When I Was Puerto Rican Lesson Plan

In what ways does Esmeralda start to become aware of American influence on Puerto Rico?

Students should be able to point to specific examples from these chapters that show the ways Esmeralda's awareness about American influence over Puerto Rico begins to develop. Puerto Ricans are forced to learn English in school. Americans come in and tell Puerto Ricans what to eat as if Puerto Ricans don't understand their own diets and positing that the American way of eating is better. She also becomes aware of how when Puerto Ricans go to the US, they are expected to speak perfect English, yet when Americans come to Puerto Rico, they don’t feel the need to learn Spanish very well...