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I Hate English

by Ellen Levine
Book review by Mehwish, age 16.

     This story is about a girl who came from China to America. When she came to America, she didn’t know English at all. She went to school, but didn’t understand anything. She hated English.
     One day, the principal takes her to the Chinatown learning center. She is very happy there. She can speak Chinese with everyone. She goes on field trips with the learning center.
     One day the language teacher comes to her and starts reading in English. She kind of likes it. She doesn’t understand anything. After reading, she goes walking with the English teacher. The teacher talks in English and she doesn’t like English. The teacher is trying to tell her that English is very important for you if you want to live in America. How are you going to ask for pizza, how will you ask for any food? All she said was, “I’m sorry.”
     I like this story because the teacher tells her about languages. When she didn’t want to learn she felt very lonely, because she didn’t have anyone to talk with. So I think this is a good book for people who are learning English. I also learned English. When I came to America I didn’t know how to speak English at all, but I didn’t give up. I tried my best to learn the English language.