A Big Problem!

In my class of literature that I'm taking this semester the professor sent us to read two chapters of the author Jim Cooper. This is a professor that teaches in the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus, better known as "Colegio". The first chapter is titled: “Teaching”. The author tells of his experience in the Campus teaching English, and he wondered to himself about the teaching in Puerto Rico. Where perceived that students have serious and grave problems with the English at the University. Cooper decides to go to the root of the problem, the schools because this place is the first center of education for any student. He understands that from here begins the problem and decides to give a solution to the problem begun to propose a new curriculum where students could learn the language.

The second chapter is called: “Helping”. Helping or cheating?  Jim Cooper narrates that he saw a wrong behavior in the students. The students copied and when the professor claimed to them they answered: “But I’m just trying to help him, he is my friend" and even if it was a test they “helped” so their partner would take good a good grade. But the problem begins when the student is in school. Where the professor tell to the students that if they have any questions, they can look at the test of the other. In my opinion, that never happened to me. Any professor told me that when I had questions look for 'help'. In fact, this concept of "help" is wrong. That cannot be allowed, although as the author describes very well, the Puerto Rican is the most hospitable person that there is.

I think that these are situations that we see daily in schools and universities in our country. There are things that should be prevent from the beginning, giving the necessary tools and act against the problem, not in favor of it. Even though English is our second language the majority of Puerto Ricans don't handle for many reasons. Fear of the ridicule, and the accent, which makes us feel intimidated. I disagree in a few things with what the author tells us, because the same thing would happen when you try to teach someone the Spanish or another language that is not their first language. But I believe that if you have good bases from the beginning, you can break down many barriers and not having the fear that many people suffer. For that, education should be the first thing in the priorities.