The End of the Road

          Each day that I visit Rock Island High School, there is a new story to tell. Each time we walk into the classroom, they remember us and instantly start asking for our help. The students lately have had homework mostly dealing with math. They have been learning about negative numbers. I have helped with homework regarding adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing negative numbers with positive numbers. I have also read a book with one of the female students about a refugee that came to America. The book is about his experiences being in a new country and trying to find his place. She read aloud to me and I read aloud to her some. While she was reading, she would ask me about how to pronounce words and what different words meant. Most of the students know English pretty well, but do not know all aspects of the language.

Language itself is not communication, or even the words we communicate. It is the set of symbols that must follow specific rules in order to be symbolic to us. This means that language is made up of the letters and numbers we use to form words, sentences, and thoughts. They then, in turn, allow us to communicate with one another. Language can sometimes be a barrier because of the different languages around the world. This is sometimes the case with the students at the high school. They know English well enough to participate in class and complete the homework, but they sometimes run into trouble with the language. Some of the humor and slang terms that are used in America are hard for them to comprehend right away, and must be explained. This is because language has semantic rules that attach a specific meaning to a word. The students understand the literal meaning of the words, but not always the figurative meanings. This can lead to miscommunication in the class room if a student does not understand something.

Once I fully began to understand that every single student has a different background, and came from a different culture, I can make sense of some of their values and social practices. A large part of the culture that they came from that I can see every visit is the language. Now that I know how important the meanings behind language are, I can try to explain the English language better to the students. Finding words that are common to everyone with be a main goal in explaining language better. When everyone sees that one language is not better than another, that they are both unique and different, both cultures can be reflected through the symbolism that language is.

Continuing the Journey

     Every visit to Rock Island High School became easier, more comfortable, and more rewarding. I helped with different subjects every time, but they ranged from math to history to home ec. Math so far seems to be one of the more challenging subjects for the students, and is what we help with the most. Most of the math course work is in algebra and lately has been all about fractions. I have also helped the past few visits with history and geography. This included writing essays about Martin Luther King Jr., naming different countries and locations on a map, and learning about the United States Bill of Rights and Constitution. One of my favorite subjects to help with has been home ec. I love trying to figure out right along with the students all about something used in everyday life. During my last visit I helped a female student with learning conversions in the English system of measurements. This included terms like gallon, pound, inch, and teaspoon. She was asking questions about all of the different measurements and wanted examples of when I would use each. This got us talking about baking, and our favorite foods to not only bake, but also to eat. During free time in the classroom I continue to get to know the students better and learn more about their lives. As I get to know them more, I realize how people judge others and their cultures too quickly, especially using stereotypes. Once I stepped back and looked into their cultures, I began to realize that they are just as unique as ours. It's also amazing to see how the students not only become a part of the United States’ culture, but also integrate it with the culture from where they came from.
     In the US, most people have stereotypes about groups and cultures that are different from their own. Stereotypes are overgeneralizations that are usually applied to a group of people whether or not they are true. When I asked others what they thought when they first thought of a refugee attending an American high school, they assumed that the student would not be as bright and probably not be able to speak English very well. After having spent time with the students and getting to know how they are doing in school, I've come to find that many of them are very bright. They try very hard and succeed in the classroom, even though they have the expectations of those around them saying that they are not as smart. In reality though, every person in the classroom I help in is just as different as any other classroom. People are too quick to lump everyone together just because they are from a different culture, and attribute one trait to everyone belonging to that culture. The students in the classroom all come from different cultures, and after spending more time with them, I have come to see that they assimilate both into their lives. One student in particular talks about the culture he was a part of in Africa and how his mom sticks to the values and beliefs associated with it at home. He also takes part in the American culture and acts most of the time like a "regular" teenager. The students even debate and explain their unique beliefs to the other students. One day they were comparing the different religions that they are a part of. Seeing how the students integrate their individual cultures into American culture shows how American culture is like a salad, full of different ingredients all combined.
     Every time I go to the high school I slowly get to know the students better. After looking for how each student studies and learns information, I was able to better help them with their homework. Knowing the power stereotypes can play in my perceptions of others will allow me to learn about other cultures before assuming anything about them. This can even include helping the students to learn more about our culture, and clear up any false stereotypes they have too. Now that I understand how the students assimilate their diverse cultures into their lives here in the United States, I can play a role in helping them maintain that balance in keeping where they came from and where they are now a part of their lives.