Week 1 Reading Journal

1. "Name” by Hiwot Adilow (pg. 21) - Resistance to Anglicization - Rejection of nicknames - Cultural and linguistic pride in Ethiopian heritage - Personification of the name as a "jealous god" - Use of religious metaphor to describe the relationship with the name - Historical significance tied to family struggles and Ethiopian identity - Symbolism of the name as a vessel connecting to a distant homeland - View of the name as a poem, emphasizing artistic and expressive nature - Refusal to conform to societal expectations - Plea for correct pronunciation, highlighting the beauty and significance of the 1name "Hiwot." 2. "Honor Their Names” by Linda Christensen (pg. 18) - Encounter in British Columbia sports bar reveals a woman using a "white name" (Carol) alongside her real name (Chichima) from Nigeria. - Many immigrants adopt "white names" for ease of pronunciation in schools. - Names are significant, signaling identity, culture, and language. - Students' names offer teachers an opportunity to demonstrate warmth and welcome diverse languages and cultures into the classroom. - Reference to Hiwot Adilow's poem "Name" emphasizes resistance to changing or abbreviating names for English convenience. - Giving nicknames or mispronouncing names is viewed as rejecting students from their families, languages, and cultures. - Despite linguistic challenges, the author creates phonemic translations to correctly pronounce students' names during roll call. - Saying students' names is likened to singing the songs of their homes, symbolizing a personal and cultural connection. - The text advocates for respecting and honoring students' names to acknowledge their cultural backgrounds and promote a sense of belonging in the classroom. - The act of saying students' names is described as singing the songs of their homes, emphasizing the symbolic and personal connection between names and cultural identity. 3. "Mexican Education" (Excerpted) by Alejandro Jimenez (pg. 141) - Arrival in the United States in 1995, illegally crossing the border. - First English words spoken at Walmart with the help of family. - ESL teacher shortens Alejandro's name to "Alex" due to difficulty with pronunciation. - Experiences challenges with language, including bathroom incidents due to language barriers. - Acts of defiance against mistreatment, such as spitting on teachers' lawns.