Without the ability to speak English, Rodriguez had difficulty socializing with peers. He was seen as the outcast or the kid who wasn't American. The bright side is that when her family only knew Spanish they were close because everyone understood each other and they had no one else to turn to. His schoolwork suffered because he couldn't even decipher the difference between speaking at home and speaking in class. Additionally, he held back in class due to an inability to speak English. Once Richard began to learn English, his family life changed. His brother and sister no longer ran home after school, but ran to their new friend's house. Not only was his family less close-knit, but his father also struggled to speak the same level of English as everyone else. This described him as very reserved and quiet. Learning English also made him more confident and made him excel in English beyond his parents. This caused a disconnect between him and his parents because he was unsure how to address his parents, causing him to jus...