The Peace Corps has accomplished its goal to change perceptions of Americans by people of other cultures. In the Peace Corps study, “The Impact of Peace Corps Service on Host Communities and Host Country Perceptions of Americans”, 30 percent of respondents perceived Americans as arrogant, self-centered, or selfish prior to interaction with a volunteer (Kerley & Jenkins, 2010). Before communication with a Peace Corps volunteer, one respondent with an uneven work-life balance reported thinking that “[people from the United States] were workaholics who don’t pay attention to other people and don’t know how to have fun or entertain themselves” (Kerley & Jenkins, 2010). “While most individuals reported a positive or neutral opinion of American prior to interacting with Volunteers, most (73%) still reported having an even more positive opinion after the interaction” (Kerley & Jenkins, 2010). Through the development of the Peace Corps the grotesque stereotype of the typical American has been eradicated in countries where the Peace Corps serves. Through interaction between the people in developing countries and Peace Corps volunteers, the perception of Americans has been positively altered. …show more content…
The Peace Corps has been known to disregard bilingual speakers’ known languages (Strauss, 2008). For instance, the Corps may send a Spanish speaker to Arabic-speaking North Africa, and offer the rare, French-speaking applicant a job teaching English in Mongolia (Strauss, 2008). One of the goals of the Peace Corps is to improve the way that people in other cultures view Americans, and while this has improved, it is because of the goodwill of
Bilingualism should be celebrated and encouraged, rather than stamped out. Anzaldúa recalls that a teacher told her, “If you want to be American, speak ‘American.’ If you don’t like it, go back to Mexico where you belong” (2947). The irony in her teacher’s statement is that Mexicans and Native Americans inhabited North America long before it was colonized; so, technically speaking, Anzaldúa belonged in America more than her teacher did.
Folklores are stories that have been through many time periods. Folklore include Legends, Myths, and Fairy Tales. Legends are traditional tales handed down from earlier times and believed to have a historical basis. Myths are ancient stories dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes. Fairy Tales are fantasy tales with legendary being and creators.
...Bridgewater State University was a complete success. For some that she presented in front of, it could have been the first time that they have ever heard of her community center in Tanzania or the first time they have ever heard of Tanzania. Relating to her overall purpose of being at the university, her message was received well by many. As she said, she wanted to make people more aware that volunteer work can help inspire people to make a difference in their communities. She has successfully presented a case were two people exiled from a country; in which they were brought up, and moved to a country that is 180°different having success in creating a stronger community and were able to have that community become worldly known: with the lack of technology. This is a remarkable and evident accomplishment of the organizational structure utilized for social services.
The variety of language is something many cultures have, some say, having a second language opens up doors, but the hardship you go through makes you think otherwise. As a person who is bilingual like myself there could be a lot of pros and cons, but in this story by Gloria Anzaldua that’s what helped her shape her personal identity. It not only does that amount your power, but brings shame through your journey into fitting into society.
There are many negative views that people have on Americans and on America in general. David Zinczenko thinks that so many American kids are becoming obese because there are more fast food places than there are grocery stores. Vicente Verdu says that America has such a huge impact on other countries that crimes that are happening here are happening there in very similar ways. Other countries are gaining McDonalds and they are changing the menu to fit their culture. Renee Graham commented that American directors are buying the rights to Asian movies and changing them so that Americans can better understand them. The remade movies are getting better reviews and taking home more money than the original movies.
...influenced. This correspondence leads to individual growth because it pushes our understanding. As we begin to see the individual as a person and not as an “other,” we can, as a country, grow stronger. Regardless of our growing humanitarian stance towards immigration reform, many Americans still insist on having English as our national language. Though speaking the language would greatly close the distance witnessed in towns like Shelbyville, we must provide methods for language acquisition by working through difference. With the transition towards inclusiveness, an increasingly global perspective should also follow suit.
In the article, “Public and Private Language”, Richard Rodriguez argues that bilingual education delays learning a “public language” and developing a public identity”. I can relate to Richard’s story because my family and me moved to America when I was young and we also had the same struggle learning a new language. I agreed with Rodriguez when he expressed that he didn’t feel like a true American until he mastered the English language because English is the first and main language in America.
Charity may begin at home but it certainly doesn’t have to end there. I am proud to hear on the news about how the United States is helping in the relief efforts in Haiti after the recent earthquake. Thanks to the values that have been instilled in me, I plan to make a financial contribution to these efforts and I hope others will follow suit. I am comforted to know that there are people not just in my community but around the world that are willing to lend a hand of support to friends, family and to people they will likely never meet. I am proud to be an American, a nation of givers.
When visiting just about any school across America, students who attend come from all over the globe. This raises the question across America about bilingual education. This can create many challenges in and out of the classroom. The classroom should be a safe place for all students regardless of what native language they speak. In the essay Lost in translation written by Eva Hoffman, describes a foreign student who tries hard to fit in. Instead, Eva begins to feel angry, hurt and confused because people laugh at her. In Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education by Elizabeth R. Howard, Julie Sugarman, Donna Christian Center for Applied Linguistics Kathryn J. Lindholm-Leary San José State University David Rogers Dual Language Education of New Mexico. Guiding principles gives great ideas to educators to stop kids from making other students feel the way that Eva felt. After reading several articles about bilingual education, it is evident that all children in school should learn English but never lose their native language. When all the students speak one language, students will be less likely to make fun of each other. A good educator should learn enough foreign languages to aid them in effective communication in their classroom although; if an educator does not speak a foreign language, they should recruit within the classroom students to be peer mentors. However, a teacher should be willing to listen and encourage the students. Above all a good educator should be a good role model to their students by respecting their heritage and their language.
In today’s society, especially in the United States, most people are monolingual English speakers. As a result, these monolingual speakers are at a significant disadvantage compared to those who speak more than one language fluently. This disadvantage is crucial to realize since it is important to learn how individuals and the nation can be enhanced. Multilingual speakers have an advantage in global affairs that involve countries that speak different languages. Speaking multiple languages makes it easier to communicate with people when involved in foreign affairs. Those who speak multiple languages are also more aware of other cultures in society. Monolingual speakers are not as exposed to other cultures and have difficulty understanding or even recognizing them. Furthermore, being multilingual increases your
Dach-Gruschow, Karl Otto. Peace on Earth and Goodwill Toward Men: Altruism of Long Term Volunteers Diss. University of Illinois at Urbana-Chamaign, 2011. Print.
“Bilingual Education looks pretty on the surface but it’s cracking up underneath,” Jill smirked as she took a spoonful of the salmon brioche. Seated at the corner of a quaint café, Jill was dressed formally as she was from her workplace. Being one of the few Eurasians who interns at an international law firm, she has definitely proven herself to be an outstanding candidate for the firm due to her impeccable command of English. However, on that day, Jill reverted to speaking conversational English as she recollected her thoughts and unveiled her experiences during her ten years of Bilingual Education.
Volunteering enables an individual to make a positive impact on his or her community, while empowering the individual to better his or her life. This summer, I had the opportunity to volunteer at many diverse locations. From the hospital to the local library, I truly value my experience and treasure everything it has thought me. Volunteering lets us experience and learn things that we otherwise would not have learned; volunteering opens doors for us that we may not have been able to open before. Volunteering provides us with guidance and tolerance which we may use in the future to aid us in our decisions. At first glance, volunteering may seem to only benefit those who are helped, but on a deeper level, one can realize that volunteering benefits the volunteer as much as, if not more than, those who are helped. Not only does volunteering make a difference in one’s community, but it also helps the volunteer become a smarter, happier, friendlier and more caring individual.
Being multilingual has great importance. As previously presented, it keeps cultural diversity alive and creates better communication with the rest of the ...
America, a country built on immigration dating back to the early 1600s Mayflower voyage, continues to thrive as a melting pot full of various cultures and ethnicities. In the past, many immigrants came to America due to the offered freedoms and equality, yet today, many naturalized citizens suffer with injustices, including with educational practices. The use of bilingual education, which teaches students in both English and their native language, has become a controversial topic. In 1968, the Bilingual Education Act, which recognized and offered education to students who were lacking English, was passed, yet the topic still seems questionable to some. Bilingual education provides a variety of beneficial attributes to help foreigners by improving their lives as native speakers, with education benefits, health benefits, and future opportunities.