"No Speak English" by Sandra Cisneros

Background from Michael Marek about the story "No Speak English" by Sandra Cisneros, for English Literature students in Taiwan. Important note: In this video I talk about Hispanic people coming from Mexico and Central America. Hispanic culture is actually in a much larger geographical area than this -- the term is used to describe the culture and people of countries formerly ruled by Spain, usually with a majority population of substantial Spanish heritage and speaking the Spanish language. These include Mexico and most Central and South American countries, most of the Carribean islands, and the African nation of Equatorial Guinea. There are also Hispanic cultural influences in many other countries around the world. If I ever re-produce this video, I will include this inforamtion in the video script.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• EFL

[lebbeus]

Why do u say comment as "come-ments" instead of "com-ments" what accent will that account for?

[mithric]

I intended to say "kahm-entz." In my part of the United States, there is a very narrow difference, if any, between "come" as in "come here" and "com-" as in "communication." I live and work in the states of South Dakota and Nebraska, in the north-central U.S.

[RTasar]

I Love You for making this video.

You are my hero!

[mithric]

I am glad you enjoyed this video.

[sevocan42]

I wrote a test today and it was an extract of "No speak English"...I'm very angry about the test, because I see this video after our spanish test...The text was very hard to understand and the extract was too long...I had to look for the words all the time that I couldn't understand and there was no much time left to write a good mark...I'm very sad:(

[mithric]

I'm glad that I helped you understand the story, even if it was after your test. I'm working with two teachers in Taiwan to help students understand the cultural references in stories and other things about American culture.

[caronetx]

teacher just a point....why you call usa united states of america just America ......Sorry but America is the name for our continent !

you are caucasian AND American (united states )

Hispanic is who speak spanish and American too,

North America (Canada ,USA,Mexico)

Central America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama)

Caribbean Sea Cuba, Dominican Republic,

South America (Columbia, Venezuala, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay)

[pistum]

As a professor, I can tell you that there is not a right or wrong way of saying things. Language is judged on whether it is understood or not.

Peace.

[Carytober]

Hi! Nice video, though I would like to point out a mistake: the person who used to say "hamandeggs" is not Mamacita's husband, but the narrator's father. Besides, I don't think he misunderstood "hamandeggs" for a word for every meal, but it was the only word related to food he knew when he moved to the US.

[carlosleon135]

Nice really good this is the firs video i see that a nice american can tell a story about a mexican and not be like go home you mexican that made me feel happy i know no one care what i feel about this but is a really nice ....:-)

[34roberees]

@caronetx America is he name of a coninent and is also another way to mean the USA. Depending on the context of the conversation you will know if the other person means a continent or the US when he says the word America or American. Also American is how we call a person from the american continent and it is the nationality used for peole who are from the USA. I knowit might be annoying for other american countrie but it is what it is :D

[34roberees]

@Oktober4110 He said people who speak Spanish are called Hispanics, he never mentioned those countries that you are refering because obviously they are not hispanic, they are called latin american because they belong to Lating Amerca, meaning countries of America which languages derive from the Latin language (Romance Languages). Portuguese and French just as Spanish derive from Latin, that's why they are so similar and from there comes the name LATIN AMERICA :D

[anthony198635]

Buena historia ...

[PibeLokote]

You look like my teacher mr. nico jajaja

[theresxhope]

mamaciiitttaaa

[Lagsism]

@caronetx wow!that is correct.i also hate it when people from the USA say:i love tacos&enchiladas because i love spanish food.not!tacos are MEXICAN.gazpacho and fabada ARE spanish dishes.i can not say i love neglish authos like J.D.saliger or hemingway.NOT they write in english they are from the USA.Shakespeare is IS enlgish and wites in english.

[Lagsism]

please do not generalize! some POOr mexicans with no education(granted,the mayority are poor and have no or little education,little as in barely can read and write))try to go to USA to get a job.certalinly NOT all are uneducated and poor.

does the name carlos slim ring a bell?he is mexican and is ONLY the richest man in the world.