Main idea:
The main idea in this passage is that nobody needs to have the opportunity to learn in their first language. Rodriguez really seems to think that by learning in native languages that the student is not able to connect with the world that surrounds them. He experienced this and doesn’t wish it was any other way. He was forced to learn the English language and he is glad that he did. It was only then that he was able to interact with the people that surrounded him and he was able to be successful in everything that he did.
He puts his real thoughts in to this essay about being bilingual. He doesn’t think that it is fair for students to have the privilege to be able to learn in their native language. He thinks that everybody should know the language of the country without any exceptions. He seriously thinks that by people learning the spoken language of the country that everybody will be able to be treated equally without any problems with each other. Rodriguez gave up everything he ever knew of just to be able to fit into society. In the long run it did help him even if in the beginning it was hard for him. He lets it be clear by the end of the essay that bilingual learning is not the way he sees right.
A
memoir of a bilingual childhood
Richard Rodriguez in his writing
analyzes just how hard it was for him to be able to adapt to the new
surroundings he was brought to. He went from not knowing any English to not
talking Spanish anymore. It was a really interesting journey given the facts that
he was able to learn all the English possible in a short amount of time. In the
end he didn’t even like to speak Spanish anymore. He was able to accommodate
himself to his surroundings. Though it took time he really did adapt and made
the situation better for himself. He starts talking about how he got to
California. He was really scared and that made him feel out of place. Coming
from a family that really could relate to each other not knowing anybody was
really difficult for him. Richard was able to listen to all of the different
things that people surrounding him said.
From that he got a lot of knowledge
and was able to put it to work later on. He had to understand his surrounding
from outside his house and incorporate them. Relating to his school was really
hard. Nobody really knew how to speak Spanish and he wasn’t able to make
relationships with people there. He realized that he had to step up and be able
to have some sort of relation with the people that he saw every day. His
parents also changed their ways but they managed to keep some of their origins.
From then on they spoke English at home so that they would be able to help
their children.
Because he was taught that he had to learn English and become good at it, all of the Spanish that Richard and his siblings had disappeared into thin air. They weren’t able to communicate well with their parents anymore. They had to do everything in English because they didn’t know otherwise anymore. The way that Richard was taught to think made him forget about where he actually came from and the things that he knew way before going to California. And that is how he thinks everyone should be. He wasn’t able to have the opportunity to stay with both languages like many do now. He was forced to focus only on one main goal and that made him change everything that he ever was. In the end all that he had was memories of what he used to be. Only the memories lived on within him since he wasn’t able to be the person he was years before going to California.
Now he sees that there are many opportunities given to people that helps them maintain their language and be bilingual without having interferences in their way. He is not in accordance with this. He thinks that when coming to this country all that a person ever knew should be forgotten and replaced by the new things surrounding them. He is not happy with bilingual education and thinks that everyone should speak the primary language for the country that they are in. he is happy that he knows English at its most.
. 
Because he was taught that he had to learn English and become good at it, all of the Spanish that Richard and his siblings had disappeared into thin air. They weren’t able to communicate well with their parents anymore. They had to do everything in English because they didn’t know otherwise anymore. The way that Richard was taught to think made him forget about where he actually came from and the things that he knew way before going to California. And that is how he thinks everyone should be. He wasn’t able to have the opportunity to stay with both languages like many do now. He was forced to focus only on one main goal and that made him change everything that he ever was. In the end all that he had was memories of what he used to be. Only the memories lived on within him since he wasn’t able to be the person he was years before going to California.
Now he sees that there are many opportunities given to people that helps them maintain their language and be bilingual without having interferences in their way. He is not in accordance with this. He thinks that when coming to this country all that a person ever knew should be forgotten and replaced by the new things surrounding them. He is not happy with bilingual education and thinks that everyone should speak the primary language for the country that they are in. he is happy that he knows English at its most.
