Assignment 5c

For this assignment, you will post a reflection of the class journey:

1. What difference did you notice in your choice of topics in the first part of the class versus the topics found in the texts My California and Train Go Sorry?

The first part of class was learning how to use blogs and learning about Freire from each other. This was the beginning about learning from our classmates and went on to help us when we read My California and needed to teach each other about ­­­­­­­­­­the stories we learned. We also all were able to give our takes on Train Go Sorry to learn more that may have been overlooked by one person.

2. What difference did you notice when you read your classmates work regarding the same topics versus your own opinions? Did their works make you think of something different?
I learned a lot through reading the posts made by my classmates. I always view things through the most logical way I can. I have always tried to leave emotions out of any decision I have made and try to make the ‘right’ choice. By reading my classmate’s posts about our different readings, I was able to look at different readings and stories through the eyes of others, which always brings up different questions, solves answers and enables myself to see the world differently.

3. How would Freire and the idea of dialogue and scaffolding play into your answers?

Freire’s ideas helped me communicate with my classmates and always maintain the thought that I am lucky to be able to be educated when others only dream on this. I learned how to describe stories so my classmates can learn from my knowledge.

4. What was your overall experience with these topics?

This was the first online class I have taken and because of the wonderful experience I had with this blog, I will definitely take another online class and take the ideas I have learned, from Freire, My California and Train Go Sorry, through the other classes I take and on into my life.

5b, Maria, Kayleb(Ly) & Sierra

Assignment 5b, Maria, Kayleb(Ly) & Sierra
I learned a lot by reading Train Go Sorry. I also learned a lot by reading my fellow classmates blogs. For this assignment I chose to read Maria, Kayleb(Ly) and Sierra’s blogs.

Maria: I learned that the deaf community paid particular attention to James Taylor and one day when he did not come to school, they went to his house to make sure everything was ok.

Kayleb(Ly): I learned that for Leah Cohen, being an interpreter brought her closer to ASL because I think that she will not ever be close to the culture because she can hear.

Sierra: I learned that the author is even remotely talking about James as missing the boat. I believed from the very beginning of the book Cohen was speaking of Joseph, but after reading he blog, Cohen might be referring to both brothers.

Assignment 5a- Train Go Sorry

"I am a hearing student (or deaf student) assigned the book Train Go Sorry in my Introduction to Humanities Class. Other readings assigned in this class include several essays from the book My California. In both books, we examined the cultures of California that form a microcosm of the U.S. In this essay, I will incorporate 4 required questions."

Firstly, what does Train Go Sorry mean? Well, in the book Train Go Sorry there is a school for the deaf named Lexington School in Queens, New York. In the Deaf culture, “train go sorry” translates to “miss the boat” or “miss communications.” The book revolves around James Taylor. James is deaf and is starting at Train Go Sorry, and will live in the dorm rooms on campus. James grew up in a very poor, and dangerous, neighborhood, because of which he has had to overcome setbacks in his life, mainly due to his loss of hearing. James has a younger, Joseph, who was also deaf. However, Joseph, did not attend Lexington and wound up in jail. He didn’t have the support James did at the school, which is one of the main reasons he did go to jail. James once tried to visit Joseph, but Joseph was in court. The term train go sorry refers to Joseph. Finally, James made it and visited Joseph one day and tells James that he misses home and that home is better than jail. This is when James realizes Joseph “missed the boat,” and will never make up for it.

The main person in the book, and author, is Leah Hager Cohen. Leah Cohen grew up at the school, even though she could hear just fine. Leah’s father was the first day care director at Lexington, and later went on to become Superintendent. Ironically, Leah always wanted to be part of the Deaf community mainly because she was always surrounded by signing. Leah’s father’s parents were also both deaf. Leah’s parents always encouraged her to speak instead of sign, even though she frequently tried to learn. Their thinking was she could speak, so why not. These are the shoes she is walking in. She is constantly surrounded by Deaf and wants to fit in, but by having all of her senses, she actually feels left out. Because of this, Leah practices signing in secret and eventually becomes an ASL interpreter as an adult, hoping this will replace feeling left out as a child. She learns that she will never be part of the Deaf culture because she can hear and the closest she will ever be to the Deaf is an interpreter.

I think the most vivid memory of the story I have is through Chapter 8. Cohen describes how people are treated in the school. The classrooms are not structured and taught so everyone can communicate. The way I see it is, everyone comes to the classroom with their own version of communicating and while some can understand, others cannot and they, unfortunately get lost in the shuffle. I cannot imagine how it would feel to be sitting and looking at classmates talking, and not understanding a word.

There are many different facts everyone should know after reading this book regarding ASL and the Deaf culture. The first one is that the only way Deaf communicate with each other is through American Sign Language, or ASL, and the Deaf find it absurd to be thought that deafness can be cured. It is like trying to change Italians because they talk with an accent.

Another fact that people should be aware of is that Cochlear implants are still controversial. Many doctors believe that will have a higher success rate when implanted at a young age, but the Deaf believe the choice should be made by the recipients when they are old enough to understand the benefits and repercussions.

Many hearing people think Deaf would want to hear and regret loosing the sense. However, the Deaf think it is just a trait they have and live with an most love themselves for it. Learning ASL is just like learning to speak English or another language.

The Deaf community thinks of themselves as just another minority group, just like El Salvadorians.

Those who view themselves as deaf feel they have just a disability and do not feel any connection to the culture, like those who view themselves as Deaf.

Assignment 4c

1. Who is your classmate, what is the component category, what is the name of the choice?

• I chose Anthony Musetti as my classmate, and am comparing World Cities, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

2. What is something similar this classmate said about the choice?

• Anthony and I both focused on how diverse each city is. We both also said that San Francisco and LA are very liberal cities.

3. What is something different this classmate said about the choice?

• While Anthony specified how he thinks of LA as very diverse, regarding population, and specifically thinks of Disneyland, I stated that the city itself is very spread out and not condensed, like San Francisco.

4. How would you relate this to Freire's ideas regarding dialogue? For example, you went in thinking one idea, your classmate had a different idea. What new idea emerged from this process?

· I went in thinking of the cities specifically as cities, and not relating them to the specific attraction and people that lay within. Regarding Freire, I went into this component just thinking of the cities and I came out understanding more than before. This is good because according to Freire, we can all help each other to understand the world we live in, and just like a class discussion, we can help each other expand our understanding.

Assignment 4b

1. In my readings of these same authors I found that Vicki and I also thought it must be extremely difficult for a family with different values and personalities from a different country to move to a new neighborhood where nobody else is like them, such as in Bienvenidos a Newport Beach by Dumas. An interesting point of view I didn't know of that Vicki said is when she chose a quote for Cotton Candy Mirrors by Major, she chose a quote about the Ferris Wheel that proves the Funland is in San Francisco.

2. Liz’s Blog:

Ode to Caltrans by Hector Tobar- I learned that as a young child many people view the freeways as a huge possibility, but as an adult, we come to view the freeway as a more dangerous place.

Montavlo, Myths, and Dreams of Home by John Steinbeck- Steinbeck thinks that California Myths, such as the Big Sur, has shaped California into the only state of its kind.

The Last Little Beach Town by Edward Humes-Seal Beach is one of the only family friendly beach towns left in Southern California, surrounded by lavish beach towns such as Huntington & Laguna.

Surfacing by Matt Warshaw- I learned that Santa Cruz was one of the first surfing spots in CA, but the most dangerous spot is Maverick’s.

3. Sierra’s Blog:

The Big Valley by Mark Arax-I learned that Fresno’s soil and land is perfect for farming and growing crops.

Transients in Paradise by Aimee Liu- I learned that even if someone live in the most perfect city in the country, they can hate is just as much as the most boring place in the world.

Showing Off the Owens by T. Jefferson Parker- Anyone who seems like they have the perfect career and seem happy, can still be ecstatic by just going fishing for a few days with a friend.

The distant cataract about which we do not speak by Mary Mackey- I learned that different religions use rivers as a form of religious enlightenment.