Activity 3: An Interview with Hector M., a Dominican Immigrant

Document 3 is an interview with a Dominican immigrant, Hector M., who worked at Barnard College in 1990. It was done as part of a research project in which I interviewed several Dominicans about their attitudes toward bilingual education.

Students should read about Hector's job experiences, and compare them to experiences of their own parents and relatives.

Students should read about Hector's job experiences, and compare them to experiences of their own parents and relatives.

Students can discuss Hector's attitude toward the English language. Why did he have negative feelings about English? Do they have similar feelings?

Students can discuss how Hector feels about his New York neighborhood, and talk about how they feel in New York compared to the way they felt in their countries.

The class should discuss the problems Hector's children were facing in their school, and whether they were provided with "equal educational opportunity."

The teacher should explain what Hector did to empower himself and the other parents. Why was it important for him to have his daughter in a bilingual program? What reminds them of the Law vs. Nichols case? What was Hector worried about? Do their parents have similar worries?

[ back to top ]