Latinx/Hispanic Students Have to Take Extra Steps to Learn in School

Recently, as an assignment I had to read a book for one of my history classes and then  write an essay based on specific questions given to me by my professor. 

While this task seems very simple to do, as a second language English speaker, I had to do extra research on what I was reading in order to properly comprehend what I was reading. 

Some of the language found in the book and the way it was written was difficult to understand, even for native English speakers. 

It might also be the case for native speakers to not be able to understand some things/words, but for me, a non-native English speaker, I had to take extra steps to truly grasp what I was reading. This made me realize how some of us minorities have to always take extra steps to be successful or to even complete a task at times. 

Even when it comes to reading or writing an essay, we might need to reach for extra sources. I had information on my essay that was outside of the book.

I used sources to guide myself and to obtain background information regarding the text found. My professor seems to not be able to understand why I would use outside sources. 

He kept saying things along the lines of “ it had to be from the book, you know”. 

All I could think of was “ Yes professor, I know you said that but for people like me it’s harder not to look for more information outside of the book to understand what is going on.” 

It infuriated me especially because  sadly most of my professors could probably never relate or understand why that would be the case. 

Most of them were born in the US and of course, they are able to read a sentence and understand it right away. I just wish there was  more information and more dialogue about these struggles. 

The fact that I am a non-native English speaker does not mean that I’m trying to get extra accommodations, but professors need to be more understanding of our everyday academic struggles.
Especially if they teach in an institution where the majority of the students are Latinx/Hispanic. 

Institutions need to fund and provide more resources to Latinx/Hispanic students. 

Starting at a young age so by the time they are in college, these students have better chances of being successful. 

Of course, the most important thing institutions need to do is to have professors that could relate to our struggle. 

Students succeed when they have access to professors and college leaders who look like them. 

I have great concerns about the lack of diversity among faculty and college leaders who make important decisions about college admission, course offerings, remedial education. 

I believe that our universities should and could  do  a better job of ensuring that their campuses are diverse and inclusive.

This is something that has been happening for decades now. Our institutions need to do better and be more understanding.

About Post Author

Gilda Torres

Fun fact: I was born in Honduras and moved to Chicago when I was 10.

Gilda is a Junior studying Strategic Communication and Spanish for the professions. She is a native Honduran who recently completed the process of becoming a United States citizen. As a hardworking woman, Gilda holds various positions at SXU such as News Reporte

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