On June 14, 1984, at the age of twelve, I moved to the United States of America in the hope and dream of becoming an American citizen in the “land of opportunity.” The transition from the Jamaican culture to the American culture was difficult to get accustomed to. I was taught to read, write and speak the Standard American English which is basically a foreign tongue to the Jamaican people causing much pain and anguish. There was a point where I wanted to give up on reading and writing altogether. Through schooling, I attained the literacy skills that have helped me in my childhood involvements, professional studies and gain a useful understanding of the Standard American English language.
Coming from Jamaica as a child, I was ridiculed and criticized in the way I spoke. The Jamaican dialect also known as Patois stems from a mixture of roots from Portugal, Africa, Britain, Europe, etc... As a child, I would call my friend “pickney” and I was mocked and misunderstood for what I was trying to convey. The word pickney is …show more content…
Coming to America where the culture is different from the Jamaican culture became at times uncomfortable for me to get acclimated with. Through my education, I learned the proper literacy skills that have helped me through my childhood involvements, professional studies and gain a useful understanding of the Standard American English language. I learned better literacy skills including oral and written communication skills and information literacy seeking skills. I gained better knowledge to connect with other children and there was no longer a language barrier between me and my peers. Through the years, my skills became more advanced and my speech became more articulate. These skills have helped me in completing my duties and personal goals as a nurse. I have seen first-hand the requisite of having advanced literacy skills and I plan to continue to further my skill set in the
Coming from Jamaica as a child, I was ridiculed and criticized in the way I spoke. The Jamaican dialect also known as Patois stems from a mixture of roots from Portugal, Africa, Britain, Europe, etc... As a child, I would call my friend “pickney” and I was mocked and misunderstood for what I was trying to convey. The word pickney is …show more content…
Coming to America where the culture is different from the Jamaican culture became at times uncomfortable for me to get acclimated with. Through my education, I learned the proper literacy skills that have helped me through my childhood involvements, professional studies and gain a useful understanding of the Standard American English language. I learned better literacy skills including oral and written communication skills and information literacy seeking skills. I gained better knowledge to connect with other children and there was no longer a language barrier between me and my peers. Through the years, my skills became more advanced and my speech became more articulate. These skills have helped me in completing my duties and personal goals as a nurse. I have seen first-hand the requisite of having advanced literacy skills and I plan to continue to further my skill set in the