Title Author

Names/Nombres Julia Alvarez

It talked about a girl who moved and how she adapted to a new environment, so I
thought it would be very useful for me in life, to face new situations.
Summarize the story in 3-5 sentences. What is the story about?

A girl called Julia Alvarez moves to America, and she talks about how she felt the
cultural differences. She explains that she felt foreign although she was born in
New York, and that people didn't know how to pronounce her name. At first, this
anoyed her, but then she adapted. Finally, in her graduation, she makes jokes
about how classmates called her and about the wonderful experience school was
for her.

The main conflict that this person faces What kind of conflict is it?
is (character vs character/self/society
etc.)
To bridge her Dominican identity with
her new life in America. character vs society

Making Connections
I am like the narrator in the following ways.

I am like the narrator because I think I would react the same way if people din't
pronounce well my name. I also love to write and like the nicknames my friends
put me.

I am unlike the narrator in the following ways.

I don't live in a country I am not from, and I am not from the Dominican Republic
either, so there are cultural differences between mine and hers.

Go on to page 2.
Now, let’s examine conflict and mindset more closely.

1 2 3
Examples of First, in the She struggles with the Another conflict
conflict immigration office, desire to fit in versus the is when she tries
people desire to honor her to introduce her
mispronounce the heritage. family to her
family's names. friends, but the
names are all
complicated.
How did the She's afraid they She finally accepts her new She just laughs
narrator respond? won't be let in, so name (Judy, or Judith) as at the situation,
she corrects the boy her American identity, and because at that
only in her head. wants to blend with all the time, she had
Sallys and Janes in her learned that it
class. was a bit
useless.
What does this This reveals she's That she's adaptable to the That she learns
reveal about the affected by how circumstances and that she from situations
narrator’s others perceive her is patient with her new and adapts her
personality? and that she 's classmates. way of acting.
aware of the cultural
difference since
childhood.
How would I have I would have I really love my name just I think I would
responded? probably done the how it is, and it would have have given up
same. I would be a been pretty difficult for me years before and
bit anoyed in my to adapt. I just would have
head but would't said the names
have showed it. without the aim
of them
memorizing
them.

Based on what you have learned about mindset, does your narrator have a
growth or fixed mindset? Explain with evidence from the text.

She of course has a growth mindset, and she adapts to circumstances. A very
clear example of this is her statement: "My initial desire to be known by my
correct Dominican name faded. I just wanted to be Judy and merge with the Sallys
and the Janes in my class". TThis demostrates her ability to change her priorities
and to merge with the environment in order to fit in.

Based on what you have learned about mindset, do you have a growth or fixed
mindset? Explain with examples from your own life connected to what you have
learned in this lesson.

I firmly believe I have a growth mindset. I'm always doing new things: crochet,
piano, chinese, drawing... I'm one hundred per cent sure that if you practice
something, you will get it.

What message or theme do you think the writer is creating by sharing his or
story? What does the writer want readers to remember? Remember, theme is
expressed as a statement (not a single-word topic.)

In my opinion, the theme of this story is that your true identity is not a static
choice of two cultures or ways of being, but the mix of all who you are. You can be
Julia at home and Judy at school, but as her mother tells her: "A rose by any other
name would smell as sweet".