Nidia Menjivar- Journal One

I had some scheduling conflicts last week so I was unable to attend the Spanish School Reading Partners Program training. As a result, I was told by one of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school volunteer coordinators that I will not be able to volunteer through that program. However, I will be going to the school tomorrow to sign-up for a different volunteer opportunity. Although I will not be working with the Reading Partners program, I hope I will work with Native Spanish speakers.

I am interested in working with Native Spanish speakers because I am well aware of the stereotypes that they are subjected to. To begin with, a lot of people make the assumption that these students are part of a large family whose parents are illegal and do not take the time to learn how to speak English themselves. Some people also have the view that it is harder for this students to learn because they may not have the intellectual capabilities as some of their American peers. However, these views fail to notice that some of these students need extra help with learning how to read in English because their parents are hard at work, sometimes they may have two jobs, to learn English. These students are just as intellectually capable as their peers. However, unlike their peers, their parents are not able to help them learn how to read or do homework.

These views are not new to me because I was one of those students at one point. I had to get extra help reading because my mom was unable to help me, although she wished to. I have experienced first hand how people look at you differently because you need that help. Because of my experiences, I really care and want to help the students who now need help.