His parents could not speak English well. However, he already could speak English well now, so it was not obligation to speak only in English. In his last paragraph, I felt that when they were in public, he seems like he thinks his parents shamefully because his parent could not speak English well. How come? Only one reason his parent could not speak English well? It does not make sense to me. How dare!
Summary of An autobiography "Hunger of Memory" by Byeongkoo Kim
In his autobiography, “Hunger of Memory” (Bantam Books, 1982), Richard Rodriguez talks about how bilingualism effects and struggles on him and his family. First, Rodriguez begins the article by introducing his situation and own experiences. Then, he describes how he had wrong conceptions between a public and a private language. He also tells how he developed his classroom behaviors after his teachers came to his home. He next includes details about changing of his family’s life. Finally, he concludes that he has much more his own public identity because of silence among his family.
Respond to the autobiography “Hunger of Memory” By Byeongkoo Kim
This article is very interesting to me because I had a new baby almost four weeks ago, and she is also a Korean American. Before I read this article, my wife and I thought that we should teach her Korean and English at the same time. However, this article gives me more information about bilingualism because we only speak to Korean at home and will stay in here for about 5 years. If my baby has author’s situation, we could try to speak to English with her at home and make a constant effort to learn English unlike the author’s father. The reason is that the infant and children are one of the most important periods in our lives. In addiction, they must need to have right establishment of one’s value. Thus, I think that adults should need to make an effort acquisition of knowledge.
-Summary of “Hunger of Memory” by SORA HONG -
In his autobiography, “Hunger of Memory,” (The Education of Richard Rodriguez), Richard Rodriguez describes his childhood of being a bilingual person and effects of bilingualism on his family in process of time. Richard Rodriguez begins his article by illustrating his own experience from the time he was reluctant to learn public language, English. Next, he explains how his family decided to use English at home even though his parents are Spanish, and how the decision has effects on closeness of his family. And he also tells the turning point of his getting better and better in English causing estranged family. Then, he includes the situations how they don't get on so well as before, and how he and his parents feel about that. He concludes that the invisible boundaries of his family slowly fall down, and he is confident of his own public identity.
-Response to “Hunger of Memory” by SORA HONG-
This autobiography makes me feel sad because his experience is similar to one friend of mine who is an emigrant. She also had a problem of language and trouble with her family. I know the issues of identity and language problems of emigrants but I found that Richard Rodriguez's story is a little confused to me. Is that only way which his family talks to each other at home to let him use and familiar with English? For learning, I see the truth that influences of parents take big part of their child because they send many of time at home as family. In his story, however, I think that his parent's decision is under compulsion not by their prefer way of teaching. And to my regret, they didn't talk about that problems frankly each other and intended to just go over that. So, I think they were mistaken in way of making their child a bilingual person, regardless he was getting identity about himself.
Response to reading # 2 (Hunger of Memory) by Islam Ahmed
In his autobiography “Hunger of Memory"(Bantam Books, 1982), Richard Rodriguez talks about how bilingualism was hard for him to achieve. First he shows how he used to feel shy speaking English in class. Next, he shows how he used to have a wrong idea about English and Spanish, and how he thought that English was a public language and Spanish is a private one. After that he tells the story that caused him to start speaking English at home with his family members. Next, he points out how practicing and hearing English at home lead him to master the language and made his parents more publicly confident. Following that, he compares and contrasts his parents with each other, and shows that even though his father was not shy he used to speak much less than his mother.
I find this text interesting to me because I am a second English speaker, and I have heard about a lot of second English speakers who try to speak English with each other so they can improve there English. Actually, I agree that practicing non-English speakers to English with each other is very good for improving their English, except that there is one problem with that which is when second English speakers speak together in English they may make some mistakes and repeating these mistakes for a long time makes it harder to correct them.
I also find this text impressive because it shows how good the English of the writer is even though he is a non-native speaker. The text shows how the writer masters the language by using variety of vocabulary. Moreover, I liked the sentence “Three month. Five. Half year passed.”(20), because it shows how the writer knows how to write with style.
Nevertheless, there are also some sentences that I did not like. For instance, I did not like the sentence “one Saturday morning I entered the kitchen where my parents where talking in Spanish. I did not realize they were talking in Spanish...” (22). The reason why I did not like this sentence is that it does not sound so professional. I think that the writer could have said something else.
One of the writer’s paragraphs that was funny and interesting to me was the one where he describes the way he used to gather his parents attention with eye contact, instead of addressing them by English or Spanish words.(24). It was funny because the writer said that using the old Spanish words he used to address his parents with, were painful reminding him of how much had changed in his life.
Response to the article “Hunger of Memory” by Sung-wan Kang
According to the autobiography of Richard Rodriguez, bilingual education affected on Rodriguez’s and his family’s life. Because of learning English, time for conversation among family members is diminished. I sympathize with the author. I believe people should not forget where they come from and what their origin is. Even though this family lives in English speaking society, they should use their native language, at least at home.
This family had communication problem because the parents’ English is not good enough. I strongly believe that conversation with parents is very important and essential. In addition, lack of conversation lead children and parents misunderstanding. In this family, English is used as a communication barrier. I also believe that practicing second language at home is not a good idea because they may improve some expressions and speaking speed, but it disturbs accent and pronunciation. Like I said above, it also disturbs family relationships.
Summary of “Hunger of Memory” by SE HOON KIM
Richard Rodriguez, in “Hunger of Memory”(Bantam Books, 1982), writes about effects of bilingualism on Richard Rodriguez of family. First, he begins with his difficulty that he should adapt himself to new circumstances speaking in English as a public language. Next, Rodriguez shows how his family tries to get over his behavior with the difficult progress after nuns visit. Then, he says how his family has effects on feeling of closeness, and silent they are at home after Americanization of their children. Finally, He says how he is confident of public identity.
Response to “Hunger of Memory” by SE HOON KIM
I am confused after reading the story because I have 4 month baby who was born in the U.S. Living in the United States we should learn and speak in English, however in my situation, this is not easy thing to me. Although he is American citizen, he is son of Korean parents. According to this biography, I think there is some barrier between parents and children as a result of bilingual education. Also, it may destroy their life style. I don’t know how to teach my son and which one is first. One thing, however, I can do for my son is that I will try to remember my language, because other children born in the U.S are usually forget their parents’ language, so they easily lose their identity.
Summary of “Hunger of Memory” by Byungseob Lee
In his autobiography, "Hunger of Memory” (Bantam Books, 1982), Richard Rodriguez tells that bilingual education has both negative and positive effects as describing his and his family’s lives. First, Richard describes his background of childhood about the public language and private one. He suffered some difficulties after entering a school, and he did not adjust to circumstances of school. He felt dazed, afraid, and strange in a class, so he had no self-confidence about the class at the beginning of the school year. Second, he states different speaking styles between Spanish and English. He also tells that there were problems to speak his family for the education, so he felt confusing. Then, he writes that bilingual is caused by profound the silence that caused by his carelessness to sounds. Finally, he mentions that he could increasingly have confident of his public identity.
Response of “Hunger of Memory” by Byungseob Lee
I read this autobiography and I think this autobiography is interesting for me because I also have similar situations like Richard Rodriguez. I thought that there are both negative and positive effects about bilinguals. Before I read this article, I thought that there is no side effects of the bilingual, however the problems exist in our societies, especially in the U.S. For example, when I was the first time in the U.S., I had many problems to live here. I thought that if I was a bilingual, my life in America was easy to do. Although this advantage exists here, bilingual also has negative effects as a case of Richard. I can imagine his bad situations like communicating with his family and teachers. I still struggle with classes here. Even though bilingual has disadvantages, I still think that there are more advantages about bilingual than a single language.
Summary and response of the autobiography "Hunger of Memory" by Joey
In an autobiography, “Hunger of Memory” (Bantam Books, 1982), Richard Rodriguez talks about the bilingual, and effects of bilingual on him and his family. He starts his autobiography by introducing his background, Spanish American. Then he states his personal experience in school and what type of person he is when he regarded English as public language and Spanish as a private language. Next, he tells how he and his family started to speak in English at home, and the effects of it; he started to speak in English fluently and speak in class, however, as time goes by, he did not speak with his family because of the barrier of language. Rodriguez concludes that because of his mother’s efforts to communicate with him, the silence between him and his family lessen.
I find this story interesting, because I have been thought about this situation often. When I live in California where I can see a lot of Korean Americans, I saw that many Korean American friends can listen and understand Korean, but can not speak Korean fluently. They speak to their parents in English and Korean, and their parents speak to them in only Korean. It was quite funny to me when I saw that situation for the first time. However, later on, I found that is an extremely good ability, because while I had a hard time with the barrier of language, both Korean and English as well are already given to them.
Summary of “Hunger of Memory” By Sung-wan Kang
In the article, “Hunger of Memory” (Bantam Books, 1982), Richard Rodriguez describes how bilingual education affected on his and his family’s life. First, he Rodriguez begins the article by explaining what bilingual means to him. Next, he explains how he reacts to teacher’s questions and demands. Then he talks about the difference between school language and home language. He next describes why nuns visited to his house and what they asked his parents. He also includes about impact of nun’s visit to his and his family’s life. Then he shows that he became confident speaker of English. Next, he describes that children learned more English, and they talked fewer with their parents. He also explains how he got parents attention when he needed to address his parents. Then he talks about parents’ reaction to children’s fewer conversation with parents. Next, he says that his father speak Spanish with confidence although he is reluctant to speak English. Lastly, he concluded by saying that he became more confident of his own public identity.
Summary/Response of reading #2 by Kiwook Jung.
In the autobiography, “Hunger of Memory” (1982), Richard Rodriguez talks about his experiences in studying English as a second language and effects of bilingual education to him and his family. First of all, he says how he thought about studying two languages in same time, and he tells us how he struggles in speaking English in his life. Next he tells us how he and his family change their lives during progress of Americanization after nuns visited his house to counsel his struggles in school. Finally, he mentions new situations of his and his family’s lives after being Americanized.
After I read his autobiography, I think I may understand author’s situatation before his Americanization because it sounds like me in school. I, sometimes, still have difficulties for expressing what I really want to say, it discourages me, and it causes keeping silence. I know I must study and speak in English otherwise I cannot complete my study in the US, but it is really difficult to change myself. In addition, I think it is useful to speak two languages at home but with care because I think it will help to speak both languages like a native language; however, in case of speaking one language more often, it may cause to forget one of the language or, even worse, speak both languages not enough as native speakers.
Summary for “The Education of Richard Rodriguez”-----Agatha Yang
In “Education of Richard Rodriguez” (Hunger of Memory, 1982), Richard Rodriguez explains the struggle that he has while the process of learning English and how the process has change him and his relation with the family. At he beginning, he refused to speak English at school and at home. However after the nuns from the school talked to the parents, the whole phenomenon of his family have changed, instead of speaking Spanish, the parents began to speak to him in English. At first, the author hated it and cannot get used to it, but after a while he adapted it and began to communicate with others at school, since his parents are not good at English as he and his siblings do, there were less and less conversation going on between the parents and the children and he found himself miss the days of speaking in Spanish but he was getting used to the English speaking environment even though the gap between he family has became wider and wider.
Response for “The Education of Richard Rodriguez”-----Agatha Yang
The article mainly talks about the author Richard Rodriguez’s experience of learning English as a second language, and how has it change his whole life. The whole article is full of endless pain and struggles, I can’t imagine how the author has made it through, the quiet between the whole family, the misconnection between the parents and children. But that is how the world is working, you have to get into the environment, otherwise you will be eliminated. I believe that the story happened in a time while there are a lot of immigrants coming into America, the author is not only speaking for himself, I think he is a good example of how the new immigrants have got themselves into the American English speaking society. I think this is not only happening in America, it happens to all over the world when the new immigrants don’t speak the language of that country. It must be a very painful process when you have to give up your native language as well as the relationships with the family. But overall, he gains his value in the society that he can actually communicate to others, I was touched and shaking about the situation that the author was in.
Summary and Response to the autobiography "Hunger of Memory" by Jongsik Park
In his autobiography, “Hunger of Memory,” (The Education of Richard Rodriguez), Richard Rodriguez describes how the feeling of closeness of family has been diminished as he has become bilinguals. First Rodriguez explains that he was afraid of speaking English second language for him in class because he was so shy and timid. Then, his teacher visited Rodriguez’s home. In order to help Rodriguez improve his speaking English, she requested Rodriguez’s parents for him not to allow speak and listen to their native language, Spanish at home. Next he describes how bad he feels after he was prevented to speak Spanish at home. However, Rodriguez’s English gradually has improved without his notice. Next Rodriguez tells that he came to believe himself who had been American citizen. As his English has been getting improved, he says that his loving family had been changed, no longer so close. Finally he concludes that the family members have been silent and parted away after his English has been so much developed as confident of his speaking.
In fact, I feel so depressed after reading this story. I’m one of people who want to be bilinguals as other classmates. This story sounds like if you want to be a bilingual, you should accept sacrifice of family relationships, no longer closer than before. I would ask how much I should pay dear to speak English. I understand how difficult to be bilinguals, however, I don’t think that bilinguals deserved as parting part away from his family relationship. If someone asks me to choose only one thing between bilingual attitudes without loving family and loving family without any bilinguals, I’d never hesitate to choose loving family. One more thing that I felt after reading this story is how strong the paternal love. His parents decided to be silent to speak Spanish. I think most parents would make a decision in as same ways as Rodriguez’ parents did. Most of parent would be happy when they saw their children become educated no matter how much they got suffered. After reading this story, many ideas are occurred to me such as toughness being bilinguals or the paternal love.
summary and response toward "hunger of Memory"
Emi Aizawa
In the article, “Hunger of Memory” (Bantam Books, 1982), Richard Rodriguez discusses how he, who used to be a socially disadvantaged child as Spanish speaker, obtained a public identity and how relationship among his family changed due to that. At first, Rodriguez explains his thought how Spanish and English differed when he was a child. Secondly, he mentions memory of his school-hood and discuses why he hesitated to talk in English in the period. Then, he writes the reason how his family is forced to speak English at home. Next Rodriguez describes his feeling about the situation. Then, he reports an event that made him felt being a part of public. Finally, Rodriguez points how his life and condition of his family transformed parallel to his Americanization.
It is a doubtful claim that if someone insists that completely isolated life is better and comfortable because sense of belongingness is essential for people’s lives. It gives a feeling of security. In addition, without others’ acceptance and reorganization, people are in trouble to find purpose of their existences and value of themselves. Thus, being part of a society, as well as having public identity, is meaningful. Then, in order to get involved in any community, possessing the same language is one of the requirments. In the article, the author mentions that the more he become a fluent English speaker, the more he is confident with his public identity. Also, he gives examples how language and public identity are related through he experiences. For instance, He says, “That day, I moved far from the disadvantaged child…The belief, the calming assurance that I belonged in public, had at last taken hold (22). Thus, ability of speaking English gives him public identity. Therefore, bilingual education looks like a desirable and wonderful curriculum. Also in common, people believe that knowledge of more than one language is benefitial and helpful. However, the reality is a quite different from the image and the autobiography of Rodriguez reveals problems of bilingual education. It is necessary to remain that change of language means to have new life, way of thinking and sense of value. In the article, Rodriguez writes, “I came to believe …… I am an American citizen. But the special feeling of closeness at home was diminished by then” (22). As a result of being fluent in English, the author’s mind also becomes like American. Due to that, mode of his family was switched. The author says, “ 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” (23). The author dose not’t mention but the condition is collapses of family. Thus, bilingual education has both advantage and disadvantage, and we have to carefully examine how we can productively apply the education style.
Summary and Response to the autobiography "Hunger of Memory" by Yong-Min Bea
In the autobiography “Hunger of Memory” (Bantam Books, 1982), Richard Rodriguez writes the effects of bilingualism on him and his family. Rodriguez starts the story by introducing himself. Then, he tells experience of speaking English in class. Next, he explains the difference between classroom language and the language of home. He also tells a story that the teacher notifying the progress of Richard to his parents and how his family life is changed. Then, he tells a story how his family practices their English at home. He next tells how well he had been changed after they speak English in the family. Next, he tells the problems after the children speak English fluently unlike their parents. Rodriguez concludes this story by saying that his family has changed to silence.
I find this story very confused because I thought that if someone lives in the other country then they should speak or at least try to speak the language that they live in, instead of speaking in their native language. However, after reading this story, it is not always a good idea, because communicating with family is more important than others. I think they should speak both of the languages in the family. This way they can learn the language easily and faster and communicate each other.
Summary and Response to the autobiography "Hunger of Memory" by Boram
In an autobiography “Hunger of Memory” (Bantam Books, 1982), Richard Rodriguez talks about bilingualism, and how it made the family struggle for a while. Rodriguez considers English as a public language and Spanish as a private one, and clearly distinguishes them to use at school and at home respectively. After the nuns visits the family, the parents of Rodriguez make their kids to speak English at home. Although it was humorous in the beginning to practice English within the family in the beginning, it gets awkward as time passes, and the parents become stricter. However, kids begin to speak more English at school, and soon, there is a silence at home. Fewer words are passed between the parents and the kids. The mother begins to Americanize and learns English. Consequently, the silence becomes less awkward, and Richard Rodriguez blurs the border of public and private language.
I am quite confused by this story. Maybe it is because this kind of situation never happened to my family. However, I don’t think the case in the autobiography is typical. I have many friends who speak fluent English and little bit of Korean, but their families don’t have troubles communicating. Actually it works out quite well: Since the kids are well trained to listen to Korean because they’ve heard of it ever since they were little, parents talk in Korean and the kids respond back in English. I found it quite interesting when I first listened to their conversations. Also, I think bilingualism is a very good thing to have as ability because it can work out great in your career, and you may have self-confidence within yourself.
Blog #7 from MIN WANG
The summary of "Hunger of Memory"
In his autography, "Hunger of Memory"(Bantam Books, 1982), Aria tells his story about his experience in studying the second language and how the progress effect the relationship between him and his family. Being from a Spanish family in America, Aria kept silent at the beginning of his study in the school. After the teacher visited his family about it, his parents decided to help the children practice English at home. Gradually, Aria says he is more and more confident in public social life with the improvement of English skills. However, he find the imitate relationship based on the common language between the parents and the children was diminish whatever how they take efforts.
My response to "Hunger of Memory"
My feeling is complicated after reading the story of Aria. First, I admit the fact if you live in the America, you must master the English very well. However, Abandoning the original language and culture is a sad thing. The original language and culture is a particular wealth for the child in her/his future life. Also, the common language is a tight tie that relates the two generation. So I think practicing the second language at home is not a good idea for the growth of the child. At least the family should look regard the two languages as the same status. In a word, If I have a child, whatever where she/he will be, I hope she/he can understand Chinese and inherit the essence the Chinese culture.
Response to "Hunger of Memory" by Gulsah Gunenc
In one part of his autobiography,"Hunger of Memory(1982)", Richard Rodriguez talks about his struggles in learning second language and effects of bilingual on his family life. At first,he mentions how he was prejudiced about learning English and what kind of struggles he had in class. Then he tells how their family life was changed after nuns came one day and wanted them to practice English at home. He next states the adaptation of the family members to this new situation. Finally, he concludes how his family came apart from each other and how he began not to care his family's sound while they were speaking.
When I read this part of autobiography, I feel so sad about the situation because family is so important in an individual's life and the communication plays a big role holding members of family close to each other. I think learning two language is so important in a person education life. Families want their children to have good education. Because of that they accept practicing the other language at home. But sometimes it causes some problems like Rodriguez's situation. As the children's second language improved,their relation was damaged. I know lots of Turkish people in Germany whose children can't even speak Turkish. Because of that they speak German to each other. I know it is not good for a person to lose his or her own culture but if you can't communicate with your children,you will try to speak the language that you can communicate. I think Rodriguez's family should have taken more care about their relationship. I find this autobiography really useful for families. It is an example from some's life. Everybody need to learn something from this autobiography if they don't want to harm their relationship with their children because of bilingual.
Wednesday, February 25, 2004
The summary of “Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience” from MIN WANG
In the article, “Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience”(The Ohio State Lantern, Oct.29,2003), Alexis Maddox discusses the phenomenon of the self-segregation throughout the OSU campus incorporating a large number of other people’s experiences and opinions. First, Maddox points out the fact “diverse university lacks diverse experience”, she considers the segregation across the races can be both international and unintentional. Also, Maddox analyzes the causes of the segregation such as the predominantly one racial group in high school and the language barrier in international students. Next, Maddox agrees a limited amount of self-segregation is good for students. However, she encourages all students to meet and interact with a diverse of people because of the diverse world. Finally, Maddox explains some efforts that the OSU makes to help students build more diverse relationships.
The response to “Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience” from MIN WANG
I find the topic of the article is particularly relevant to my life because I have the same feeling about the self-segregation. Although this is my first Quarter in OSU, I can find it around the campus, whatever in the English class for international students or in the class mainly made up of American students. However, I think the self-segregation is eventually the result of different culture background. Breaking up the segregation is not so easy for those students who have already formed their own philosophy about the world through the particular growth culture environment.
Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Blog Assignment #6
Name : Young-kyun Lee
1. Summary of the article “Diverse university lacks diverse experience.”
In the article, “Diverse university lacks diverse experience.” (The Ohio State Lantern, October 29, 2003), Alexis Maddox reports that how many diverse race and ethnics are in Ohio State University and how diverse students interact to each other. Maddox begins that students would like to self-segregate into same race or ethnics groups. Next, Maddox indicates that many students can get many diverse cultures and languages at OSU if they want. However, he then explains that why many students do not try to get diverse experience. Next, he shows that the problem “self-segregation” OSU has is not only the problem of OSU, but also another university confronts with the same problem. Finally, Maddox concludes the reasons why the students of OSU should throw out self-segregation.
2. Response to reading #1.
I read the article “Diverse university lacks diverse experience” written by Alexis Maddox. This article has a strong impact on me because I am also international student at OSU. Even, the article sounds like for me. I totally agree with the writer’s idea and I think that self-segregation will not a good idea. Before I have come here in the U.S., I thought I am able to get many American friends. However, it is not easy. According to Maddox’s article, he indicates that many minority groups tend to gather as single race group because of language barrier. I agree with his idea. In the U.S., I found many American people do not like silence when they are with each other even though they first meet. They seem to want to say anything. Unfortunately, I could not speak English well. So, my American friends wanted to say something to me, but I could not response to their speaking. They might feel an uncomfortable like me. I know that OSU still helps me in order to get a lot of diverse culture and I can get many opportunities in OSU if I want. I try to change myself, however, I feel there is still a difficult to get diverse thing. I think if I throw out self-segregation, I can get many good chances while I am in the U.S.
Thomas Kim.
Summary of “Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience”
According to Alexis Maddox in “Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience” (The Ohio State Lantern, October 29, 2003), students’ self-segregation based on their races or ethnicities disturb interacting between different students groups and diminish the benefit of diverse population at OSU. First, Maddox describes how the self-segregation in OSU exists. Then he mentioned how diverse population OSU has. Next, he shows how the grouping between same racial or cultural backgrounds are formed although OSU’s diverse social scene. In the next section, Maddox explains why these kinds of segregations are existed in OSU. Then he points out these barriers can diminish the benefit of diverse opportunities in OSU. After he presents some solutions to overcome these problems, he finally concludes the article to emphasize how important to experience the diversity is.
Response to “Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience”
For the First time I read this article, I was puzzled because I thought this story discus one of the ‘hush-hush’ problems for many International students. In my case, although I have been spent six months in the U.S, I have no friends whose first language is an English. In my view, as Krishna mentioned in the article, language is the huge barrier which disturbs the communication between me and the other English speaking students. Furthermore, the problem is, even though I knew what the essence of problem is, it is barley possible to fix it within a short period. As Rome wasn’t built in a day, English can’t be dramatically improved within a week or month.
Unlike the first time, I found this article is useful, during my second and third reading. This article is not just enumerating the problems, but also presenting solutions. The writer, Alexis Maddox, shows how OSU trying to utilize its diverse population and explains how the students can get some benefit from this programs. These kinds of information are helpful for me, because I can apply these tips to real school life.
Summary of the article "Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience" by Byeongkoo Kim
In the article, “Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience” (The Ohio State Lantern, Oct 29, 2003), Alexis Maddox talks about the student self-segregation according to same race. First, Maddox says that Ohio State students usually make relationships with the same race. Secondly, he shows Tanisha Briley’s opinion about both aspects of socializing according to racial similarities. Then, he presents the diversity of the Ohio State University. Fourth, he gives an example of why Jose Rivera chooses to the Ohio state University. Next, he also cites an instance of Jose Rivera’s opinion that the first meeting is a difficult matter so far as to meet with the same race people. Then, he explains why self-segregation is common among all racial group by helping of the ideas of Priya Krishana and MacA Stewart. Finally, he concludes why students should make human relationships with other countries’ people and what the Ohio State University has to do by citing of the opinion of MacA Stewart.
Response to the article "Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience" by Byeongkoo Kim
I think this article is interesting, and I totally agree with this article because my life in the United States is similar to the story of this article.
One compelling reason to support this article is to exist a language barrier among other race people. This factor is important because people want to make relationships with other people by an easy method. For example, when I came to the United States, I met and made relationships with other people, who are almost Korean, because at that time, I could not speak English very well, and other countries’ people did not like that situation. That reason made me to only meet with my native country. Like this, a language barrier leads students into self-segregation according to same race.
Another consideration that has shaped my choice to support this article is to take several advantages to meet and interact with a diverse group of people. This idea carries great weight since people can learn something through other people. For instance, I had some conversational partners when I was in Boston. They taught not only speaking and writing skills but also the United States’ culture to me. These knowledge help me improve the quality of my life in the United States. Like this, various interactions with other people can raise the quality of one’s life.
Thus, I firmly agree with this article. Students, especially international students, should try to meet and interact with other countries’ people even though it is so hard to make relationships with them.
Summary and Response of the article "Diverse university lacks diverse exprience" by Jongsik Park.
In the article, “Diverse university lacks diverse experience,” (The Ohio Lantern, October 29, 2003), Alexis Maddox reports the current picture of self-segregation – the clustering of students depending on race or ethnicity in Ohio State University, the second-largest university in nation, where many students who has diverse race backgrounds are. Tanisha Briley, coordinator of undergraduate recruitment for the Office of Minority Affair, analyzes self-segregation is common campus-wide and a consequence of the increasing diversity of OSU. She points out that an excessive amount of groups according to racial similarities may prevent personal and academic development. Jose Rivera, a sophomore in pre-med, says despite of statistically diverse in OSU self-segregation preludes students of different races from interacting. Then he gives some examples such as a homogeneous tendency of Greek organization’s environment, Caucasian don’t visit the Frank Hale Cultural Center-African American culture. Krishna, a diversity senator of the Undergraduate Student Government, says the segregation can be both international and unintentional. In a conclusion, Maddox quotes all of these guys’ pinions and reports together that it is important for each race group to interact more.
After coming to Ohio State University, I was surprised about a huge campus, numbers of students and diverse races. However, there have been most of Korean friends around me since I came here and begin to make friends, no matter how diverse races are in campus. This is perhaps unintentional happening or not. In fact, I don’t make more efforts to be friends with other races, even though I should have. I think language is the one of barriers to make hard interact to other races. It is easy to misunderstand each other if a talking companion interprets wrong. The other thing is the many kinds of stereotypes that have came from the past or others. Before stating the conversation, many people already had stereotypes such as most of American are racist, Japanese is Korean enemy. This stereotype make mind closed that shouldn’t have to interact and understand different races or cultures. Actually, after reading this article, I was astonished American even care about lack of interacting among diverse races; moreover, I feel like the problem self-segregation is very difficult to solve such as enigmatic or international political issue.
Summary and response of "Diversity university lacks diverse experience" -by SORA HONG
In the article, "Diversity university lacks diverse experience"(The Ohio State Lantern, October 29, 2003), Alexis Maddox, a Lantern staff writer, reports that students often self-segregate according to racial or ethnicity although they are in diverse circumstances. Alexis Maddox begins the article by giving an instance of OSU students who tend to gather with others of the same race. He also tells other university students' tendency of self-segregation comparing with OSU. Next, the author describes how students are feeling about that by quoting from student's experiences. Then, he explains how self-segregation occurs and has influence on students disturbing students' opportunities of diverse experiences. Finally, he tells about advantages getting involved in many events and make experiences offered by OSU.
This article is interesting to me because it's a matter of concern of what I am thinking in these days. I also have personal experience that is relevant to the theme, self-segregation of this article. When I came here and started my first school classes, I couldn't tell anything to my roommates who are Americans. I really wanted to become friendly with them, but I felt a language barrier and I also couldn't express my feelings well. So, unconsciously, I became a reticent people and it ended moving out. Reading this article, however, I really regret to have done such a thing. I really agree with that article because I made only Korean friends during two months. So, this article has strong impacts on me. According to quoting from some OSU students in the article, they gave me useful information how I have to do from now on in school. Indeed, I think OSU has a big diverse population; therefore, there will never be another opportunity like this. I will try to take every opportunities of making foreign friends offered by OSU and by myself.
Response to the article “Diverse university lacks diverse experience”
By Sung-wan Kang
In the article, “Diverse university lacks diverse experience” (The Lantern, October 29, 2003), Alexis Maddox points out that self-segregation at OSU prevents students from interracial relationships. According to him, although the Ohio State University has racial diverse environment, students tend to get together with students of the same races. Self-segregation obstructs students of other races from communicating.
I believe this is not only the problem at OSU but also a problem of other colleges in America. Because of characteristic of America’s racial diversity and many international students, most America colleges have a lot of minorities. However, most students do not spend much time with students from other ethnic groups. As Maddox says in his article, language barriers and security problem exist. Most international students have some difficulties communicating with native English speakers, which can lead misunderstanding each other. Cultural difference is also one of the problems. Each ethic group possesses different cultural background. Many American students do not understand cultures from other countries. As a result, students feel comfortable when they are with students who have same languages and same cultures.
I agree with this article because I also believe that communicating with a diverse group of people is helpful. It can broad people’s idea and thought. Comfort level is also important. Like Briley said, comfort level affects student’s academic performance. Students also can learn many things from interacting with other ethnic group or students from other countries. As Martha Garland said, university needs to improve the level of diversity on campus, and students should take this opportunity. OSU students should use this diverse environment. Student may get involve in other ethnic clubs and groups to interact. However, I also believe that the university has to provide and promote chances of interacting among students. This effort will improve racial understanding and make better world.
Summary for “Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience”----Agatha
“Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience” (The Lantern, October, 29, 2003) written by Alexis Maddox talks about that even though OSU has a big diversity of students they tend to segregate into one race groups according to Tanisha Briley coordinator for the Office of Minority Affair. The author refers to the experience of a sophomore student called Jose Rivera about one of the reasons that he has chosen OSU because of the race diversity, however, he found that most of the students are self-segregating. Rivera thinks that most of the students have misunderstood the function of Franklin Hale Culture Center. They think that the center is mostly for black, in fact, it is for all races. The author also uses the study about segregation in UCLA conducted by Anthony Lising Antonio, an assistant professor of education at Stanford University, the study show that many students thinks that they are clustered by races and they barely socialize diversely. Since most students are from high schools that are mostly one race and that is what makes them segregate. The author quotes Priya Krishna, a senator of the USG that segregation can be either on or not on purpose and language barrier is one reason for segregation as well. The author refers to Mac A. Steward that not only minority groups are the one responsible for race segregation and Briley thinks that self-segregation is blocking interracial relationships but little bit of it will be beneficial for academic. According to Rivera, socialize interracially is also important not only on campus but also in real world. The author refers to Martha Garland that university tries to help different races interact by organizing students from different backgrounds to one room and provides lots of diverse lectures. Steward thinks that university is responsible for preparing students to face the multi-races world outside according to the author.
Response to “Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience”-----Agatha
I think that the article is right about race segregation which is quite a huge problem at OSU and the author has been referring to a lot of people on campus about their self-experiences but too many names makes it a problem for me to read. In fact, I think that minority group is not the only one responsible for the race segregation but they have the major responsible since we are minority, I think we are suppose to interact more with the majority group for gaining our experience of study abroad which is a very important element of coming all the way to America, to know more about other cultures, not only white culture on campus but also the other minorities on campus too. Since the outside world is much more complicated than our university, we should try to expose to more cultures before we get out of here as an important part of our life experience.
Reaction of "Diverse University lacks diverse experience" by Byungseob Lee
According to Alexis Maddox in " Diverse University lacks diverse experience "(The Ohio State Lantern, April 11, 2002) diverse races in the campus might be good for native students and non-native students, if they avoid separating from each other. I think that this controversial issue is complex and the answer requires careful consideration. I believe that diverse races may be helpful each other, principally because of learning from each other and understanding other culture.
One compelling reason to support is that students can learn from other students. This factor is important because they can teach their studies from other ways as their styles. David who was my roommate in the U.S., for example, thought English when I was first time in America. If I did not know him at that time, I was probably hard to adjust in the U.S. I think that I might be learned from him like how to something there.
Another consideration that has shaped my idea to support is an understanding other culture. This idea carries great weight since they do not have background of information about other cultures. For instance, Watanabe, who was my second roommate in America, was from Japan, and I was able to understand the conflict of Japan and Korea from each side because each country is geographically close but the conflict is emotionally deep. Therefore, I was able to know Japan after I met him, and I also understood the conflic of each other country.
Thus, I firmly believe that diverse races in a campus are helpful each other, if they avoid separating from each other. Of course, there are bad sides of diverse races in the campus, but also exist advantages of them. I think that non-native students and native students should try to harmonize with each other.
Summary “Diverse University lacks diverse experience” by Byungseob Lee
In the article, "Diverse University lacks diverse experience” (The Ohio State Lantern, Oct 29, 2003), Alexis Maddox reports that diverse races in the campus might be good for native students and non-native students, if they avoid separating from each other. First, Maddox indicates that students incline them to gather with same races. Briley, coordinator of undergraduate recruitment for the Office of Minority Affair, says that socializing with same races or ethnic is natural, and an excessive amount might prevent for their diverse lives in a university. Next, Jose Rivera, a sophomore in pre-med focusing on biology, says that he wants to get a good education along with other racial people, however, self-segregation interfere with different racial students interacting. Then, Priya Krishna, a senior in criminology and a diverse senator of the Undergraduate Student Government, says that language obstacle exists, and students of a minority group find a refuge from same race or country people. According to Briley, limited self-segregation could be felt comfortable for students who are in a minority group. Finally, he concludes that diversity and increased racial understanding can help them to prepare for changing the world.
Response to reading # 1 by Islam Ahmed
In his article “Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience” (The Ohio State Lantern October 29, 2003: 2) Alexis Maddox talks about how students in Ohio state university tend to segregate themselves into their ethnic race groups and how that results in passing benefits. Maddox quotes a student who said that at OSU he found that he was going to get a good education along with meeting people that he could share common interest with. Next, he shows that the University of California in LA has the same problem that OSU suffers from. Then he points out how the social events held by Greek organizations tend to have a homogenous environment, even though these organizations are opened to students of all races. After that, Maddox discusses some of the reasons of the problem. He shows that most students entering college come from high schools that are mostly one racial group, and that a language barrier between students of different races causes self-segregation. Next the writer discusses the results of the problem. Thus, he shows that because of self-segregation interracial relationships are not given the opportunity to form. Then the writer offers a solution to the problem by quoting a senator in a students government recommending students to get involved in organizations and clubs. Finally Maddox concludes by showing that the university is responsible for increasing interaction among different races.
I like the way the writer wrote the article. Because it was very organized. The writer first starts by talking about the problem, then he discusses the reasons of the problem, next he mentions the consequences of the problem and finally he provides a solution. I also find the article very interesting because I am an international student in Ohio State University, and I have a strong idea about what the writer is talking about. However, despite that I agree with the writer in some points and I disagree in others.
First, from my experience I think that not all foreign students segregate themselves. Just certain students from certain countries segregate themselves, and that is for a variety of reasons. First, most students who segregate themselves come from non diverse or non cosmopolitan countries, and those students are more likely to segregate themselves than students who come from diverse countries. Moreover, international students who come to the USA and found other students from their same race are also more likely to segregate themselves than international students who do not find other students form there same race. Another reason that leads to self-segregation which is mentioned by the writer, is the language difference between students. The writer quotes a senator of a students’ government as saying “A language barrier often exists, and students seek the security of others who are from their native country.” I agree with that because the difference in language between students from different races leads students to segregate themselves, which makes it hard for the students to interact with each other.
Furthermore, on page 2, the writer quotes Briley “A limited amount of self-segregation is beneficial because a person’s comfort level greatly impacts his or her academic performance.” I find this idea interesting to me, because I have never thought about it this way. I always used to view students who segregate themselves like they are passing benefits. However, when I read this in the article it made since to me because being around people from the same race helps improving the academic performance.
One of the sentences in the article that I do not agree with is the one that says that joining fraternities and clubs will help solve the problem (2). I do not think that joining clubs will make any difference. The students are exposed to other students of different races in class, in the street and in everywhere else. Joining a club or a fraternity is not the solution. The problem is in how those students think about the other students of other races. I also do not agree with the writer when he states that it is the university responsibility to make more interactions between students of different races (2). Because it is the students responsibility to get to know each other. Moreover, nobody can force a student to do something if he/she does not want to do it.
Summary of “Diverse university lacks diverse experience” by Sung-wan Kang
In the article, “Diverse university lacks diverse experience” (The Lantern, October 29, 2003), Alexis Maddox points out that self-segregation at OSU prevents students from interracial relationships. First, Maddox describes how students get together at the Ohio Union during lunch time. Then he says what Tanisha Briley said about self-segregation on campus. Next, he explains how big and diverse OSU is. He next explains what the important factor was for deciding colleges to Jose Rivera. Then he describes that UCLA also has self-segregation occurrence like OSU. Next, he talks about specific examples of self-segregation on campus. Then he explains which group is responsible for self-segregation. He next explains what Briley said about relationship between a person’s comport level and an academic performance. Then he emphasizes why interacting with other racial groups is beneficial for campus life. Then he includes what OSU do to promote interracial relationships. Finally, he concludes by saying that The Ohio State University is responsible for developing interracial relationship.
summary and response of "diverse university lacks diverse experience by Yong-Min Bea
In the article, “Diverse university lacks diverse experience” (The Ohio State Lantern, Oct. 29, 2003), Alexis Maddox writes about students segregation according to race. Maddox begins the article by describing what the Ohio State University students do as lunch hour approaches and stating Tanisha Briley’s opinion that socializing according to racial similarities is nature and beneficial. Next, Briley writes about Jose Rivera’s experience and opinion about the diversity in OSU. Then he writes that University of California, Los Angeles and OSU is extremely diverse. Following this section, he says that although these schools are diverse students tend to self-segregate into single race groups. Next he writes Priya Krishna’sopinion that the segregation exists because there is a language barrier. Then he writes Briley’s opinion about beneficial of a limited amount of self segregation and Krishna’s recommendation to students that get involved in organizations and clubs. He also writes about Martha Garland’s opinion that diversity can happen if students give it the opportunity and Mac Stewart’s opinion that the university is responsible for diversity. Finally, Maddox concludes the article by saying that unlike the world of parents our world has to be change.
I find this article realistic because the story in the article is very similar to my life in OSU. Same as the article, when I have a meal, I usually have a meal with Korean friends. I agree that segregation is exist because a language barrier. Many people have troubles with pronunciation, so that they fear to speak with other foreigner and Americans. And I agree that the students themselves has to give it an opportunity to meet with various people.
. Summary of Self segregation---Song Seungho
In this article, “Diverse university lacks diverse experience.” (The Ohio State Lantern, Oct.29.2003), Alexis Maddox describes that students often self-segregate into single race groups.
First, the writer introduce the opinion that students tend to gather same race is natural, but an excessive amount will interrupt personal and academic growth. Then, the writer shows the interview with a sophomore, that many students do self-segregation and it prevents students of different races from interacting between other races. In addition the author shows UCLA’s case about common self segregation. Following this section, the writer cited OSU’s example that usually many centers on campus are made of certain racial groups, although it open to students of all races. There are many reasons. One is white people don’t have business there and they come from high school that are predominantly composed of one racial group. Second reason is a language barrier and looking for the security of others who have same native country. He points out self segregation comes from both intentional and unintentional reasons. No special group is responsible for this self segregation. Next, the writer discuss the ideal amount of self segregation. Excessive amount of self segregation disturbs the interracial relationships, therefore limited amount of self segregation that provides a person’s comfort is helpful to students. Students network comes from interacting with a diverse group is valuable to college life and real world. So OSU recommends to branch out and to understand the diversity and other races to prepare students for a changing the world.
Response to “Diverse university lacks diverse experience.”---Song Seungho
This article talks about an influence of self segregation and why many students do that. I find this article interesting because I have similar personal experience with the theme of this article. While I stayed in dorm, my roommate was black people, and there are many cultural differences between me and him. While I read this article, I find many impressive sentences.
First, on page 74, the author says, “Ohio State students tend to gather and grub with others of the same race and taste.” I strongly agree this sentence because , as we can see in our class, usually Korean gather with Koreans and Chinese gather with Chinese. I think this is natural because they have grown up with same culture and they share many things. Studying abroad is very stressful for young students, so they tend to gather with same races.
Second , one sentence on page 75, “Self segregation prevents students of different races from interacting.” caused me to be interesting about this article. What was meaningful about this disturbs idea was that gathering with same native country people disturbs the chance to be friendly with other races. For example, although I have studied since 2 years ago, still I have difficulties to be friendly with other country people, because whenever I met some situation or problem I try to contact with Korean people, and it was getting habit. As you can see my case, excessive self segregation interrupt interacting with other races.
Finally, on page 76, “Diversity and increased racial understanding will prepare students for a changing world.” I think I find valuable lessons that we can forget easily in this article. I believe every international students come to OSU to come true their own dream. To be a successful students who have a broad outlook, we should understand other races and cultural differences. Also the world is getting near, so we have to prepare for adapting new world that is unlike the world of our parents. At this point, I definitely agree with the writer’s opinion.
In conclusion, the author’s thinking and my thinking and experience about my dorm are pretty similar, so I couldn’t find what I can disagree. After I read this article, I can understand why OSU try to give students the chance to interact between different races,, and I thought I should try to understand other races and diversity.
summary and response of "diverse university lacks diverse experience
emi aizawa
In the article, "Diverse university lacks diverse experience" (The Lantern October 29, 2000), Alexis Maddox discusses how self-segregation based on racial background occurs at diverse universities. At first, Maddox explains how self-segregation is taking place at OSU referring to words of Tanisha Briley, coordinator of undergraduate recruitment for the Office of Minority Affairs. Secondly, Maddox gives evidences such as opinion of Jose Rivera, a sophomore, and other OSU students and a survey result at UCLA performed by Anthony Lising Antonio, assistant professor at Stanford University, to prove numerical data of ethical variety at a university doesn't mean students are in rich environment of intercultural experience. Next Maddox mentions cause of self-segregation with citing ideas of Briley and Priya Krishna, a senior and a diversity senator of the Under Graduate Student Government. Then Maddox claims that according to MacA. Stewart, vice provost of the Office of Minority Affairs, self-segregation is typical behavior for all students. Maddox writes how Brily think interracial experience is benefitial even though there are some difficulties. Maddox reports that Martha Garland, provost of academic affairs, mentions how OSU makes effort to provide intercultural experience to students. Finally, Maddox describes Stewart's ideas how having interracial exchange is worthwhile.
I strongly agree with Stewart’s opinion “This diversity and increased racial understanding will prepare students for a changing world that is unlike the world of our parents”(76). I believe this citation is the most significant message from the author. In my parents’ generation, there have been a large number of wars, atrocity, terrorism and other horrible tragedy all over the world. Some of those might not be related to matter of background of people. However, racial and cultural differences among people are one of the most major causes of those incidents. People in my parents’ age do not have enough chance to have diverse experiences. Due to the fact, unfortunately, they tend to hold wrong stereotypes and grow misconceptions toward people from other backgrounds. As a result of that, discord over race has occurred easily and often. Nevertheless, situation of our ganeration, especially, students who study abroad is quite different. We put ourselves in more diverse environments. Moreover, in the situations, we get more opportunities to take positions of others who are dissimilar from ourselves and try to understand others’ cultures, point of view and believes. By this, we arouse respect for people from other culture and their ways of lives. I believe the concept of respect sprout from only having direct diverse experience and respect is one of the most essential aspects to build up friendly relationship over race. Therefore, the more opportunities of intercultural communication, the more our society will be peaceful. Thus, if each indivisual have a sophisticated point of view aquierd through intercaltural communication, it is not only beneficial in a personal level, but it is meaningful for a whole society. In my opinion, the author feels necessity of reshape the world and believes that people who succeed to have rich diverse experience can attain it. Therefore, the author report importance of interracial communication and encourage readers have diverse experience.
Summary and Response of the article "Diverse university lacks diverse exprience" by Se Hoon Kim
In the article, “Diverse university lacks diverse experience”(The Ohio State Lantern, Oct 29, 2003), Alexis Maddox reports that students self-segregate according to single race groups. Maddox begins the article by describing self-segregation on the lunch in campus. Next, Jose Rivera says about first impression on OSU. In addition, UCLA survey shows how self-segregation is a noticeable occurrence among their community. Then Maddox shows more details about self-segregation on campus. Also, Rivera says how self-segregation interferes with interacting among students of different races, though OSU has much diversity. Rivera explains how beneficial students meet and interact with diverse group of people. Finally, Steward lists the reasons why university has obligation for increasing interaction among different races.
I think this article is interesting to me because I experience this kind of self-segregation everyday. First, I agree with Stewart’s opinion that the university is responsible for interacting among students of various races. The reason why I think this is that I always want to meet students who have different background, although OSU is the second-largest university in the U.S with more than 50,000 graduate and undergraduate and more than 13,000 international students, I haven’t had chances to meet them, because each students have different schedules, so we don’t have much time to talk after the class. Since I entered in OSU, I always hope classes that can interact among different races in class, and students in OSU must take in first school year. There is some kind of meeting in OIE program that calls conversation partner. It is only focused on improving international students’ speaking skills. Since the program has no obligation for American students, they sometimes break the appointment. The university should create better programs not only for international students, but also for American students. Secondly, at least I feel good for huge number of diversity, because I have hope that I can experience various cultures in one place. Lastly, I agree with Briley’s idea that self-segregation may interfere personal and academic growth. I think interacting among diverse environment is beneficial, because I can have confident as a result of meeting different race group and be prepare for a changing world.
Summary and Response of the article "Diverse university lacks diverse exprience" by Jong Park.
In the article, “Diverse university lacks diverse experience” (The Ohio State Lantern, Oct. 29 2003), Alexis Maddox talks about students self-segregation based on race or ethnicity. Maddox starts the article by an example of segregation in the Ohio Union. Then, Maddox provides information about the opportunities of experiencing the diversity at the OSU. Next, by quoting many others’ statements and using UCLA diversity situation, Maddox explains problems and the disadvantages of the self-segregation, and he also states that self-segregation is not only for the minority but also for the majority. Lastly, Maddox concludes that the OSU has a responsibility of leading students to think the problem of the self-segregation as well.
I find that this article provides useful information not only for minority but also for the majority, because the article could lead the minority to think about the problem and it could help the majority to understand the situation. This article is interesting to me when I saw the article for the first time, because the first page of the article includes a picture of the Ohio Union with two Koreans enjoying their time for an example of the self-segregation. In addition, the article is cohesively relevant to me, because of my background.
Summary and response of "Diversity university lacks diverse experience" -by SORA HONG
In the article, "Diversity university lacks diverse experience"(The Ohio State Lantern, October 29, 2003),Alexis Maddox, a Lantern staff writer, reports that students often self-segregate according to racial or ethnicity although they are in diverse circumstances. Alexis Maddox begins the article by giving an instance of OSU students who tend to gather with others of the same race. He also tells other university students' tendency of self segregation comparing with OSU. Next, the author describes how students are feeling about that by qouting from student's experiences. Then, he explains how self segregation occurs and has influence on students disturbing students' opportunities of diverse experiences. Finally, he tells about advantages getting involved in many events and make expriences offered by OSU.
This article is interesting to me because it's a matter of concern of what I am thinking in these days. I also have personal experience that is relevant to the theme, self segregation of this article. When I came here and started my first school classes, I couldn't tell anything to my roomates who are Americans. I really wanted to become friendly with them, but I felt a languge barrier and I also couldn't express my feelings well. So, unconsciously, I became a reticent peple and it ended moving out. Reading this article, however, I really regret to have done such a thing. I really agree with that article because I made only Korean friends during two months. So, this article has a strong impacts on me. According to qouting from some OSU students in the article, they gave me useful informaiton how I have to do from now on in school. Indeed, I think OSU has a big diverse population. Therefore, there will never be another opportunity like this in my life. I will try to take every opportunity of making foreign freinds offered by school or by myself.
Summary and Response of the article "Diverse university lacks diverse exprience" by Boram
In this article, “Diverse university lacks diverse experience” (The Ohio State Lantern, October 29, 2003), Alexis Maddox talks about how students in the Ohio State University self-segregate themselves according to race or ethnicity. Maddox starts off by saying that socializing according to their race is a natural occurrence, but if it gets too excessive, then it may prevent their growth in diversity. She mentions about José Rivera, a student in OSU, and explains about his experiences in OSU. She also reports about UCLA, and how UCLA has the same problem as OSU does. Maddox includes several people who she interviewed in the article, and all the interviewers say that self-segregation is just prohibiting from one’s own growth in diversity.
Being a minority myself, I also feel that self-segregation is not a good idea to learn many things worldwide. However, self-segregation cannot be abolished unless I myself try to branch out of one group that I belong to. I find this article pretty interesting because I have personal experience that is relevant to the main idea. I have been in the United States when I was about 11 years old attending middle school in Connecticut. At that time, I got along with anybody regardless of race or ethnicity. I guess no one at that age really had a concept about “race”. However, when I came back to the U.S. for high school, it was a completely different matter. There were so many different groups built, and they all were according to race or ethnicity. The bond of the groups was so strong as if you cannot even communicate with people in other groups. As I came to college, there was no big difference. I think the segregation is intentional because you choose to be in the group you want to because you feel more comfortable, and you don’t want any challenges to it. There are so many opportunities for you to be more diverse in college. You can go to many activities that your school provides, and although your English ability is not good enough, you can just throw yourself into those activities or parties. It is just that you don’t want any changes, and you want to be in your “comfort zone” (76). I agree with Rivera when he said, “You cannot stick to one group. You have to branch out. If you don’t, you won’t experience what OSU has to offer” (76). If you never become active yourself, to become more diverse, self-segregation will not be disappeared. Also, you will never get over language barrier.
Summary and response by Kiwook Jung
In the article, “Diverse university lacks diverse experience” (The Ohio State Lantern, Oct. 29 2003), Alexis Maddox who is a lantern staff writer talks about a student segregation according to race or ethnicity. Maddox begins the article with description of segregation in the Ohio Union at lunch time and he cites Tanisha Briley’s opinion about a self-segregation. Next, he explains current situation at OSU. And he presents some of OSU students and faculties’ experiences and opinions about student segregation according to race. And then, he quotes solutions and recommendations to solve the problem of self-segregation.
I think this article is interesting and relevant to me because story in the article is like my life at OSU. I usually meet and hang around with people who are from same country. However, there is no reason why I meet same country people only because I think it is uncontrollable, and it is natural as the article mentioned. In addition, I agree with what Briley said that “an excessive amount of socializing according to racial similarities may prevent personal and academic growth”. Because I realize that my English hasn’t been improved since I came to the US. I think one of the reasons is that I always speak native language with my friends. Although the article gives us some solutions or recommendations to solve segregation, I think it is hard to change it.
Response to the article "Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience" by Gulsah Gunenc
In his article,"Diverse University Lacks Diverse Experience"(The Lantern,Oct. 29 2003),Alexis Maddox talks about student segregation according to race in a diverse university. First, he mentions international student's tendency to get in groups with the people who are belonging to same race.He next discusses beneficial and unbeneficial sides of socializing with the help of the ideas of Tanisha Briley,coordinator of undergraduate recruitment for the Office of Minority Affairs.Then he emphasizes the diversity in OSU and gives the experiences of the students about the subject.Finally,he concludes the importance of diversity in understanding races with the ideas of Mac A. Stewart,vice provost of the Office of Minority Affairs.
I find this article useful for both Americans and international students.It will make Americans to understand foreign student's tendecy to be with same race. This article also gives some suggestions for foreign people.I really agree with Briley about some unbeneficial sides of self segregation because most of the foreign students have language problem.If they spend so much time with the native speakers of their language,their capacity of improving the language will slow down. Briley says"Most students come from high schools that are predominantly one racial group causing them to create friendship that resemble their former relationships" .That's relevant to my life because in my high school all the students are Turkish so we haven't got any chance to have a friend from other races.I really agree with Stewart that diversity is so important. In Osu there are lots of people belonging to different races. I feel myself lucky for being a part of this diversity. In this environment,you can learn not to be prejudiced to people. You can learn to love people because of they are human.As Stewart says "This diversity and increased racial understanding will prepare students for changing world that is unlike the world of our parents".
