Personal Narrative: Foreign Parents By Students In Middle School

545 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Language as a barrier in teaching and learning

Foreign Parents It was the summer going into 6th grade I was so excited for soccer season to start at my middle school. I would regularly check my calendar during the monotonous summer days to see how many days left until tryouts. My foreign parents are very strict and stubborn so I decided it would be best to inform them ahead of time so they don’t cancel my tryout plans. “Pappa, please, please, please don't go to work on the second weekend of August. I need to try out for soccer!” I said enthusiastically. “August? That a long time from now.Why you need to play football? I have no time for these unnecessary activities, is it a requirement for school?” He asked confusingly in Amarich. I then was presented with the ultimatum. My Ethiopian …show more content…

Please allow me to participate. Everyone at school will be trying out for the team. I would be the only person not too. Please.” I said adamantly. I pleaded many times before but I felt that this time would be different. My dad turned of his computer and glared daggers at me. “Leedya, how many times must I tell you I have no time for these needless activities? Please don't bother me again” he said quickly. In just that second all the hope I had wheezed out of me like I was a popped balloon. Growing up as a child, my Ethiopian parents wouldn't allow me to participate in the extra-curricular activities that my classmates pursued. I was so confused in school as a kid. I felt almost as if I was a fish in the dishwasher. I felt very different and I had a really bad accent that I was very ashamed of because it would lead to so many questions… Another downside of having foreign parents is I must translate all the time. More specifically when my dad is on the phone with a bill collector. This is because the recipients can't understand his african accent that mispronounces vowel sounds. “Helooooo, mista I pay Xfinatee WI-FEEE last week why you put more money on account?” My dad said in the best english he could regurgitate. “Excuse me, sir do you mean Xfinity Wifi?” The recipient asked

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Lisa Kanae's 'Voices Merged To One Tongue'

    1078 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Standard English was imposed on children of immigrant parents, then the children were separated from native English speakers, then the children were labeled “inferior” and “ignorant” (Hughes 70) because they could not speak Standard English. In addition to feeling inferior about their second language skills, these students also felt inadequate in regard to speaking their own mother tongues” (qtd in Kanae)

    Read More

  • Personal Narrative: Growing Up As An Asian American

    689 Words  | 2 Pages

    As a minority, coming from an international country to a foreign nation has been the most crucial decision that my family has concluded to live the possibility of the "American Dream". However, growing up as an Asian-American student wasn’t simple; I was faced with the challenge of malicious racial slurs, spiteful judgment, and unjustified condemnation that attacked my family's decision to come to America.

    Read More

  • Personal Experiences: A Catalyst for Improving Healthcare

    1296 Words  | 3 Pages

    It was just another day of high school soccer practice during the spring break on a sunny April

    Read More

  • Personal Narrative: Bryst Soccer Academy

    493 Words  | 1 Pages

    I have played soccer my entire life. At twelve years old, I completed a Bryst soccer camp after which I decided that I wanted to play at a higher level than house league. My goal was to make a Bryst Academy team.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Mother Tongue

    1459 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many people have gone through what I went through, which is not knowing English when arriving to the United States. Tan wrote a story about her mother called “Mother Tongue” in which she describes her experience with her mother and

    Read More

  • A Shot In The Air

    932 Words  | 2 Pages

    From an early age I always knew I would be playing soccer my whole life. My dad showed me the ropes of how to play and got me interested right away. By the age of three I had started playing, and to this day I have not stopped. Soccer has been a huge part of my life and I don’t know where I would be today if I never played. I met some amazing people playing soccer including my coaches who encouraged me and told me never to give up as well as my teammates who became my friends and were always there for me.

    Read More

  • Grit in Education

    985 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...I wasn’t able to teach them what I learn. I only speak English at home now because it became my parents main language. If they hadn’t learn English they couldn’t have the jobs they have right now because English is a common language used to interact and communicate with people from different countries.

    Read More

  • Personal Narrative: My School's Soccer Team

    129 Words  | 1 Pages

    To be a part of the squad for my schools' soccer team has been one of my life's goals and has finally been fulfilled. My previous attempts to get on my high school soccer team in Jamaica failed because I wasn't skilled enough at the time. Since arriving to the United States, I have trained diligently and have accomplished my goal of making my school's soccer team.

    Read More

  • Personal Narrative- A Lesson in Culture Shock

    1075 Words  | 3 Pages

    “ You want to be the same as American girls on the outside.” (Tan, Amy) Like Tan in her narrative “Fish Cheeks”, everyone has had a time in their lives when they wanted to fit in at school or home. Sometimes it is hard to try to blend into the surroundings. Moving from Boston to Tallahassee has taught me a lot about such things like honor, pride, and self-reliance. Such is related to us in Wilfred Owens’s “Dulce et Decorum est” which is about his experience in World War I. Sometimes experiences such as moving can teach more about life than any long lecture from any adult. As the old saying goes: “Actions speak louder than words.”

    Read More

  • Personal Narrative: My Hmong Family

    1715 Words  | 4 Pages

    I came from a first generation Hmong family whose parents knew minimal English. I was three years old when we immigrated to America. I hardly remember anything at the time. My parents and older sisters were unfamiliar with the English language, so help was always needed from others. As we settled into our lives in America, things became more familiar and my sisters and I were able to help my parents out more. We went to school and learned the English language and were speaking a different language other than Hmong in the house. Eventually, my parents decided to learn English and they were attending classes from a Hmong community in Sacramento. Though, this was not for long, my father did not want my mother to attend classes anymore and to

    Read More

  • Coming To A New Country Essay

    514 Words  | 2 Pages

    I can relate to these kids coming to a new country and how they struggled to learn a new language. I wasn't born in the

    Read More

  • Importance Of Becoming A Varsity Player

    869 Words  | 2 Pages

    You have made it extremely clear to each team member that our grades come before soccer and that we must be passing all of our classes in order to be on the team. In the past there has been a large portion of players on both varsity and JV that cannot play due to their poor grades. I have never had an issue with this and have always been able to play. Therefore, I can guarantee that if I am put on to the varsity team, my grades will not slip, and I will always be an available player. Along with my grades, you have also seen my physical capabilities in soccer. I must admit that I am not the best there is on the team, but I feel as though I have proven myself through my technical abilities and hard work countless times. This furthers my reasoning as to why you should place me on the varsity

    Read More

  • The Importance of Maintaining Mother Tongue

    571 Words  | 2 Pages

    Incidentally the non-existent knowledge of mother tongue creates barriers between their personal lives and in connection to their family (Wisco). When children don’t learn their mother tong...

    Read More

  • My College Admissions Essay: My Journey To High School

    535 Words  | 2 Pages

    When I arrived here, I did not understand a word of English. However, my parent didn't hold me back from attending school. They were determined that I will work twice as hard other kids, but I know it would be challenging. I was up for it because learning English will make life easier for me and make my parents proud. I am glad they didn't hold me back, because

    Read More

  • Narrative Essay On Becoming A Teacher

    992 Words  | 2 Pages

    My family emigrated from the Dominican Republic when I was two years old. At the time, none of us spoke any fluent English. Due to their limited education,

    Read More

More about Personal Narrative: Foreign Parents By Students In Middle School

Open Document