Meza 1

A Bad Habit in English Class At some point, everyone in their academic career has experienced a class that they dislike or are poorly interested in. Throughout my educational career, that class was my English class. Additionally, I never understood the importance of class; therefore, I never put interest in learning the necessary skills. Not wanting to learn the material was my bad habit that eventually caught up to me in high school. I was not prepared due to my personal decisions of not desiring to take my prior English classes. Moreover, in senior high, the levels of English classes were highly advanced compared to the skills that I had acquired, that they were not match for high school level of English classes. Also, my freshman year was very difficult for me as I saw many of my classmates succeed as I failed to understand the material. Although my first year was terrible, my tenth grade teacher Mr. Furman taught me the essentials of becoming a proficient reader and writer. He set my priorities straight and taught me the significance of the English language. Middle school was different because classes were no longer condensed and we had multiple teachers. There was a huge gap from elementary to junior high school. I had more classes, friends, and freedom. I remember the cold breeze, and the dark sky as I would step off the bus when I arrived at Sepulveda Middle School. Around this time my bad habits began. In my 7th grade English class I was very unfocused, I would not pay attention to my teacher, and I found myself doing pointless assignments. For instance, multiple unrelated assignments like word puzzle and Sudoku handouts. Out of all my seven classes, English was my lowest priority. Since science, math, and elective classes were more interesting, therefore I dedicated more time to those class were I actually got involved instead of English class. Reality hit as soon as I

Meza 2 arrived to high school, and I learned that it was a vast mistake of mine to prioritize English at the bottom. My first day as I entered Van Nuys High School, all I could think about was the all the new people I would meet, sports I would play, and the fresh new start I would have. I was that little freshman ready to have the high school experience like in High School Musical and Boy Meets World, where high school was about sports, being popular, and having fun. However, it was not what I was expecting. High school was hell, hence already in my first two weeks, I had been shuffled around from class to class due to clerical mistakes. Finally, I was in my 9th grade English class. I was two weeks behind, lost and never quiet caught up to the rest of my classmates. Furthermore, I was lost thinking what I had possibly done wrong and I kept asking myself why I did not understand the material my 9th grade English teacher was lecturing. I felt uneducated and as if nine years of school were put to waste, since nothing I had previously learned had prepared me for this very moment of my life. Lost because I was not smart, yet I blamed my English teachers on why I was not prepared for high school. Overall, my head just was not in the right place and still I did not see the importance for English. My one and only goal was to at least pass with the class with a C. I rushed my assignments, never studied, and never learned the fundamentals I needed to successful. I began to get worried so I knew something had to be done. Reading Habibi in New Voices helped me understand that other students also have gone through similar situations of feeling like they did not fit in, at a certain point of their educational career. I felt so embarrassed. I wished she had brought me a turkey sandwich just like all my other friends had. Her English, spoken with an accent, also made me upset because I wished she could speak like my friends parents did (Saade pg.22). I can relate to Saades embarrassment

Meza 3 because I also went through a similar situation. For instance when Van Nuys held their first Open House of the fall semester, and in my homeroom class, my teacher asked the parents to read the PowerPoint he had displayed in the front screen. He then asked, What do you think your son or daughter needs to do to be successful? He choose my father and asked him if can share his response pertaining to the question. My father stayed quiet and at that very moment I could not take it. I knew that my dad did not understand the question since he was only a Spanish speaker and never attended English classes here in the United States or back home in Guatemala. I tired to quickly translate the question by whispering it to his ear, but it was too late. My teacher was getting very impatient, so as best as my father could, he replied that he did not understand the question. Therefore, my teacher rephrased it so my father would understand and my dad responded saying, I am not sure but to try their best, be in class so that they can to go to college. I was embarrassed because he could not even answer the question properly without noticing he had an accent. Additionally, from that moment on all I can remember are the faces of my classmates laughing, at the fact that my father could not understand and answer that simply question. Moreover, I wished my parents would have continued studying and learned the English language so such things like this would never happen. I later realized later that my parents English should not affect me in my studies. I can no longer settle for that C and should aim for the A. My parents have killed themselves to get me where I am today and the least I could do is give it my best. I took English from that moment on more serious and gave it my all. I used their dream of desiring to continue studying, and lived it on for them and used their desire to have a better life as an inspiration. It was my first day as a sophomore, our 15-minute break was over as I acquired a funny feeling in my stomach, I was nervous because it was time for Mr. Furmans English class. I was

Meza 4 anticipating his class because this was the class I needed to turn my bad habit around. His previous students had mentioned to me that his class was very difficult but if you wanted to learn, his class was perfect. As I approached my class, Mr. Furman was outside holding a picture of a baby pit bull from one of his calendars, which he would occasionally do. This teacher was weird; nevertheless, he loved cats, dogs, green tea, and wombats. Moreover, my attitude changed as soon as I sat in my chair. Additionally, I knew in the back of my head that it was time for change, and if I really wanted to end the suffering, it would start from this moment on. Out of the thousands of seats in the entire school I could have been in, I knew this is where I truthfully belonged. Even though he was different in the sense of strange and humorous, I knew that Mr. Furman was going to fully challenge me and help me get my act together and learn the material I needed so that I could prosper in the years to come. The first couple of weeks passed fairly fast since we had plenty of work to keep us entertained. Just as before, I would find myself not understanding the simple questions about grammar, but the difference was that Mr. Furmans biggest focus was grammar. He spent forty weeks teaching us all about grammar, things I thought I would never even learn. I learned everything about grammar; how nouns can sometimes can be adjectives, different forms of verbs etc. and all the material that I never cared to learn or remember when it was first presented. The biggest reason why I learned so much in his class was because of his different approach of teaching. Additionally, Mr. Furman would get all of his students involved and choose different students to answer questions. He would wait as long as it took for someone to answer the question because he understood some of us were shy. Mr. Furman was always interested to see what we had to say even if we were wrong, he appreciated that we fact that we at least attempt to answer the question. Mr. Furman was what a teacher should be, not some lazy teacher sitting in

Meza 5 his or her chair the entire period doing nothing. As soon as he would say And now it is time for the Grammar Gun, the class would immediately know it was time for a pop quiz. This was another way of his strategies to get the class involved. He would quiz us on anything he had lectured since day one, so this helped us to always be studying all the notes so we would not forget the material and pass his quizzes. Not everyone took this class serious but I knew that learning the material and comprehending it would help me become a better reader, writer, and succeed with the years to come. Furthermore, I was that kid who used to ask my neighbor for help but the table had turned, and now those kids were asking me for help. A bittersweet feeling knowing that you were doing something right and reaching your goal. I learned important things like grammar, annotation, and reading and writing skills. In Habibi, Rita Saade, express how she is satisfied with being able to produce an A paper, I felt a great sense of accomplishment that I could produce an A paper in forty-five minutes (Saade pg.24). I can relate to what she was saying as I had accomplished getting that B and A in two semester in Mr. Furmans class, which was something I had never done in all my years of taking English subject. I was for once satisfied with the grade I earned not received. I did not stop there, I went on my next two years left in Senior High School and received B+ and As in American Lit, Expository Writing, and other English classes I took. My bad habit was forever gone and stored away. I began to read, write, and comprehend more. I hated to read because I found it boring and write essays because I was never a good writer, but after Mr. Furmans class and everything began to improve, especially in all my other class. I learned that the important skills and techniques I learned Mr. Furmans class could be applied to History, Science, and other subjects. The meaning of English class has changed and I no longer saw it as something on the side which I would just barely get by, but a subject which would help me

Meza 6 become a better student and with the skills and knowledge I learned in that class has helped me expand my knowledge to learn many more things and be prepared for college.

Work Citied

Saade, Rita. "Habibi." New Voices. Sandra Jackson. Amy Reynolds. Amber Norwood. Plymouth: Hayden-McNeil, 2014. 22-24. Print.