The Transformative Impact of American Education on English Language Literacy Development
Overview
A reflective essay documenting the author's journey from a non-English speaking background to achieving proficiency in English literacy through immigration to America at age fifteen. The paper explores the personal, familial, and academic challenges overcome, highlighting the instrumental roles played by supportive figures including host family members and educators in facilitating language acquisition and cultural adaptation.
What this reflection paper covers
- Initial dream and family resistance due to gender and socioeconomic barriers in non-English speaking community
- Arrival in America, homesickness, and initial communication struggles with host family
- Academic challenges in school and support system development through host sister and literature teacher mentorship
- Personal growth through increased social engagement and achievement of literacy goals
Preview
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How American Life Has Changed My Literacy
My dream all along, since I was still in primary school, had been to be a very proficient English writer and speaker of course. This dream till where I am today is more than seventy percent accomplished. I shared my dreams with my parents and my father did not take it seriously. He brushed me off reason being we are from a non-English speaking community in a country where English is only considered a language for the privileged. In addition, the fact that I am a girl discouraged my father even more.
I hinted to him my dream of moving abroad to school in America mainly for the sake of my English literacy but he objected. He thought a girl cannot manage to move away from her parents to a foreign land and survive. I literary started watching American movies right in front of him and even dramatizing how they speak their English. He saw the seriousness in me and finally gave in to my request.
I arrived in America when I was only fifteen years old. I was excited that finally, I was going to accomplish my dream. Little did I know that homesickness was waiting for me! Living away from home became a big challenge. I could not sleep at night because I was always thinking of the family that I left behind. Every little knap that I got was full of dreams of memories of my home.