English 2100: Identity and Representation

1. Lee states, “Would they have nodded gently at her? Would they have lent a kind word?” What’s the significance of the ending? What emotions do you think Lee was trying to bring out? Do you think the situation would have been different if people knew she was an immigrant?

2. Do you think the mother was in the wrong for her English? Do you think she should practice English more?

3. To which audience do you think this story impacted the most?

5. Even though Lee was 6-7 years old, why do you think he understands the situation so well?

-Jenny He

1. What is the main reason for the Spanish language to have so many dialects.
2. To what extend to do agree that “French is considered to be more ‘cultured’” than Spanish.
3. What does the author mean by saying “I am my language”
4. Why are some races such as Chicano looked down upon by their own Mexican descendants?

1. How did watching his mom struggle with english affect him?

  2. Did running errand for his mother help him become better at speaking english?

  3. Why did his mother feel that “English language was not very funny. It usually meant trouble and a good dose of shame, and sometimes real hurt”?

  4. What is the significance of the pocket book?

1. What influence does Amy Tan’s mother have on Tan’s ability to write and the path she chose to be a writer?
2. Tan explains that “Mother Tongue” to her is the language used by her mother. What is “Mother Tongue” for you and cannot it be different from tan’s definition?
3. What does Tan’s interaction at the hospital with the CAT Scan reveal about people’s perception of non-native English speakers?
4. Tan mentions that she uses “all the Englishes [she] grew up with”. How do all the variations of English we use every day shape our culture today?

1. How does having different types of “English” help her to develop as a writer?
2. Amy Tan incorporated several anecdotes, for example, the CAT scan, in her essay, what roles does it take in the essay?
3. What was Amy Tan’s perspective on broken or “limited” English? How did it change over time?
4. What does it reveal about Tan’s mom when Tan said that her mom reads the Forbes report, listens to Wall Street Week, reads challenging books, etc? How does it change the readers’ impression on her mom?

1. Is Chang-Rae Lee’s mother’s struggle relevant to a social issue that exists?
2. When Chang Rae Lee says “For her, the English language was not very funny. It usually meant trouble and a good dose of shame, and sometimes real hurt.” , what message is he trying to give to the readers?
3. Would the native people react to the situation differently if they were aware Chang Rae Lee’s mother did not know she was making an effort to speak English?
4. If you were in Lee’s mother’s place, how would you react and cope up with the situation she was in?

1. What factors, other than gender, can lead to students not participating in class? Do these factors have a larger effect on students participation than their gender?
2. What does the author mean when she says, “Treating people the same is not equal treatment if they are not the same”? How does this relate to the idea that women speak less than men in the classroom?
3. What parallels be drawn between the gender struggle in the classroom and the overall modern day fight for equality between both genders?
4. Tannen uses anecdotal evidence to prove her ideas. Does the lack of hard facts as evidence make Tannen’s argument less valid?

1. Why do you think Amy Tan decided to include the dialogue of the videotaped conversation she had with her mother, “Do Yusong…….nineteen.”?
2. Do you believe that the struggles Tan’s mother faced are only associated with Asian Americans?
3. Do you agree that the language spoken at home can have an affect on the results of achievement test scores?
4. How could one’s perspective towards people having a different “English” change after reading this text?

1. How does Anzaldna’s use of actual Spanish words add to her voice?

2. Is there a difference in how certain languages perceived in America?

3. How does the Phrase “linguist terrorism” add to Anzaldna’s message that certain language are discriminated against in society?

4. Why does the author want to keep her mother tounge? Why does it matter for her?

Amy Tan’s Mother Tongue 

1. How are “different types of English” used in our daily lives? Who do we speak to while using these forms of English?
2. Are Amy’s views of English exams and word analogies being judgemental correct to you? Why did this make formulating answers difficult for herself?
3. Why did Amy select her mother to be the reader of her stories? Is there any specific reason(s)?
4. Is it ironic that her mother’s first language is not English and Amy became an excellent writer in the English language?