English 102
Donna Peters
Professor Rachel Corona
October 17, 2014
Like Elena many migrant all over the world suffered to
communicate effectively due of language barrier. Elena’s migration from Mexico
to the US seems to have been a bitter sweet experience. Initially, the family
spoke only Spanish as their primary language. But, the family soon became bilingual except
for Elena.
Elena‘s native language was Spanish and she was not able to communicate
effectively and efficiently in English. This continued for a number of years,
until her kids became adolescents. Apparently she wasn’t as privileged like we
are today to the free government ELA programs. Peradventure obligatory duties
such as and her profession, child rearing and domestic duties occupied her time.
In addition to that, no one was willing to assist her at home including her
Alcoholic husband, who apparently wasn’t interested to help her because of
malicious intent. Obviously she was not a lazy person but had challenges to
learn the language. But whatever the case was, the years slipped by and her adolescence
kids became bilingual. This created an atmosphere of mainly English speaking
children. And Elena could not understand nor share in the conversations when
the kids converse with each other. To make matters worse no one including her
alcoholic husband bother to help her out of her insufficiency.
Elena soon felt prey to her
circumstance. Too depressed and embarrassed about her mispronounced words, she frequently
tucked herself away into the bathroom practicing the proper pronunciation of
the most difficult English words. Finally
she got the message that “Spanish was not enough” and that being able to
communicate in English as well was a necessity. I love Elena’s enthusiasms.
Despite the odds against her, she felt trying was her only option and that she
did.
Many times along life’s journey we see people in some unfortunate
circumstances and we pass judgment at them.
Sometimes we assume that they might be lazy and good for nothing. But
this is not necessarily so. Many times they tried to get help to no avail. What
then moral behind this? We should not assume.
Assumption does not help to solve problems. It’s solution! There are many
challenges in life that can alter and left an individual handicap. Not
laziness! A helping hand can make a
difference and save an individual from needless pain like in Elena’s situation.
However, despite her misfortune, she recognized that if no one helped, for the
least she had to empower herself. “For
if I stopped trying”, she said. “I will be deaf when my children need my help.”
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