Above is the link to the trailer of the Netflix show, Squid Games. I love this show so much and you know I do when I watched the whole season in one night, and also had class the next morning. It is so so good! I recommend this show because it is just so different and so addicting to watch. In the show, there are 5 main characters, Gi Hun, Sang Woo, Il-nam, Sae- Byeok, and Ali. and they all live a life in debt, for their own very reasons. They are asked to participate in a game and given a business card with the phone number to call when they are ready to play in it. Since they don’t have money, they are feening for any chance to get money. In this game, they are taken to a island away from the city where no body can find them. There are 456 players in this game and every player has a number on their tracksuit that is used to identify them. In the game, they do not use their real names rather “Player Number ___”. The instructors at the game site do not show their faces either, very mysterious, they have masks and uniforms on so even the players don’t know who is in charge of the whole game. All the players are brought here because they all are in debt and need money. The instructors of the game give them the instructions that there are 6 games in total and the ones who cannot complete the game under a timer will be eliminated. Nah, the word eliminated was not just that they sit out until the next game or they go back home. They get shot by a gun and die. So, really there will only be a few winners at the end of the 6 games out of all the 456 players. The 6 games were childhood games in Korea and through the games, the most efficient, and the most intelligent players stay for longer. At the last two games, a group of VIPs arrive at the island and look very rich. These people are dressed up in suits and ties, and of course are treated like they something. They also had masks on and did not reveal their real self. These VIPs have been investing and betting money on the player of their choice and watches the games on a big screen TV as entertainment. As players get shot and die, the VIPs bet more money on another player and it just continues. This show revolves around survival and money. It is a very interesting but scary way to view it. I enjoyed it so much because after each episode, there is so much suspense and makes me wanna watch more. Since it’s a survival, life or death game within the show, it is very satisfying to move onto the next game and finally come to the last episode. And no I don’t think killing people is good to watch or funny, so I do have to warn you that there are a lot of shooting, and blood in the episodes. But like if you watch it you will understand what the hype is all about. Just watch the trailer first and I promise you that you will wanna watch it!

My recommendation for the class would be a kdrama that came out on Netflix called Squid game (aka 오징어 게임 in korean). It recently came out and can be found on Netflix. I think it was actually based on a real situation that happened in Korea a couple years back when people actually got kidnapped and brought to a mysterious island and couldn’t be found, at least that’s what I read from an article. The kdrama is basically about people in desperate situations who would go to crazy lengths to gain money. In the show, there are hundreds of contestants, who are in terrible debt and need cash so therefore they participate in the game. With the hopes of winning and being able to have a chance at life without loan sharks and shame. Where there’s a series of games they all played as children but the stakes of the game are high. The main character of Squid game is Gi Hun, the show is based on him and how he is in a desperate situation. He is in lots of debt and lives with his old mother and with a gambling obsession he lost custody of his young daughter. Throughout the show, you can see him trying to run from loan sharks because of his debt. His ex-wife also remarried and has custody of his daughter and will be moving to America with her new family so his goal throughout the show is to try and get the amount of money to repay his debt and regain custody of his daughter before she forgets him. Suddenly he is offered a business card by a strange man to have another chance at life, after playing a game with him. So he takes it and like him, hundreds of others take the opportunity as well. Basically, the whole “game” of the show is people risking their lives for a chance to redeem themselves in society without the worry of debt. My favorite character of the show is actually not the main character, but a girl named Sae Byeok. She shows that despite her young age she believes she can be stronger for her younger brother. I think my attention gravitated towards her because despite her obstacles she overcomes them with a strong will to give her younger brother a better life rather than being in an orphanage. The show itself is only one season long which is tragic because of how amazing it is. I think the show itself is honestly something very new to the industry and I have never seen a show made like this. It shows such a realistic portrayal of life. Also the “value” our society holds money at nowadays. Money is such a sensitive topic to most people because it’s easily spent and some may either find it hard or easy to earn. I believe this show really does show how “money does make people do crazy things”.  After the show it really got me thinking if people in our society were given this chance at this game, how many people would actually take it? Overall I really enjoyed this show and I hope those who take my recommendation will enjoy it too!

https://www.netflix.com/title/70140391

My recommendation for the class would be the show Grey’s Anatomy. You can find it on Netflix and Grey’s Anatomy is basically about surgeons and how they navigate their way from being interns to residents to finally actual surgeons. The main character of the show hence the title is Meredith Grey the main storyline follows Mers’s journey in becoming a surgeon and her life as one of the most successful surgeons in Seattle. However, Greys has multiple storylines sp it also follows the life of her peers and coworkers but still, the protagonist is Mer.  Usually, when I mention Greys, mad people will say that Grey’s anatomy is trash because you’re watching “18 seasons of people in a hospital” but I disagree. Grey’s anatomy is a good show because it keeps you on your toes. You’ll never be bored with the show because you’re most likely going to develop some type of emotional connection to the characters of the show. One thing Grey’s anatomy gonna do is it’s gonna make you cry. I can’t recall a single season where the show didn’t make me cry. Whether it’s tears of joy, anger, or sadness the tears will definitely be there. Another reason why Grey’s Anatomy is my favorite show is because it depicts real-world scenarios, even though the show is a drama it still talks about real-world issues. For example, conversations about racism, sexual assault, human trafficking, and terrorism are all displayed in different episodes and seasons. Grey’s anatomy incorporates these issues in a way that is still engaging to the viewer. Honestly, my fav seasons were the first 12, ik that sounds like ode episodes and it is but once you start watching it you won’t even notice how long that is. The show is just that good. Anyways I guess my favorite character is Meredith, that might sound dumb because she’s the main character but you really fo grow a lot of love for her. Mers story as a surgeon is so captivating because she endured so much pain throughout her life and career and she’s survived so many times that you have no choice but to fall in love with her. Also, she is the last one standing in the 18th season because all of her peers she began with working at the hospital had died in the show or been written off. Basically, Meredith is the only one still working at the “hospital” in the show from the original season’s cast. But yea Ireccomnend Greys Anatomy to anyone who wants a show to binge on and is looking for something dramatic. Don’t listen to the people that be bashing it, you not gonna love the show off the first episode bc I actually thought the show was boring after the first episode. It wasn’t until I kept watching that I figured out what the hype is about. Don’t watch the show if you’re impatient tho bc it’s a long show so that’s gonna blow yours but if you do like to binge shows then greys is it. 

After reading Vershawn Youngs “Should Writer’s Use They Own English ” and watching Jamilia Lysicott’s “3 Ways to Speak English ” I was surprised at how they were portraying their message. For example how Vershawn Young spoke in his own way not paying attention to grammar or what is considered proper English. In Jamilia Lysicotts “3 Ways to Speak English” she expresses her thoughts through the considered three different languages that she knows which are formal,native and street. Although they have it in common to express their messages in their own languages it still surprised me because since elementary school I would have been told that it is not the proper way to write an essay. A message that stuck with me is how we each make our own language. An example can be the community and neighborhood. Someone who lives in Borough Hall,Brooklyn is not going to have the same vocabulary as someone from 149 street in the Bronx. These people hear their surroundings and adapt to phrases they think are common since they were born around it compared to someone who has probably never heard of the phrase. I personally do agree with this theory because it has happened to me. I have friends and family who live on the West coast of the United States and when I would go visit them they would be confused by phrases I would tell my siblings. An example of this can be how in New York “You good”? Can have many different meanings such as if someone is financially stable, answering to someone saying sorry, or asking if there’s a problem. Some questions I have are if they talked and wrote in their own language while they were in school.

My initial reactions while witnessing both “Three ways to speak English” by Jamilia Lyiscott and “Should writer use they own English” written by Vershawn Young is that they both have their own type of writing styles and speeches. Also, their share a similarity when speaking about how using your type of English/slang should not affect them as a writer or put them any lower that someone else.  Vershawn writes using his type of slang throughout the whole essay and speaks about how students are taught on how to write and speak with the expected form of English and if they use a different form such as using their slang it’s an incorrect form. Something that he says that stood out to me was when he speaks about Fish saying “What he really mean by this rhetorical question is that the “multiculturals” should be thrilled to leave they own dialect and learn the other one, the one he promote”. I found this to be especially interesting because he speaks about how Fish promotes students that their own way of using English should be forgotten and about how they should adapt to the right way of writing. Verhsawn however doesn’t practically agree with this statement because all throughout the essay he speaks in the way that is more street like and something that he is more used to. During Jamila’s Ted talk she mentions how she is multilingual speaking street, Jamaican and then the formal English. She highlights the fact if she uses a different type of an English, street English, it should not be affecting her as a writer nor making her feel less of a writer.  Both Jamilia and Vershawn feel as if they need to get a point across they don’t exactly have to speak a certain way. They can get a point across by speaking a different form of English. A message that I collected from them both is that your writing style should not be any lower that something that is norm and you should still be able to get your point across no matter the situation. I think I both agree and disagree with their statements that they presented.  On one hand I do agree that your own writing style shouldn’t affect you as a writer also the fact that its still a form of writing. However, I disagree with the point that the point should be able to get across because what if the reader doesn’t understand the slang and form of writing that is being portrayed. 

When reading about Vershawn Young and listening to Jamila Lyiscott about english, I’ve noticed many similarities with the message they are trying to spread about the English Language today. Both explain how English has been changing and it is not the same as it was not so long ago. To set aside the differences first, Vershawn Young explains how culture has an impact towards how certain people speak English, and that is what they’re accustomed to. A brief example could be the English that I speak would be difference to how a British person may speak, we both speak English but the British have different terminology and slangs to describe certain things. Which allows to British to believe we speak a broken english compared to them. As Jamila Lyiscott was saying in her speech, the new “norm” would be to say What’s Good to your professor instead of hello or other forms of greetings. Something that Lyiscott also mentioned was her effort to stop her other tongues from expressing themselves in places like the classroom or at a workspace. I find this interesting because it is very similar to Gloria Anzaldua’s, “How to Tame a Wild Tongue” and how an accent or ones’ terminology can make a difference when speaking English, in Anzaldua’s passage, their problem was trying to get rid of their accent so they wouldn’t be in classes that will require her to lose the accent. But because we all experience different things coming from different cultures everyone should use their own English, which is the main point of what Vershawn is trying to express in his passage. I believe everyone should be able to use their own language and what they have been taught throughout their life wherever they can. Some words could be passing the line of disrespect and not be recommended to say those types of words. I believe people can be more productive and engaged with their peers and assignments when they are able to use the language they use everyday for their friends and casual interactions. There shouldn’t be one proper form when there are so many “tongues” across the World and English Speaking countries.

After reading, Vershawn Young’s “Should Writers Use They Own English” and watching Jamila Lyiscott’s “Three Ways to Speak English”, I was surprised by the way both artists conveyed their message. The first thing I noticed was the difficulty in reading Young’s text. Being accustomed to reading what we consider “proper” English, the change in language caught me off guard. The first thing I noticed from Jamila’s TED Talk was her diction. From her own words, her talking manner is very “articulate”. She also talked in a rhythmic manner. Every now and then she would speak a few sentences in her regular voice and then switch to a flow type speaking. Both Jamila and Vershawn include their native lingo while speaking to the audience. Jamila conveys the message that while we may speak English, our English has its own tongue. She conveys this using the three tones/tongues of English that she frequently uses, and describes to us situations where she’s had to switch up her flow of speaking, and communicated with people about it. Despite the English language being one language, Jamila describes herself as trilingual because of the fact that she can speak three different types of English. This was relatable to me because I find myself speaking a different English at home and to people who are not fluent at English, a different English with my friends, and a different English in an academic or professional environment. I can connect both texts because they use an English that is not proper but they want to emphasize that it’s ok to do so. Vershawn’s text has a line that stuck out to me, “You cant start off sayin “disabuse yo’self of the notion that students have a right to they dialect” and then say to tell students “Y’all do have a right.” That be hypocritical”. This line is important to me because despite some people being aware of how they are speaking and the inaccuracies in their dialect, others are quick to judge and correct that language, almost as if they find the differences offensive and insulting to the English language. I found myself agreeing with both authors perspective because the situations they described, in terms of usage and speaking a different English, is something I have found myself in as well.

After reading Vershawn Young’s Should Writer’s Use They Own English, my initial reaction to the text was the “improper English” that Young was using in his text since he’s trying to make the claim that we should decide on what type of English we want to use. As in Jamilia Lysicott’s 3 ways to speak English, she talks about how she talks in three different languages, one for her native tongue, another for the streets, and the last one is a more formal way of speaking. Both Young and Lysicott speak about talking in a way that they are much more comfortable speaking in and they argue on what even makes it proper English. A takeaway from both texts is language is something you make of it. For example, if someone was raised in a neighborhood where a dialect was used more, you as the listener would adapt to that type of dialect and now you will be speaking in that tone with those same exact people. With their unorthodox forms of viewing the English language, I can connect their forms of text to their content by understanding where someone who would speak in Lysicott’s “trilingual English” is coming from or why Young believes English should be a language that should be expressed in our own way. Lysicott especially grabbed my attention when she mentioned her theory of three languages because as someone who comes from a background that knows how to actually three different languages, so using Lysicott’s theory would I be considered a person that speaks four languages including street slang? I agree with some aspects of both Young and Lysciott because I also believe that we should use a language that we are more comfortable with rather than doing a code switch just to match the person that we may be talking to. Young mentions how speaking in our own English can help reduce prejudice which is something I can agree with because if we were to speak in our own ways and express ourselves thoroughly, then we can help end comments that people make due to the way we may speak and are too afraid to say something.

After reading and watching, “Should Writer use they own language” by Vershawn Young and “Three ways to speak English” by Jamilia Lyiscott, my initial reactions to these two texts were being a bit confused about the wording that the author used. It sort of surprised me, it was unexpected since I figured the passage would be in “formal writing”. However, after creating that switch in my head, I was able to grasp the understanding of what Young was trying to argue. As for the video, I found myself being very concentrated and carefully listening to all the keypoints being made about the English language. Young and Lyiscott both mention how there’s more than one way to speak English. They also demonstrate the dynamics of the English language and portray that there is more than one way to speak English. They do this by speaking in different forms of English to indicate that there is in fact multiple ways to speak the language. Young uses the English you speak outside of school, the type you speak to a friend while Lyiscott makes a stronger argument by providing more than one way to speak English. She uses the type of English you speak with friends, formal English like the type you use in school, and her Jamaican English. This was particularly intriguing since I think the way the use of language really powerful. It also made me think of language as a “shapeshifter” it shifts and changes. It’s one language but it shifts and changes into different forms.

I absoulutely agree with both of their perspectives and is probably one of the reasons why I was so engaged in what they were saying. “Yes, you do, and I’m not here to take that language from you; I’m here to teach you another one.” Who could object to learning a second language? (Fish “Part 3”). Young responds to this quote by stating how hypocritical it is to say that we should learn a second language but why can’t they? I absolutley agree with the point Young is making here, if people stopped emphasizing the use of “formal English” so much more could be said and done through different perspectives. Lyiscott states, “Now you may think that it is ignorant to speak broken English, But I am here to tell you that even “articulate” Americans sound foolish to the British”. It’s such a good way to put this term “dominant language ideology”. In other words,  those who speak “formal English” sound the same as a person speaking “informal English” to a British Person. Which really emphasizes that it is the same language we speak, other’s just force the idea of “formal English” upon others. Language changes over time, so I wonder what will soon be considered “articulate”.

After reading Should Writers Use Their Own English by Vershawn Young, I noticed the improper English he was writing in and had to reread it a couple of times to make sure that I wasn’t just reading it wrong. Young wrote the essay in his own tongue, something very casual to him. In Jamilia Lyiscott’s video, she speaks about being trilingual and her definition of that was that she can speak English in three different ways. She had a tongue for her Jamaican accent, one for the way she speaks on the streets, and the last tongue is a more proper and formal English. In Lyiscott’s video, she reenacts to us how she sounds in her three tongues and we hear her voice in three totally different ways. Both Young and Lyiscott, walk us through how they speak when they are not speaking what society considers proper and standard English. This does not make them any less than anyone else and they both argue that the English you speak should not and cannot play a role in how articulate someone is. They both mention how much the proficiency of one’s English has had a large impact on how others view them and define them, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Young makes a point in his essay that we should all accept the many English tongues people have and use that to demolish the “standard” and “proper” versions. He advocates getting rid of the robotic script of how the English language should sound. Not everyone is the same and so the same goes for the language and how they choose to speak it. Lyiscott illustrates to us through her video that there isn’t such thing as proper English and that why does she need to have three tongues when she can just have one. Overall, both Young and Lyiscott are suggesting that we should embrace and accept the diversity in the languages and tongues everyone has to offer and that there should not be a norm of the standard English language. Since, they were speaking in such an authentic way, as I read Young’s essay and watched Lyiscott’s video I felt like they were voicing thoughts I had in my head as well. Everything was so real and not fake which made their arguments stand stronger.