Personal Narrative Essay

It was a warm fall day, causing lots of restlessness in the classrooms of the High School. It’s almost 7:30 and the bell rings in just under a minute. All of the students in Ms. Mantee’s english class already want to leave and enjoy the warm weather. Unfortunately, class has just begun. Gloria Anzaldua, who is always late, stumbles into the class room with her sister who's just a grade below. They hug and say a few words to each other in a language that is not English, and she leaves. Gloria takes a seat and joins the rest of the class in the loud talking and horseplay. “Quiet down, quiet down. We will start today's class with a challenge question to get the brain gears turning. By a show of hands, who here thinks that they use the same language

"There's more to it than just the words you say. It's how you say them. You could say the same things at home as you do here but in a different language. Right?" Says Gee. "Well yes, but no. I could say the same things but translation, but I wouldn't talk to my mother the way that I talk to my friends who are in this room and I wouldn't talk to the teacher the way I talk to my mother." Anzaldua says. "Exactly. It isn't about what you say it's how you say it. People obtain different discourses. The way you speak at home with your mother and your family is your primary discourse. The way you speak here in the classroom is your secondary discourse. Unlike languages, discourses cannot simply be taught, it comes with experience." Gee says confidently. Anzaldua looks confused as though she's trying to process everything Gee just said. "Five more minutes" The teachers blurts out. "Look, think about the way you said farewell to your sibling a few minutes ago. Are you going to hug me like that when we leave this class too?" Says Gee jokingly. "No of course not, I'll say 'see ya later'." Says Anzaldua in a confused tone. "That's my point. You would be saying goodbye to both of us, but you would go about doing it with different mannerisms. This is because she's family and she is a part of your primary discourse. I am just a random boy you just got