Tiffani, Raquel, and Turquoise's Case Study #3 Blog

Reading Sample

Tiffani Atkinson, Raquel Pina, and Turquoise Sampson — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:45:12 +0000

Interviewer: And our reading sample’s gonna be from today’s CNN...ummm...article. And it’s an online article and it’s off the Casey Ans...Anderson...Anthony trial. Sorry. Ummm. She’s gonna go ahead and do that for the reading sample. Ready? Jane: Yes. After less than 11 hours of deliberation, a jury Tuesday found Casey Anthony not guilty of first-degree murder and the other most serious charges against her in the 2008 death of her 2-year-old daughter. But the jury convicted her on four misdemeanor counts of providing false information to law enforcement officers. As the verdict was read, Casey Anthony cried from her seat in the courtroom, breathing deeply as she looked forward. She then hugged her defense attorney Jose Baez and other members of her defense team. Her father, George Anthony, meanwhile, showed no visible reaction from his seat in the back of the courtroom. Orange County Chief Judge Belvin Perry Jr. set sentencing at 9 a.m. Thursday for Casey Anthony. She faces up to a year in jail on each of the charges of lying to police. http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/07/05/florida.casey.anthony.trial/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

English Language Learner Interview

Tiffani Atkinson, Raquel Pina, and Turquoise Sampson — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:41:02 +0000

Interviewer: Ok..Okaaaaay. I’d like to find out a little background information on you. What is your culture? Jane: Puerto Rican. Interviewer: Puerto Rican hispanic? Jane: Yes. Interviewer: Okay. What was some of your first experiences with the American culture? If you can give me some specific examples... Could you give me some examples of how your family participated in American culture? Like, what was American culture to your family? Jane: Ummm..For one as growing up here in Tampa, Florida, participate in Halloween. Over there in Puerto Rico they don’t celebrate Halloween. Ummmm......, that’s just one of them. Interviewer: Okay... Jane: (laughing) Okay. Next question. (laughing) Interviewer: Okay. Ummm. What’s your first language? Jane: My first language is Spanish. Second is English. Interviewer: Can you read and write in your first language? Jane: Yes. I can. Interviewer: Did you ever attend school in Puerto Rico? Jane: No. I attended..My mother g..I grew up my mother was a home s...uhhh...home mother...or home cook...so I grew up with her until I was 5 years old. Didn’t attend daycare. So her first language was Spanish and that’s how we learned until I started kindergarden. That’s when I pretty much started picking up English there, was in kindergarden. Interviewer: Okay. What kind of special classes if any did you have when you first started school to learn English? Jane: That would be in elementary school, ummm, ESOL..that’s what it’s called..ESOL class. Interviewer: Okay. You said you started in kindergarden? Okay. Ummm...how involved were your parents? What were there feelings towards you learning English in school? Jane: Very involved. Ummm. They would buy workbooks in the English. My mom actually learned how to read English and write. Interviewer: Did she do that on her own? Jane: Yes. She would definitely do that on her own. And work with the teachers, my elementary teachers. Interviewer: What was some of the difficult things for you when you were learning to read in English? Jane: Would have to probably pronounce and spelling. Interviewer: Pronounce? Jane: Yes. Interviewer: Okay. Did you have any problems with learning pronunciation? Jane: Still do. Still do. Yes. In Spanish it’s....the way the word is pronounced that’s the way it’s spelled. In English there’s a lot of silent letters.....I still do have trouble with that (laugh). Interviewer: What were some of the kind of...What were some of the activities that your teacher would do with you to help you to help you with those problems that you had? Jane: ..If I can remember, I think it’s really pretty much working on a computer, working with ummm........practices Interviewer: Mmmhmmm... Jane: Like, p...with pictures. I’m trying to remember what your mom used to do, but... (laughing) Interviewer: Okay.. Jane: pictures Interviewer: And...what was some of the fun things that you felt you had...some fun experiences you had while learning English that happened in the classroom setting? Jane: Umm my ESOL teacher. We would practice ummm...playing cards and every time we got it right or a winner she would definitely give us treats. (laughing) That was exciting. Candy. Interviewer: Candy! And cookies I’m sure. Jane: Cookie. Yes. Interviewer: (giggle) Okay. . How did you feel your peers interacted with you? Your English speaking peers. Jane: In elementary or just growing up? Interviewer: In general. (Jane interrupts saying ‘In general..) Whatever you feel like commenting on. As you were learning the process. Jane: Learning? Ummm......a couple of ‘em would probably..would actually correct me....if I didn’t pronounce the words they would teach me, ummm and other ones would just ignore it. They just said, “Oh, she’s latin.” That’s just latin. Interviewer: Mmmmm....And what about your teacher. How often did your teacher correct you? Jane:...Hhhhhh....writing definitely would..writing I would get a repl, uh, response. Speaking teachers umm....not that much.....if I spoke something, if I pronounced it wrong, they wouldn’t. Growing up in high school and stuff they wouldn’t really correct me. Interviewer: Okay.. What were some of the most difficult things you found in writing in English? Jane: Difficult? Ummm....still do have trouble with ummm....with like helping verbs (laughs) It’s just easier in Spanish like I said. Ummm in English helping verbs...just general. Still have trouble with that. Interviewer: That’s good. I’m happy you gave us specifics. Ummm as far as confidence, when did you start feeling confident when you were learning English? Jane: I wouldn’t say when I started. I still, like I said, I still have trouble. Like I’m in college now and I take a writing class and I still doubt myself. So I’m not a hundred percent there yet. Interviewer: What are some of the books you like to read? Jane: Ummmm...what kind...I can’t think of any off the top of my head right now. But the newspaper.... Interviewer: Okay, so you like.... Jane:....online...that’s where I really kinda practice...English. Interviewer: So, nothing like a novel. Jane: no Interviewer: ...like sci-fi or anything like that? Jane: To be honest with you, no. (laughs) Interviewer: Newspaper, okay. Jane: okay Interviewer: And what are some techniques that you think that you would have learned better to say if you could have done it all over again, what were some of the things you could’ve...you think you would’ve benefited from if they would have done differently? Jane:........hmmmm...definitely pay attention.... Interviewer: Mmmhmm Jane: In English class definitely, like I said with the verbs, past particicles and stuff ‘cause I do have trouble with that. Interviewer: Did you have trouble with a lot of words that were in math or science? Did they give you trouble, like thermometer or.... Jane: Pronouncing them or? Interviewer: Pronouncing... Jane: No. Interviewer: .....reading...understanding.... Jane: Understanding, comprehend..co..comprehending yes. (brief pause in interview) Interviewer: Okay, we’re gonna go back and talk about some more experiences as far as what you felt when you were (unrecognizable) learning English. Do you think you could’ve gotten by without learning English in America? Jane: Definitely no especially here in the area that I grew up in, Carrollwood..Tampa, Florida..definitely no. Wasn’t that much of hispanics. It was a lot more caucasian. So, definitely no I had to learn both language....s....Eng...English as my second.......Next question..I want to say... Interviewer: Okay. Do you think learning English was, is necessary anywhere else if you would’ve, say, moved to Miami. Do you think you would have needed to learn English versus here? Jane: ..Do I think if it’s necessary to learn English in Miami? Anywhere in the United States, depends what field you wanna go into. Work air....work force..or if you work in the office. I think to make it out there in the few, out in the world both language is necessary. Interviewer: Okay, so you think in, let’s, let’s talk about that. Let’s elaborate more about your career and the career in you peer group now, which obviously coworkers (Jane interrupts and says “coworkers) are part of that peer group. How do you think learning knowing two languages affects that? How, how does, how does, how do you feel with your peer group? Jane: ...At my work, ummmmm, how do I feel? Well Interviewer: Yeah, how do you explain..... Jane:....there’s probably only two latin in, in the office. Everybody else is English...Ummm....(laughs) Interviewer: Like how do they make you feel when..when you’re knowing that you know.. that you speak.. that if you have to make..if you say an error..or...(whisper)..do you feel criticized..do you feel comfortable...like how.... Jane:..Well it depends. If they laugh at me, if I pronounce a wrong word or spell the wrong word..if the ones that laugh at me, then I feel embarrassed and it makes me not wanna speak around them or even try anything around there. I just mute around them. And the ones that do correct me I feel a lot comfortable ‘cause they’re trying to help me out. Interviewer: Ummm as far as, you know, your younger and high school years, did you feel aware of your culture, were you aware of it? Jane: I was, especially growing up in middle school and then high school..there wasn’t that much mi, minority. Interviewer: And did you get made fun of in high school or middle school for the way you spoke? Jane: Make fun of probably in a different way...

Interview on American culture pictures.....clip 3

Tiffani Atkinson, Raquel Pina, and Turquoise Sampson — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:05:55 +0000

Interviewer: ...um...Okay, so, what kind of, what other kind of trends do you notice in American culture today? Jane: .....Well, one..or another one would be reality reality television, like, um, ‘Jersey Shore’. Interviewer: Like the celebrations, right? Jane: Celebration...umm..another one.....‘The Bachelorette’ . Finding marriages, finding your... Interviewer: Finding your spouse? Jane: Y-yeah. Finding your spouse on television. M-marriage on television. Umm. Interviewer: Is..how is, how is the the idea of marriage on a television show, how is that different from your own culture?........................Is it like...do you feel like it’s your culture is similar to, do you think your culture would accept, like, getting married on a reality television show? Jane: No, definitely no. I don’t..honest I don’t think they even show that kind of show over there in the islands. It’s just not acceptable. Interviewer: Ohhh, okay. So..for that culture, it’s more traditional type of marriage, not, you know, for entertainment, per se? Jane: Correct..Yep. It’s it’s yeah. It’s American thing. Entertainment. View other people’s lives. Interviewer: Okay, so more personal things, like with reality television, that you wouldn’t see in the Latin culture. Jane: Yep. Correct, yes. Yeah. Pretty much. Interviewer: Can you give me any examples of the closest thing to reality television in Latin culture? Jane: .. Mmm, soap operas. Novellas Interviewer: Oh, okay. Fictional... Jane: (interrupts laughing)..that’s more fictional, yes. Interviewer: Oh, okay. Alright. Well, thank you! I appreciate your time. Thank you so much.

Interview on American culture pictures.....clip 2

Tiffani Atkinson, Raquel Pina, and Turquoise Sampson — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:04:02 +0000

Jane: .................okay. what I think American culture is, umm, well, for one fast food. Everything is always on the go. Really no time spend time cook with the family. Just fast food. Umm, money...Umm, music. We can listen to whatever music we like. Umm..big cars. Everything has to be f.. is fancy. Everything about money, fancy, big cars, big SUV’s. Flashy. Bling-bling. Uh, I think that’s pretty much I can think of right now. Interviewer: Well that’s good. Umm, so as far the photographs, can you explain to me that’s why you chose them? Jane: Well, the second uh photograph, fireworks, it’s it’s Amer it’s America, our independence. Interviewer: So, like a celebration? Jane: Celebration. Interviewer: Pride? Jane: Definitely pride. Yes. Umm, that’s about it for that one. Interviewer: And the fast food. Is that like you said the lifestyle I guess? Jane: Pretty much a lifestyle. Yep. On the go you go to Wal-mart they have the little microwave. M-microwave fass. Microwave food you put in for two minutes. Um the majority of us are overweight. Interviewer: Okay. Jane: And it tastes better. So..next (laughs) Interviewer: And, why and so that’s basically why it represents American culture to you? The, the celebration, the pride, the, the status. Jane: Pretty much. Yes. That’s what represents America to me..or American culture. Interviewer: How did you decide to pick these particular two pictures? Why not something different? Jane: Well for one ummm..Fouth of July was not too long ago and I went out to Channelside and that’s what I went to go ss.. watch was fireworks. And that same day, earlier that day before heading out to Channelside we went to McDonald’s. Something thr-through the drive-thru. Something was quick while we were heading to Channelside. So that’s the first thing that came up. Interviewer:...That’s really good. Okay. So. As far as say, like status and you know, the food, for instance...the food for instance..ummm... Fast food. Let’s go and elaborate on that. There’s in America there’s a lot of fast food. There’s a lot of, um, different types of fast food. Jane: There is. Interviewer: Could you elaborate a little more on that? Jane:..Tastes good. Doesn’t take much... Interviewer: Money? Jane: Doesn’t take much money. You could take pretty much the whole family off of the McDonald’s dollar menu and sit everybody at the restaurant. In and out. By the time you get home, watch a little bit of T.V. and to bed and the next day repeat. Go to work, fast food, McDonald’s again for breakfast..and that’s about it. Interviewer: Yeah. You said, um, recently, I mean earlier, that umm Americans are obese. Uhh is that also part of the lifestyle that you think Americans have, is that “I want it now” and get it fast. Fast food and fattening foods? Jane: Not that they have a choice. Not that they want to be fat. It’s just the wrong thing that we eat and it’s just quicker. Interviewer: Mmm. And how do you, do you see these images, like, in your own life, like from day to day American images everywhere you go? Jane: Oh, definitely. Signs..umm, yes..... Interviewer: If you had another opportunity to possibly do this exercise again, what’s another type of picture or image that you think would represent American culture? Jane: Umm, I think I mentioned this before..umm..Halloween. Puerto Rico we don’t celebrate that..Over here it’s just all about candy, dressing up, which I think that’s it’s it’s just all about exciting, just about candy, for kids to go door to door, say, “Trick or Treat” .. Interviewer: Okay. And is there anything similar to the Halloween, like custom or holiday, in Puerto Rico? Jane: Halloween? No. Interviewer: Nothing like that? Jane: Nothing like that. Interviewer: Do you think that Americans celebrate a lot of festivities more than other countries? Like Fourth of July...(Jane interrupts and says We do)..and Halloween? Jane: ..and everything involves food. Well, that’s not so much different from Latin culture , but yes (laughs). They we they do. America does celebrate a lot more..festivals. Interviewer: That’s good.

Interview on American culture pictures....clip 1

Tiffani Atkinson, Raquel Pina, and Turquoise Sampson — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:01:40 +0000

Interviewer: Okay.. Can you tell me what the first two pictures that you selected are?

Jane: The first two pictures I selected...McDo..a picture of McDonald’s.. hamburger, fries, and drink. Coke. And the second picture is fireworks.

Interviewer: Okay. Umm, could you explain to me uh briefly what American culture is to you?

Jane: American culture...for me is...............