Humanities Final Portfolio 2013

When I first enter Mr. Block’s class, I struggled with language, identity, mask, boundaries, and relationship. Throughout the year, I develop a deeper understanding. I used to view language as one specific language such as slang, or dialect. I used to follow what everybody else thinks, but now I realized that I have changed a lot compare to the beginning of the year. I have my own point of views. I have my own identity and my own voice this year. English class and History class had brought me out of my shell. Reading book after book, and building connection with the book. It helps me create a better understanding on why the author wrote this book. After going on trial as the Aztec and the corporation, my point of view has shifted many times. It’s also wonderful to start the class with a journal entry because I am getting a chance to hear other people responded to the questions, especially challenging ones. 

In the beginning of the year in English class, Mr. Block started with something small by practicing how to write a descriptive essay. He built us up from scratch and helps us work our way up. When I first started, I had many negative comments about how my scenes are not filled with enough details or how it doesn’t make senses. I will stare at the image, trying to find the right words or phrase to describe it. After having a class discuss on what to look for when writing a descriptive scene such as: the smell, the texture, the color, and the touch. Though enough practice, my skills improve. (Descriptive Essay)

  On journal #3 when I had to describe a trip by being descriptive. I always have trouble thinking about my surrounding, but after many practices, it had become my strength. I started of describe every little details and how it feel. One example that I used was, “ I can feel the cold breeze shivering down my neck to my leg.”

Throughout the year, the language essay opened me up the most. I was able to express myself through words. I also learned so much by describing my experience on being Asian American. I discuss a lot about how I adopt to my second language, English. Also my experience as being Asian American while English is my second language. It was hard for me at first because I don’t usually express my hardship. So for me, it was a little personal, but it felt good when I express everything in words. “The struggles of language bring out the negative image by doing negative things to fit in” (Language Autobiography.) I used to think that in order to fit in, you must hide your identity and put on another mask. This quarter help me reflective on how much I change throughout times, but the end of this assignment, I realize that I had accept my identity.

  When Kate, from the Philadelphia young playwright came to SLA to help us with our play, I was having trouble thinking about a topic, however, on the next day, I flash back into my language essay and I was so motivated on writing my play basic on language. Through this play, I put in some of my personal experience into it. When some scenes were perform, I was so proud of myself and I love how the audience loved my play. I was being really creative with my play by adding character that speak three different type of language, Mandarin, Cantonese and Foochow. I was so fascinated with the effort I put in, and how creative it was. The actors that I choose was having many problems trying to pronounce the words right. But it is amazing to get them to speak my language with a short amount of time.  I decided to give my play the title called, “Manipulation,” because people can get manipulated base on what people tell them.

  The most fun part was that it never gets old for me to write about language or do something creative that involved language. On journal #25, we had to find different types of boundaries. One boundary that pops to my head automatically was Language, once again. As a class, when we listed all the boundaries, we had to be creative by creating a podcast about one of the boundaries. Of course, I chose language. I had so many people in mind to interview, but when Mr. Block came up to me and said you can interview your mom. I hesitated a little because my mother spoke broken English, but at the end of day, I chose to interview my mom and my aunt. I tried my best to get my mom to speak in English, but it wasn’t working at all. So I told my mom, just speak in Foochow and I will translate it. It was super hard for me to find a creative way to translate it, because I don’t want to make it boring or confusing. When I interviewed her, I did a small voice over her interview when she spoke each story. It was incredible difficult, but I manage to pulled it off. (Crossing Boundary: Language)