English 420 Autobiography

Language Acquisition Autobiography
Kirsten Dawson
English 420, LAPU
Professor Gonzalez
July 19, 2021

○ Describe what memories you have about speaking, or being spoken to in
your earliest years.
The earliest memory I could remember was when I was 5 years old and I was in
kindergarten.I was very shy however I had to stand up in the classroom by my desk to state my
name, how old I was and what I liked to do. I remember being so nervous that my heart was
racing when it got closer to my turn to speak. Throughout elementary school I did not like being
the center of attention to talk by my desk or in the front of the class. I was fine raising my hand
to answer or ask questions. The only embarrassing thing that happened would be saying the
answer and feeling bad when it was wrong. As an adult I still become nervous if I have the
spotlight on me, an example would be when I had an interview via zoom and the spotlight was
on me, unfortunately I was very nervous and it showed with me stumbling over my words and
not making any complete sense of what I was saying in the beginning, but I did pull myself
together to get through it.
○ Describe how your family prioritized language, speaking, books, literacy, etc.
I remember having a big bookshelf in the dining area where I would complete my
homework. There would be so many books there was even an A-Z encyclopedia that came in
handy when I had to look things up on certain subjects for school. My parents were really big in
my education while growing up, I remember sitting for hours memorizing spelling words and
multiplication facts. There were times during the summer when my sister and I just wanted a
break, but before we could go outside to have fun we would have to either read or write a report
on something we found interesting in the encyclopedia. I felt like I was in boot camp when I had
to do those assignments. But the saying goes, “work hard play hard” that is the positivity I will
take from it. My parents are from Belize so they spoke proper English then what they would call
broken English which is more of the creole dialect. Instead of saying “what is going on girl” it
would be “wha di go on gal”. I never could speak in the creole dialect but I grew up around the
language so I understand when I hear it.
○ Explain how those memories connect to your current experiences/feelings

about language and literacy.
I feel like all these memories are of things I had to do in order to get
where I am today. I wish to have learned how to speak Spanish at a young age,
but that didn’t happen for me. So at times I regret that my parents didn’t have me
learn Spanish instead of they wanted me to learn to play the piano. I am grateful
today for my parents showing me that education is very important and will help
make you successful in life. From what I have learned in my past memories I am
able to show my children today the importance of reading or making up stories.
We like to read stories, listen to audiobooks,music, and say rhyming words to
hear the ending sounds of words and distinguish if they sound the same. Also we
make the first sound of letters in words to show that all the words we say make
sounds from the letters in the alphabet.

Describe how your career path is reflected in or inspired by those
experiences.
With all of my experiences I have, it definitely has molded me to have a
head on my shoulders to be mature enough and take my work more seriously
than I did when I was younger. Since this is something I really want in life I care
about my grades and spend more time on completing my assignments to
thoroughly answer the questions to achieve a better grade.I am proud to say I
have gone through alot of schools to further my education and value all that I
have learned. I am happy to have come back to school in my late 30’s to pursue
my Bachelor’s Degree. It gives me the sense of accomplishment to know I am
doing the right thing for myself and my family.
○ What can you extrapolate from your own experiences and the experiences of
others?
I have a few friends that are in school and are in the same shoes as I am
wanting to better myself and career. So those types of friends are important to
me so I can have a group that is on the same level when it comes to their
education goals to better themselves. We all feed off of each other’s experiences
at the different universities we are attending. It is fun that we share the same
interests for our education and how we will all graduate in 2022.
■ How do early language/literacy experiences affect a person's
feelings about language/literacy later in life?
According to the Early Literacy article, “oral language is the foundation for
literacy development” Early language development is important because
later in life the child will grow a love of reading and do better in school to
have better grades. It also will help the student not get into trouble with
the law, because overtime they will learn the importance of education and
working hard to get where they want to be in life.
■ How do those theories help you understand your own experiences

with language, and the experiences of others?
I don’t remember who taught me in my language acquisition of how to
speak. I was the first child in my family, where we lived the environment
consisted of my mom, step-dad, aunt, grandma, and uncle. I didn’t have a cousin
until I was 5 years old. I assume it was partly my mother that taught me some of
what I know, but more so my grandmother since she was there most of the time. I
do remember the literacy development of learning how to read and my aunt,
mom, and grandma all taking turns to help me with reading out loud to me and
help me sound out the letter sounds to make up words. In the end it takes a
village to raise children and get them to learn the important things in life to thrive
and be successful. I am enjoying the start of English 420 and learning a new
approach in this class.

Resources:
Reading Rockets
https://www.readingrockets.org/article/early-literacy-policy-and-practice-preschool-years
The Study of Language.2017 George Yule Cambridge University Press

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Language Acquisition Autobiography

English 420, LAPU

July 19, 2021

together to get through it.

language so I understand when I hear it.

○ Explain how those memories connect to your current experiences/feelings

able to show my children today the importance of reading or making up stories.

We like to read stories, listen to audiobooks,music, and say rhyming words to

sounds from the letters in the alphabet.

With all of my experiences I have, it definitely has molded me to have a

head on my shoulders to be mature enough and take my work more seriously

about my grades and spend more time on completing my assignments to

thoroughly answer the questions to achieve a better grade.I am proud to say I

my Bachelor’s Degree. It gives me the sense of accomplishment to know I am

doing the right thing for myself and my family.

literacy development” Early language development is important because

working hard to get where they want to be in life.

■ How do those theories help you understand your own experiences

I don’t remember who taught me in my language acquisition of how to

do remember the literacy development of learning how to read and my aunt,

approach in this class.

The Study of Language.2017 George Yule Cambridge University Press

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