Talking Points # 2 *Argument*

1. Aria by Richard Rodriguez

2. Argument
This author Richard Rodriguez argues that the public language is dominantly English and any other language is just unacceptable in the classroom, which in turn forces the language at home to again be dominantly English.

Richard grew up in a family of five with three children including himself, he had an older sister and brother, they all spoke Spanish as their first language. "The language and the sounds revealed and accentuated the family's closeness" it was something that all five of them bonded over. When Richard and his siblings were in school however they were forced to speak the public language, which they were all having a difficult time grasping, and were soon forced to use the English language in their own home. The same home that they all could turn to and have comfort and speak their native language. Eventually the language barrier between the children and the parents became so difficult that they would eat together in silence, occasionally giving a smile. The home that once felt laughter and warmth, now felt silent and cold. English was the public language and Spanish was the private one. Richard was forced to learn the public language and had to sacrifice his relationship with his parents because of it. "Today I hear bilingual educators say that children lose a degree of individuality by becoming assimilated into public society."

3. The point that I wish to discuss in class would be the last quote of my argument. I really feel that children do lose a large portion of their individuality when they are forced to become part of the "public society" and have to follow the norms that we believe are the 'right' norms.