Literacy Autobiography

Being the oldest and having to remember the sacrifices my parents made to help me get to where I am today is the main reason I decided to come back to school and fulfill a teaching career. Growing up in a Spanish household had its disadvantages. Imagine being spoken to and read to in Spanish for years, then thrown into a classroom where English was only spoken?

Starting Kindergarten was a nightmare! I was a complete outcast! I was thrilled to make friends, but when I didn't understand a word anyone said, I didn't want to go back. My parents felt they were at fault for never exposing me to an English-speaking environment and felt it was in my best interest to pick up extra shifts and hire an English tutor. The tutor would come over once or twice a week to "teach" me English (ABCs, 123s, shapes, colors, pronunciation, etc.). Not long before I was placed into an ESL class. I didn’t know that it would benefit me in the long run. However, being taken out of class because I was ‘different’ made me feel embarrassed and feel more of an outcast.

Thinking back now, seeking help and being rewarded for my progress motivated me to continue learning English and become better at it. Within a year or two I was finally able to join the rest of the kids in a regular classroom and feel normal! My parents as well as other teachers were amazed, yet surprised, that I was able to pick up the pace and learn quicker than most. But how?

With patience, extra practice and tons of help I began to read, write, and speak in English. I strongly believe that because I was taught English at an early age, I was able to grasp it faster. By fourth grade I was teaching my parents English and they were re-teaching me Spanish. The support group I had (being my parents and my elementary teachers) only wanted what was best for me, and I saw that! A huge part of me, even at a young age, wanted to thank them! So I placed my best foot forward and did what I had to do to prove to them that their hard work wasn’t a waste. The excitement my parents would express when I would come home with good grades, smiley stickers, and lovely notes made it truly worth it! Had it not been for them, I wouldn't enjoy reading as much as I do now.

All the teachers I've had up to this point have taught me valuable lessons I aspire to stimulate and use in my own classroom. I must also keep in mind that every individual is different. Teaching one method may work for one student but not the other, and that lack of understanding is seen frequently in classrooms. I am a visual learner who will not find interest (or grasp onto the concept) simply by reading from a textbook. Unfortunately, no one comes up to you to tell you how you’ll learn best. So throughout the years, each student will eventually come across their best method to learn and understand what is being taught.

Having experienced and witnessed certain factors, we must all keep in mind that just because someone doesn't know how to properly recite something back to you, pronounce words correctly, or is an English language learner does not make them "dumb, slow, or impossible to teach"! As a future educator I will make it my mission to be there for my student’s, support them as much as possible, and root for them regularly so they feel motivated and willing to learn. Literacy doesn’t stop during elementary years, it is an asset used in everyday life and will continue to develop and grow!

English as a second language did not make me illiterate. On the contrary, new doors continue to open!