Aria: A Memoir of a Biligual Childhood by Richard Rodriguez

            In the excerpt of "Arias " by Richard Rodriguez, he describes his childhood struggles of learning English as a second language once him, his parents, and sibling moved to Sacramento, California. Rodriquez, now educated, an adult, and well literate in English describes his shame of his childhood fear of English. He believed when he was young, Spanish, his native language, was a private language for home, and English was a public language. English words sounded harsh to young Rodriguez in school. Years passed and he never progressed in learning the public language because he would escape home right after school, and be comfortable speaking Spanish, using his home as a hideout from the public and a crutch. Only after the nun/teachers of his school came to Rodriquez's house to ask his parents to encourage Rodriquez and his siblings to practice their English, did they actually start to learn English. He could no longer escape home to speak Spanish. Once this occurred, the Rodriquez's household changed. His parents and home was more silent because his parents couldn't relate to him, and his siblings. They couldn't talk to their kids or understand them. With these changes resulted in Rodriquz loosing intimacy with his family, but becoming in his mind, an American citizen and gained social identity.
             Richard Rodriquez does an extremely well job supporting his argument with first person narrative, and compare and contrast. Rodriquez argues that learning English as a public language is an "obligation " (pg 8), and is the only way to achieve social identity and confidence. Using first person narrative Rodriguez describes first hand the struggles of learning to speak English as a kid. Using "I" " and this perspective makes his story easily relatable. Since I am from Reno, Nevada and both of my parents speak English, I grew up speaking English. I never had to translate words. School enhanced what my parents taught me to say at home.