Memorization

When it comes to memorization I use different types of techniques depending on what I have to learn and how hard it is to memorize. I would have to say that the majority of the time I use rehearsal. I tend to read and repeat things over and over again whether its verbally or silently in my head. It works for me the majority of the time. I especially use rehearsal for math class since I have to memorize the many different equations given to us. Besides having to memorize the equations for math class this year, there is also extra information that I am required to learn, such as: negatives, infinite, real, rational..etc. Rehearsal is something that I have always done     for as long as I can remember, even as far back as elementary school where we were required to memorize poems and recite them in front of the whole class. Rehearsal doesn't work for everything, such as English. English is a subject that I have to take the time to actually sit down and study if I actually want to know and learn the material. To learn something for English I will usually do examples, or match up words with things I can remember or that will help me remember the meaning of what it is that I'm trying to memorize. I would have to say that Rehearsal is something that has worked for me. It's just easier for me to do because I've done it for so long, it just happens automatically. At times it might look like I'm talking to myself but I am actually memorizing the material, in other words I'm studying. Rehearsal has worked for me through grade school and hopefully it will continue working for me in college.    

Transfer Motivational Conference Blog

The Transfer Motivational Conference was the first time that I had ever gone to Sacramento. I was excited to go because I have never been there but at the same time in my head I was thinking that this was going to be a very boring trip. To my surprise, it wasn't that bad. I enjoyed learning the new and interesting information that the speakers provided to us. I especially enjoyed learning about Cruz Reynoso. His story was very inspiring to everyone, having gone from working in the fields to being in the Supreme Court. This made me realize that I can be somebody in life, that I can overcome any struggle and help other people along the way to. I also really liked the workshop I went to, Que toca la banda: Chicano Music. Our instructor for that workshop was great, he provided a lot of information and he made it fun. We learned about different musicians, such as Carlos Santana,   Selena, Rosie Hamlin, and many more. We also learned why this music came to be, the background that led to this type of music being produced. I also thought that the information we got on the UC's, CSU's and Privates were very helpful for the future. Some of the information they mentioned I already knew but some of it was new to me. They gave us websites we could go to for more information or to see our transfer status, if we have enough units to transfer to a 4 year university. We also learned about different types of internships that are available for us through the HACU National Internship Program. Overall I thought that the information I learned was very useful and helpful. What I liked most was seeing and realizing how many puente students there are. I was shocked to see so many people there. Some of the schools I haven't even heard of before. I would have to say that it was fun meeting other schools, they were all so friendly, nice and wiling to talk to other people outside their group. It was a good experience. 

Anzaldua Blog Response #2: The Anti- ...

 

  Most essays I've read usually follow a strict academic format but Anzaldua wrote hers differently although she does follow the academic format. Academic essays have three main parts: introduction, body and conclusion. Anzaldua starts her essay with a metaphoric example first and then the introduction begins after that. Throughout her essay she also has a variety of body paragraphs including music and the origin of the Spanish language. The conclusion is of course at the end of the essay. What I noticed that she did differently was that instead of using transition words to change from one main idea to the other she used quotes. The quotes are not in the paragraph, their in between paragraphs. She also wrote the essay using both English and Spanish, so it's Spanglish. By doing this she's aiming this essay at a Spanish speaking audience. She assumes that everyone reading this knows and understands Spanish. I think that she wrote this essay to educate everyone on the different Spanishes that are spoken and why and how they came to be. It teaches us about the past and present history of the Spanish language. I think that Anzaldua expresses why she wrote her essay the way she did with this quote "A language which they can connect their identity to, one capable of communicating the realities and values true to themselves--a language with terms that are neither espanol ni inlges, but both" (11). This quote expresses everything that she explains in her essay. The Spanish spoken today is influenced by other languages. As a result new words and languages are created. Although different geographic locations have their own versions of Spanish, at the end of the day it's all Spanish. For example, I'm Chicana, and i have to admit that I do make Spanish words by using English words as a base. My Spanish is choppy and definitely not perfect but other Spanish speaking people can still understand me. I like to call my Spanish Chicafornia Spanish. I call it that because my Spanish was influenced by the different cultures in California.

Anzaldua Blog "How to Tame a Wild Ton...

Anzaldua Blog "How to Tame a Wild Tongue"

Growing up I was thought two languages, Spanish and English. For my first 2-3 years in elementary school I was put in a bilingual class were the language mostly spoken was Spanish. Later on in fourth grade when I was finally in a all English class for the first time I remember one of my teachers saying "Don't speak Spanish in class, it's rude to those around you that don't understand or speak Spanish. You're in the United States, your supposed to speak ENGLISH!". I really didn't know what to do, it was the first time that anyone had ever told me not to speak Spanish. I was offended, mad and confused all at the same time. Apart from this incident, there have been other times as well. Random people on the street or stores would tell us not to speak Spanish. Specifically I remember the bus stop incident. After school we were waiting for the bus to come. The majority of the people waiting for the bus were Spanish speakers. When the bus finally arrived and old white guy came out of nowhere, cut in front of the line and said "If you Mexican kids want to speak Spanish you can go back to Mexico were you belong!". No one did anything to him,  he just said it. Other than that I have had a lot of people criticize my Spanish, especially when I go to Mexico. People always assume that I don't speak Spanish. When they find out that I do they tell me how bad it is, that I don't speak it correctly or that I don't have a Mexican accent in my Spanish (what does a Mexican accent sound like anyway?). I was raised in a dominant white culture where speaking anything other than English gave you dirty looks. I know that my Spanish isn't perfect but I know enough to the point where I know that I can communicate with my family, hold a conversation and survive in Mexico if I had to. To this day I don't know why someone would tell someone else not to speak their language. Spanish is something that I grew up with, it will always be in my life. But most important, it's part of my identity.  

CSI Extra Credit

Part 1

When I first got my results back I was happy to know that my profile described me pretty accurately. What I saw was basically everything I am even though their are a few things that I would like to change. I really liked that each section gave a definition of what it means. It also told me the percentage I got, why I got that score and recommendations on how to improve. The recommendations I got will definitely come in handy either now or in the future. Before this I didn't know that I had so many resources that I could go to get help or advice in. If I had the chance to change some scores I would. For example, I would raise the score of "Desire to Finish College" and "Family Emotional Support" because I feel that in my opinion they are too low. Finishing college is one of my top goals and my family supports my decision to go to college 100%. On the other hand I would like to lower the score of "Personal Counseling" because I am a private person and I would not feel comfortable sharing my life with a stranger. Other than that, every thing seems to be pretty accurate to who I am. 

Part 2

Section A: My grades in high school were pretty good. I got mostly A's, B' and C's throughout my four years in high school. When it came to studying for tests and finals I would usually start studying the day I got the review sheet or a couple of days before but it usually depended on the difficulty of the class. For quizzes I didn't study as much as I should have or would have liked. Studying is always something I have preferred to do alone. If I study with other people I would be tempted to talk to them, fool around and just completely get of track. It would end up being a waste of time so I'd rather study alone, that way I get more accomplished. I prefer to study in a quiet place. If it's not quiet I won't be able to concentrate on what I'm doing. A quiet environment is the only way that I can take in, focus and learn new information. Occasionally I will turn on the radio but that's only when I take a study break. To prepare for a test, I would usually keep reading over my notes and the book. I quiz myself to see if I know the vocabulary by covering up the definitions. If practice tests are given out I will do those to see how much I need to study. I usually study up to the night before the test and maybe some review before the test.

Section O: When I encountered problems with my friends or other classmates I usually dealt with them on my own or with my friends. I don't like asking for help unless I really absolutely need it. I don't think my school offered any personal counseling services, only academic counseling. Although the staff did say we could go to them if we ever needed to talk. When it came to school or some personal problems there was only one teacher that I would go to. It's the only teacher that me and my friends felt comfortable talking to. I am aware of the different resources that are available. I know that they will always be there but I don't know if I will ever use them. Besides taking a long time for me to get comfortable with someone, I'm a private person that does not like sharing her problems or feelings with other people. When I found out that I got a 71% on personal counseling I was surprised. That was the only question that I didn't agree on, it just didn't sound like me at all.     

 

 

Vark Activity

Read/Write

By reading Chapter three in the Focus Book I have learned that I learn at my best through reading and writing. Everything mentioned in the book represents everything I do. In order for me to learn I have to take a lot of notes and read the book. I study by going over my notes again and again. Sometimes I will even read the chapter again to get a better understanding. Reading and writing is the only way I know how to take notes and study. Diagrams, charts and a lot of speaking really wouldn't work for me.

Literature Circle Blog#3

How does sacrifice impact/influence pride?

In the book “Rain of Gold”, both families have made it safely across the border and are now currently residing in the Los Angeles area of California. Life for both families went from bad to worse. Even though survival was still a struggle, family was something that held both families together. “Money isn’t everything, our family, our blood, our dreams---these are the reasons that we’ve been struggling all these years; not money” (230). Juan had lived in Montana for the past six years were he had it good, surrounded by pretty girls while he made a lot of money gambling. He came to California thinking that his mom was dying only to find out it was all a lie. He stayed because of the promise he made to his mom. He went from having everything to being at the bottom again. Juan has always been a very proud man but the living conditions and ignorance from both his nephews and society bruised his pride. He lived in a “shack” and he experienced segregation for the first time. Living in that time period and under those conditions made it hard for anyone to be proud of anything. Juan worked in a rock quarry along with other Mexican immigrants. An un-warned explosion killed three immigrants and injured many more but nothing was done about it. Juan and the other immigrants decided to protest about it but nothing came out of it except disappointment. “All these years that he’d been away from his people---up in Montana among the Greeks and Turks---he’d missed them so much, but now he hated his people from the bottom of his soul” (262). Mexican’s have always been the type of people to stand up and fight for justice but now they can’t even speak up for what’s right. They have all lost their pride and now live under the fear of the “white man”. No matter what situation your in you should never let anyone think or speak for you, even though your in a different country you still have a voice.