For our Spanish bench mark, our task was to make a brochure. The brochure was to contain all Spanish words. If oyu had any English in there you lost points. The goal for our brochure was to make it professional and easy to read. The test was, if someone didn't speak Spanish would they understand your brochure?

      For my project I made my brochure as simple as possible. I made it that way so it could be understood and I could get a good grade. The project was kind of like a "Spanish for Dummies" but in a nicer way. To express things in my brochure I used smiley faces and pictures. Making it visual is what made it plain and understandable.

Our first benchmark in Mr. Bey’s Spanish class required us to create a brochure (or booklet, which was seldom done) that showed what we learned in Spanish class so far.  It had to be entirely in Spanish, and also required visuals so it could be understood.  The effectiveness of the brochures was apparently tested later by showing them to people who do not understand Spanish.

I have noticed that I am a very opinionated person. I bases on what I think and it is very hard to include to a topic that I write. Also lately my topic is becoming less and less interesting to me. What i meean is that what I am writing is not interesting to me so I am writing slowly and less caring. I am no longer writning about what i think and I am writing like i do not care.

About a year ago my friends and I were walking home from school. We were all talking about the new computer game that had just come out. “Dude that game is completely awesome,” said my friend Andrew. Then on the other side of me, my friend Aaron asked, “Dude what’s your favorite part?” “That’s easy, it’s got to be the violence.” Aaron looked up and at Andrew with a confused face on. “Every time we talk about video games you always say the violence is the best part.” “Well think about it, the violence makes the game. Without it, what grabs your attention?” I looked at both of them knowing that this discussion was going to get heated. “The challenge of the game. It’s about you and the computer and who is going to come up on top.”

They both looked up at me and said “Jim, what’s your opinion on this?” I looked up and said, “You’re both right. Think about it: the violence grabs the attention but it’s the challenge that I play for.” They both looked at me with smiling faces and went back to what they were talking about.

By this point I was near home, so it was my time to break off from the group and head my own way. I interrupted Aaron and Andrew, “Dude, I am heading out. I’ll see you on the flip side.” I stuck out my fist for a pound. That’s basically our way of saying hello and goodbye. As I walked away, I could hear them arguing in the distance as they continued to discuss the point of video games. I giggled to myself as I walked away.

With my friends I feel more free to say what I want. I know if I say something that it won’t be judged too much. Even if I say something they don’t agree with they do not put me down or make me feel bad. I am free to say what I want, when I want. But I don’t always talk like that. There are times where I have to change the way I talk.

Just then I stepped in a puddle of mud in the field across from my house. I quickly pulled myself back trying not to get a lot of mud on my shoes. However that didn’t help that much; I looked down and my white shoe was a nice shade of brown. Frustrated, I ran to my house. I opened the door and walked in the house. Before I could take more than 3 or 4 steps my dad stopped me. “Jimmy! Take those muddy shoes off before you come in here.” I looked at him and said nothing but. “Yes dad.”

I took them off and went to the kitchen to get something to drink after my long day at school. As I opened the fridge to see if there were anything sweet to drink I heard my dads voice, “Jimmy I’m going to start cooking. Can you get me the pot out?”

“Ok dad.” I stopped what I was doing and go to get the pot. I opened the cabinet and reached in to grab a pot, which was a simple task, right? No, who ever put the pots and pans away last put them away very messily. I had to take out all the pots and pans to get the one that we needed. I handed him the one that he asked for and he looked at me and said, “You’re going to put those away right?” I looked up at him feeling like I was going to hit him and said, “Yes dad.” I put them back as neatly as I could.

I finally finished that up and I got up and made my way out of the room until I heard him call for me once again. “Hey Jimmy, can you go down stairs and get me some noodles?” I looked at him, wanting to say no but I opened my mouth, “Yeah dad.” Disappointed in myself I went to the basement to get the noodles. When I got down there I looked at the mountains of crap that my parents decided to keep over the many years that we had been living there. I made my way over the hill; I don’t even think that people that climb mountains for a living could have even conquered that task. However I did make it to the shelves. I looked around for the noodles. I took me a little bit however I did find them. Then I made my way back over the pile, and finally made it back on to the concrete floor of my basement.

Trying to make the best of my situation, I went up the steps. When I was mid-way up, my dad called down to me, “Hey bud, can you get some tomato sauce too while you’re down there?”
“Yes dad.” At this point I wanted to scream. I just wanted to sit down but I had no time to stop. I want back over the pile of crap and started making my way over. This time I felt as if I were having more trouble getting over. But I still got to the shelves. This time the sauce was in plain sight, so I grabbed it and started back. Then all of a sudden I fell in to a hole. I was only there for a few seconds but it felt like forever. I did get out either way; I went upstairs and gave my dad the items that he had asked for. “Thanks Jimmy.”
“ Anytime dad.”

That was one of those times that I couldn’t talk the way I felt most comfortable. There are times that I must keep my mouth shut for the greater good of my own sanity. People such as my father don’t like when people talk back to them. So I must change the way I would prefer to talk, in which I would more freely and openly respond with my opinions, so that there is peace in my home.

In everyone’s life, people practice this ability. It may not be as drastic, but it is still present. This skill, known as “code switching” allows people to have their free sense of speaking when they are with friends, however it also lets them change the way they speak in a more formal or business-oriented environment. People engage in code switching to fit with the parameters of the given situation, especially situations in which people would need to be accepted and respected.

            Language Autobiography

            I think the way I choose to talk and communicate with the world around me is very unique and is a strong personality trait of mine. It’s a way of expression, the combination of the slang terms I say and the way I pronounce them one hundred percent Daniel Byrd. The way I choose to speak is language terms, phrases, and sounds I’ve learned since I was able to adapt to different peoples “lingo” and what they meant by that. Another unique trait about the way I speak is my choice of words; I often come off ass very blunt, to the point, and for the most part aggressive. Mainly because of techniques used on me growing up when. I was dealt with fairly aggressively which is where I picked up such emphasis in the way I speak when I’m angry. I think the way I talk can be powerful, but often I see that not talking at all can be just a powerful or send a louder and deeper message in certain cases. In my house hold the words I choose to say can often cause an argument with my mother due to cursing but I have different views than her about cursing and I think I should feel safe to do it anywhere especially my own home. Depending on the environment I am currently engaging in I will speak accordingly. Although sometimes I slip up and get myself in trouble, in school and other important places where I am representing myself as a Professional, I tend to change the way I talk to a more proper English, to show an educated background. One adjective that is used these days a lot of people know me for, and that word is bangin’ it means good  “this is a bangin cheese steak” or to have “a bangin’ time” I practically say it every other 12 sentences. Someone meeting me for the first time and having a conversation with me would probably think I am some Philadelphia kid who is probably up to no good. I believe my intimate persona is much more open about who I am opposed to my public person which is more about what I do currently and why, it in a way plays itself out as a defense mechanism showing that I don’t want many people to know who I really am. It can also show how important they are to me. As imperfect and yet powerful my voice is I am proud for having it. Word.

Joseph Rainis
January 14, 2008

As a white kid, growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, I was pretty white. The only things I really knew about black culture were the things I saw on television. After going to public school for a few years, where there were more black kids, I began to see more things about the black culture, but I still did not know much. Little did I realize, the black students didn’t know everything about black culture either. What I saw from the black kids at school was similar to the things I saw on television.
I began to think, about what black culture really was and what it represented. I thought that if even the black kids at school didn’t know about it, maybe it wasn’t even real. I also thought about white culture, and if that really existed. I also thought about why these cultures were so different, and why they hadn’t integrated after being together for hundreds of years.
“For a white kid, you sure are good at football!” A young boy names Rahim Harris said that to me at recess. It was 3rd grade, and we were friends. From that point on, we had been best friends. Rahim and I were not as different as I thought we would be. We both had families that loved us, we both went to school, got good grades, and even had similar interests. The new discoveries I was making about culture were beginning to confuse me.
Rahim didn’t know it, but he helped me figure out the truth about culture. Culture shouldn’t be something you’re ashamed of, and it shouldn’t take anything away from you. He helped me learn that good people are good people, no matter what their culture or background is. People can be so different, but still just click. Rahim and I grew up in two different societies. I lived in a good neighborhood, and his wasn’t so great. His friends tried to get him into things like drugs and violence, but I didn’t have the same peer pressures, yet we still were great friends.
On an average day, in fifth grade, Rahim wasn’t in school. It didn’t think much of it. Maybe he was sick, or even just running late. During second period, which was Reading class, the counselor stepped in. She said, “Boys and girls, I have an announcement to make. Rahim is not here today because he is in the hospital.”
That caught my attention. I was a little worried, but I was sure he was okay, thinking that if it were a big deal, the counselor wouldn’t just come in and blurt it out during class.
She continued, “Last night, Rahim had a fire in his house. He got out, but has some burns, and is going to be out of school for a while.”
“How bad are the burns?” I asked.
“Oh, well, um, we don’t know all the details just yet,” She replied. I realize now that she didn’t want me to get upset, as I was a nine year old child who just learned that his best friend was in a fire. All of us kids wanted to organize a visit to see Rahim, but the teachers decided that was a bad idea, because none of us were older than ten years old, and seeing a classmate covered in burns couldn’t be good.
For the next two weeks, I did nothing but worry. In school we had no work, as us students were still shocked, and too worried about our friend to read books and write math problems. Instead, we did fun things to take our minds off Rahim. We mostly colored in coloring books and played games.
About two weeks after we found out about Rahim’s accident in the fire. The counselor came in again. This time the news was worse. “Boys and girls, I’m very sorry to inform you that Rahim passed away this morning.” At that, I burst into tears, and so did many other students. We go out of school early that day, as many students were too sad to even color or play games. I was completely sick. I couldn’t stop crying, I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t get it off of my mind. I didn’t go to school the next day, but students who didn’t come weren’t counted as absent. For days I thought about him, and finally came to the realization that he was gone forever. I went to his funeral with my dad. I saw some other kids from school, but most had come earlier. I had also found out that Rahim was 75% covered with third degree burns. I miss him. I wonder what he would be like now. Although I don’t think about him as much as I used to, every now and then, he pops up in my thoughts. Rahim was a great kid, and I will never forget him.

Mackenzie Drust
Iron Stream
Language autobiography

    When it really comes down to it, language and speech are very important to the way that you live, and the way that people are looked at as a human beings. As people get older they start to understand the importance of language. When some people are young they will talk the same way to everyone. When you are older and more mature you begin to understand the importance of “friend talk/ home talk” and “public speech”. When you are in high school, and you are talking to your friends it will be a lot different than if you are talking to your teachers, or other superiors like that. Language and dialect affects one’s entire life.
    “Stop mumbling you sound thuggish!” said my mom. “umm okay” said Mackenzie. “Stop, Mackenzie! Is that how your going to talk when you have a boss?” said my mom. “Maybe it is” said Mackenzie. “Well good luck succeeding at a job when you talk like a white trashy east falls kid”. Said my mom. “I don’t sound like an east falls kid, that’s just the way I talk deal with it, I was kidding I’m not actually going to talk to a boss like that.”  Said Mackenzie. This conversation occurred between my mom and me about two weeks ago. I chose to use this because I think it shows how people judge you by your dialect/speech. I am positive this is exactly the way it went to because I remember her calling me a trashy east falls kid, and that stuck in my head. Even though she sounds like she is angry in the dialogue she wasn’t, but she is right about how talking to a boss that way would be stupid. Talking that way to a superior is like demeaning yourself.  
    Language affects somebody’s power over a situation more than anything. Who are people going to listen to? The guy who talks like he is at home? Or the guy with the professional look and speech? People are going to listen to the more professional person. And in some cases it could be really bad if it is over something important. In today’s world if you are at work, or if you are at school or anything like that, you have to use a professional voice around your superiors. It is okay if you talk regularly around your friends at work or if you’re joking. But when things get serious you have to try your best to cover up your dialect and speak clearly.
    Your stereotype is very important, because weather you like it or not people are going to stereotype you. Your stereotype especially in high school is very important because it spreads so fast. If somebody asks someone else about you, they are not going to say that’s the really smart kid. They are going to say hey, that’s the white kid who tries to act like he’s black, Or something along those lines. So speech is very important and it affects the way that people classify you. I have been classified by the way I talk before; people have called me the “wigger” kid before. I only talk that way because I grew up around some white trashy people and that is how I came to talk. But if you really know me that stereotype is so far off, its ridiculous. If I talked more grammatically correct and didn’t use as much slang people would give me a stereotype that maybe actually suits me.
    Language tells other people who you are, especially when it somebody’s first impression of you. The way somebody speaks is the first thing that comes out of their mouth. It is not so much the actual tone of your voice, but it is more about dialect, if you have a noticeable dialect people will notice your dialect, and a lot of the time they will stereotype you because of the way you talk until they know you on a deeper level. Until that happens it is possible to lose power over certain situations because of your speech. In a country where the powerful leaders in the government believe that there is one correct way to speak English. If we do not speak their “correct” way how can we expect to have power.   

Mackenzie Drust
Iron Stream
Language autobiography

    When it really comes down to it, language and speech are very important to the way that you live, and the way that people are looked at as a human beings. As people get older they start to understand the importance of language. When some people are young they will talk the same way to everyone. When you are older and more mature you begin to understand the importance of “friend talk/ home talk” and “public speech”. When you are in high school, and you are talking to your friends it will be a lot different than if you are talking to your teachers, or other superiors like that. Language and dialect affects one’s entire life.
    “Stop mumbling you sound thuggish!” said my mom. “umm okay” said Mackenzie. “Stop, Mackenzie! Is that how your going to talk when you have a boss?” said my mom. “Maybe it is” said Mackenzie. “Well good luck succeeding at a job when you talk like a white trashy east falls kid”. Said my mom. “I don’t sound like an east falls kid, that’s just the way I talk deal with it, I was kidding I’m not actually going to talk to a boss like that.”  Said Mackenzie. This conversation occurred between my mom and me about two weeks ago. I chose to use this because I think it shows how people judge you by your dialect/speech. I am positive this is exactly the way it went to because I remember her calling me a trashy east falls kid, and that stuck in my head. Even though she sounds like she is angry in the dialogue she wasn’t, but she is right about how talking to a boss that way would be stupid. Talking that way to a superior is like demeaning yourself.   
    Language affects somebody’s power over a situation more than anything. Who are people going to listen to? The guy who talks like he is at home? Or the guy with the professional look and speech? People are going to listen to the more professional person. And in some cases it could be really bad if it is over something important. In today’s world if you are at work, or if you are at school or anything like that, you have to use a professional voice around your superiors. It is okay if you talk regularly around your friends at work or if you’re joking. But when things get serious you have to try your best to cover up your dialect and speak clearly.
    Your stereotype is very important, because weather you like it or not people are going to stereotype you. Your stereotype especially in high school is very important because it spreads so fast. If somebody asks someone else about you, they are not going to say that’s the really smart kid. They are going to say hey, that’s the white kid who tries to act like he’s black, Or something along those lines. So speech is very important and it affects the way that people classify you. I have been classified by the way I talk before; people have called me the “wigger” kid before. I only talk that way because I grew up around some white trashy people and that is how I came to talk. But if you really know me that stereotype is so far off, its ridiculous. If I talked more grammatically correct and didn’t use as much slang people would give me a stereotype that maybe actually suits me.
    Language tells other people who you are, especially when it somebody’s first impression of you. The way somebody speaks is the first thing that comes out of their mouth. It is not so much the actual tone of your voice, but it is more about dialect, if you have a noticeable dialect people will notice your dialect, and a lot of the time they will stereotype you because of the way you talk until they know you on a deeper level. Until that happens it is possible to lose power over certain situations because of your speech. In a country where the powerful leaders in the government believe that there is one correct way to speak English. If we do not speak their “correct” way how can we expect to have power.    

Mackenzie Drust
Iron Stream
Language autobiography

    When it really comes down to it, language and speech are very important to the way that you live, and the way that people are looked at as a human beings. As people get older they start to understand the importance of language. When some people are young they will talk the same way to everyone. When you are older and more mature you begin to understand the importance of “friend talk/ home talk” and “public speech”. When you are in high school, and you are talking to your friends it will be a lot different than if you are talking to your teachers, or other superiors like that. Language and dialect affects one’s entire life.
    “Stop mumbling you sound thuggish!” said my mom. “umm okay” said Mackenzie. “Stop, Mackenzie! Is that how your going to talk when you have a boss?” said my mom. “Maybe it is” said Mackenzie. “Well good luck succeeding at a job when you talk like a white trashy east falls kid”. Said my mom. “I don’t sound like an east falls kid, that’s just the way I talk deal with it, I was kidding I’m not actually going to talk to a boss like that.”  Said Mackenzie. This conversation occurred between my mom and me about two weeks ago. I chose to use this because I think it shows how people judge you by your dialect/speech. I am positive this is exactly the way it went to because I remember her calling me a trashy east falls kid, and that stuck in my head. Even though she sounds like she is angry in the dialogue she wasn’t, but she is right about how talking to a boss that way would be stupid. Talking that way to a superior is like demeaning yourself.   
    Language affects somebody’s power over a situation more than anything. Who are people going to listen to? The guy who talks like he is at home? Or the guy with the professional look and speech? People are going to listen to the more professional person. And in some cases it could be really bad if it is over something important. In today’s world if you are at work, or if you are at school or anything like that, you have to use a professional voice around your superiors. It is okay if you talk regularly around your friends at work or if you’re joking. But when things get serious you have to try your best to cover up your dialect and speak clearly.
    Your stereotype is very important, because weather you like it or not people are going to stereotype you. Your stereotype especially in high school is very important because it spreads so fast. If somebody asks someone else about you, they are not going to say that’s the really smart kid. They are going to say hey, that’s the white kid who tries to act like he’s black, Or something along those lines. So speech is very important and it affects the way that people classify you. I have been classified by the way I talk before; people have called me the “wigger” kid before. I only talk that way because I grew up around some white trashy people and that is how I came to talk. But if you really know me that stereotype is so far off, its ridiculous. If I talked more grammatically correct and didn’t use as much slang people would give me a stereotype that maybe actually suits me.
    Language tells other people who you are, especially when it somebody’s first impression of you. The way somebody speaks is the first thing that comes out of their mouth. It is not so much the actual tone of your voice, but it is more about dialect, if you have a noticeable dialect people will notice your dialect, and a lot of the time they will stereotype you because of the way you talk until they know you on a deeper level. Until that happens it is possible to lose power over certain situations because of your speech. In a country where the powerful leaders in the government believe that there is one correct way to speak English. If we do not speak their “correct” way how can we expect to have power.    

“Where you from?”

“Here. West Philly.”

“Huh? You can’t be. You been here all 15 years?”

“Why can’t I? But no I grew up in the suburbs.”

“Oh ok that makes since.”

The language I use demonstrates how different I am. It makes others think about where I am from. The funny thing is to me it’s just the way I speak.

I am constantly asked where I am from and why I talk the way I do. I am an African American teen and when I walk down the street that’s all people see. But when you talk to me I am said to talk like a “white” girl. Yes it’s true I don’t use any kind of slang. Sometimes I cut my words short or I may say one or two things considered black talk, but I even get shy to say nigga. For some reason it just doesn’t sound the same way when it comes out my mouth.
Maybe it’s the stereotypes that influences people to think I am suppose to talk a certain way. Maybe people create a certain image for blacks and if you don’t follow those typical guide lines your different. Or in my case you’re white.
To explain my background I am from the suburbs. I grew up in a neighborhood called Harleysville. Where everyone was friendly and they felt it was ok to leave their doors unlocked all the time. I went to Christian Academy, my teacher there was also my babysitter. I lived down the street from my church. I couldn’t complain.
I moved to Philadelphia after about 4-5 years living up there. Life in the city. I still go to church up there and I still have family there. I even have friends there. The person I was up there has followed me down here too. Maybe that is why I seem to connect to people who are diverse.

SLA is a school mixed with all kinds of people. There are so many different ethnicities and so many unique people you never see the same thing twice. And my group of friends show that diverseness.
My friends are called the G’s. We are made up of African Americans, Puerto Ricans, Whites, and Indians. Each person speaks some type of a different language. Hector, Steph and Dan speak Spanish, Sharon knows some Spanish too. Jay and Mithun speak Bengali, Mike and me speak English.

All the time we are sharing ideas about our religions and our different views. Being friends with them opened my eyes to other cultures, and it helped me learn that it’s interesting to learn something other then what you’re used to.

That is how I am shaped now. I like when Hector, Steph, Dan, and Sharon speak some Spanish to me. I would love to be fluent in it. Also I try to remember little sayings in Bengali and that’s how I want to be for now on. I think it’s important to be flexible. It’s important to be able to communicate with all kinds of people. The world shouldn’t be separated because of communication issues.