As Cooper communicates in his chapter “Teaching English”, English professors along the years have experienced a lot of issues. We, as Puerto Ricans, are very proud of our culture and language. Sometimes we might be a little rude or closed-minded due to historical experiences with foreign countries trying to take advantage of us. Island natives should continue evolving and start thinking that gaining foreign knowledge won’t take away who we are as Puerto Ricans. Being versatile in cultures and language is just a great advantage to a citizen.
It caught my attention when the author states that the professors were doing a great job, but merely as professors. The desire to educate the students was present, but the lack of education the instructors had was affecting their performance. Also we need to take in consideration the period were all of this took place. It was starting the foreign language education by obligation of the government in Puerto Rico. I do not believe this was a mistake because a vast majority of us are right now bilingual and have a lot of advantages in comparison to others.
Right now the English education is a great one in both, public and private schools; all of this has happened thanks to the determination of people like Cooper, that didn’t give up on us. Nowadays there are less people who believe we are not capable of learning new things. Our culture has grown in various ways and we see how earlier generation have bigger aspirations. More and more citizens wish to not just expand their knowledge in English, but other languages. I believe and hope that in the future, my children and grandchildren will share my perspective about knowledge being our own development within society and not a direct relationship to the political status.
We should take at a closer look at why the puerto ricans, even though being taught English, have a strong resistance to speak the language and lean it to perfection.
ReplyDeleteNo people can live out of culture and you cannot belong to more than one. It's in people's nature to resist changes when they feel that their essence is being threatened.
ReplyDeleteI just can imagine everyone trying to resist the imposition of english by the time.
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