Dear Professor B,

During this phase, I enhance my skills in crafting open-ended questions for interviews and acquired insights on how to conduct them. Al’s direct quotes, which I’ve used throughout the peer profile, were a result of these techniques. I’ve also learned to transcribe the interview while conducting it. Additionally, I now understand the benefits of workshopping, through which I was able to refine my writing, making it clearer and more impactful. 

Throughout my life, I’ve understood the importance of language as a bridge to understanding and connections.  This point of view is emphasized by Al’s story, an immigrant who enters a foreign land without any previous knowledge of what to expect. My target audience are individuals like Al and my classmates, who might have personal or observed experiences related to immigration and language struggles. But, in a broader sense, my story is for anyone who has felt out of place, seeking acceptance in an unfamiliar environment. 

To make Al’s story relatable and vivid, I chose to use detailed descriptions or imagery, like the park scene. The setting of the sun and the horizon. By painting these scenes, I hoped to allow you to visualize Al’s experiences and sympathize with him. The use of direct quotes from Al and his internal reflections were designed to connect on a personal level, showcasing the depth of his feelings and thoughts. Through the use of quotes from the interview, the story feels more real, without the doubt that I made it up. 

One of the most significant insights I gained during this phase was the profound impact of language on personal experiences and cultural identity. This insight has helped me appreciate the complexities of language and how it shapes our understanding of the world. The part when Al felt embarrassed because he couldn’t communicate with the kids who played soccer truly resonated with me because I experienced similar situations to this when I came to America. 

Al’s story underscores the first Course Learning Outcome: examining how attitudes towards linguistic standards can both empower and oppress language users. Language proficiency can be a tool of empowerment for those who are fluent in the language, as seen with the local kids in the park. Al’s difficulties, on the other hand, emphasize how oppressive these standards are for people who do not conform to them. The fence surrounding the park, which at first served as a doorway but quickly turned into a barrier to his sense of belonging because of his restricted vocabulary. Al’s journey from being an outsider to accepting his dual identity demonstrates the impact of language on a person’s life.

A Journey Beyond Words

A new world, a new language, and the ever-present challenge of finding one’s true home. This is the story of Al, a young immigrant who paints the canvas of his American experience with memories, moments, and myriad emotions.

“It felt like starting from scratch, taking those initial steps on a linguistic journey”, he said in an interview.

At the young age of eleven, Al’s world took an unexpected turn. With his family’s move from Bangladesh to the United States, Al found himself in an unfamiliar landscape – one where he was an outsider, disconnected by a language he didn’t understand. He felt isolated and lonely, not being able to connect with anyone. 

“When I first arrived in America, it felt like a whole new world,” Al recalls. His voice wavers with a mix of excitement and anxiety. 

“I had no knowledge of what it’s like here. Knowing that I would have no knowledge of speaking English, I was still excited.”

Al was not scared of changes but what he was scared of was losing himself in the process of finding a new identity while learning to accept the American culture.

Every immigrant has a story that defines their experience in their new home. For Al, that pivotal moment took place in a local park. His initial interaction with American kids left an unforgettable mark on him. 

“At the time I went to the park, it was close to sunset with the view of the horizon on the front of the park gate. As I entered the park, I was hugging the black metallic fence that surrounded the entire park”, he recalls. 

The front gate of the park seemed like a portal to a different world, he held on tight to the fences, scared to let go, and Al, with every step he took, felt the weight of anticipation. He noticed a group of kids playing soccer and since that was his favorite sport, he gained some confidence to go up to them. He let go of the fence, and let himself be consumed by the diversity in the park. 

Just as he was thinking about how to jump into the game, this one kid, probably trying to be friendly, came up and asked something. Al had no clue what he was saying. He tried to answer, but all he could get out was a “yes” and “what.”

The kid looked super confused and tried to ask again, probably checking if Al wanted in on the game. But, the communication gap was real. All the other kids came to watch, surrounded him, started giving him this look, and Al could tell they were whispering about him.

Feeling mad, awkward and bewildered, “I just backed up until I was against the fence again.” said Al. 

That same fence he thought was a gateway to some fun now felt like the only barrier between him and total embarrassment. He did not want to stay here another minute. 

“The whole park thing made me realize how different I was and how tough it might be to get used to everything here”, Al mused.

That day wasn’t just about not getting the language; it was a crash course in how hard it can be trying to find your place when everything feels foreign. Al understood that very well. 

“I think the park experience really shaped my understanding of the English language because from that moment I really understood the differences of each culture and how they behave. It really puts a block in my head that nothing will be the same anytime”.  

After this experience, he was embarrassed and lost his confidence in trying to connect with other people. Instead, Al found comfort in the warm embrace of his family after this heartbreaking revelation.

“In my cousin’s house, it was all just my people. I knew them, I grew up with them,” he reflects.

Two weeks after coming to the United States, Al was enrolled in elementary school. He neither knew English nor any familiar faces. His anxiety from the park remained thus he didn’t socialize with his classmates. He faced countless challenges while in school as a 5th grader.

 “It was only towards the end of my elementary that I made a friend who was close to my cousin’s house where I also lived.” he shares.

 A friend, another Bengali immigrant, became a supporter of the English language and American culture. Through shared experiences with his friend, Al began to understand his new world better. 

“I tried fitting in but ended up not making any friends. However, in middle school, I was more into myself and made more friends than I ever did in elementary,” Al recalls.

The shift in Al’s attitude wasn’t instantaneous. He felt more alone than ever after the incident in the park and spent a lot of time reflecting about it. Elementary school was a haze of striving to fit in and wanting to be like everyone else. It was also a time of realizations. One evening, after a particularly difficult day at school, Al had an epiphany. He realized that his attempt to fit in, he forgot about himself and he was behaving in ways which didn’t particularly fit his personality. He was constantly trying to learn the American culture while ignoring his own and forgetting about it. This self-reflection marked the beginning of a transformative phase for Al.

 “By middle school, I’d made a decision,” Al says. 

“Instead of desperately trying to fit in, I focused on understanding myself better, accepting my roots, and growing from there.” 

This shift in perspective led to a more confident Al, one who could approach people as himself rather than a version he thought they’d like. As a result, he found friendships that were based on mutual respect and understanding.

“In Middle School, It was much different. I became less optimistic about trying to fit in and more about myself and how I can improve.” he explains.

As he looks back, Al acknowledges the park incident wasn’t an isolated one. Similar experiences followed him, reinforcing the challenges of acceptance.

 “I had very similar moments in many other places, but this park was the first one which was the highlight,” he says. 

There are other people out there who faced an experience similar to Al. The struggles and the uncertainty of being in a place brings a new fear but from the story of Al, we can take away something important. Be yourself, don’t try to change for others, be you and people will start to accept you for who you are.