Understanding Language and Identity

The transcript narrates Julia Alvarez's journey of growing up in a bilingual family in the Dominican Republic. Her parents used English to keep secrets from the children, making it a language of mystery. As she attended the Carol Morgan School, she became bilingual, experiencing the challenges of learning English and the cultural identity struggles of mixing Spanish and English, known as Spanglish. Through her education and experiences, she embraced English, finding her place in a new linguistic and cultural landscape.

What language did the narrator's parents use to keep secrets from the children?

• English

• French

• German

• Italian

How did the narrator initially perceive English?

• As a language of music

• As a language of simplicity

• As a language of secrets and worry

• As a language of joy

What term does the narrator use to describe the mix of Spanish and English she spoke?

• Itanglish

• Franglais

• Spanglish

• Chinglish

What did the narrator's mother emphasize about learning English?

• It was a waste of time

• It was unnecessary

• It was a hobby

• It was an inheritance

What was the narrator's grandfather's profession?

• A United Nations representative

• A teacher

• A doctor

• A musician

What did the narrator initially think about Americans speaking English?

• They were smarter

• They were less intelligent

• They were more athletic

• They were more artistic

What did the narrator realize about language and intelligence?

• Language determines intelligence

• Intelligence is unrelated to language

• Only English speakers are intelligent

• Spanish speakers are more intelligent

What did Sister Maria Generosa encourage her students to do?

• Practice math problems

• Write creatively

• Read silently

• Memorize grammar rules

How did the narrator feel about English after learning from Sister Maria Generosa?

• Empowered

• Indifferent

• Confused

• Bored

What did the narrator compare learning English to?

• Crossing a river

• Landing on a new shore

• Climbing a mountain

• Building a house