Felipe Alou: from the Valleys to the Mountains

Felipe Alou: From the Valleys to the Mountains

Carol Gaab

Cover and Chapter Art by Irene Jimenez Casasnovas

IBSN: 978-1-935575-79-5

Fluency Matters, P.O. Box 11624, Chandler, AZ 85248 [email protected] • FluencyMatters.com A NOTE TO THE READER This novel is a true biographical account of one of Major League Baseball’s greatest players and man- agers, Felipe Alou. His story is based on personal tes- timony that Felipe himself shared during an exclusive personal interview. The story of his life and career has been artfully narrated using a minimal number of high-frequency words in English. New vocabulary is embedded within numerous (Spanish) cognates (words that are similar in two lan- guages), making it an ideal first read for beginning language students. A comprehensive glossary lists all vocabulary used in the story. Keep in mind that many words are listed in the glossary more than once, as most appear throughout the book in various forms and tenses. (Ex.: I go, he goes, he went, etc.) Vocabulary words and phrases that would be considered beyond a beginning level are footnoted within the text, and their meanings given at the bottom of the page where each occurs. The opinions and events in this story do not reflect or represent the opinions or beliefs of Fluency Matters. We hope you enjoy reading it! Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Dominican Republic ...... 1

Chapter 2: The Rojas Family ...... 7

Chapter 3: Dedication or Consequences ...... 12

Chapter 4: International Attention...... 15

Chapter 5: Obstacles ...... 20

Chapter 6: Hunger! ...... 28

Chapter 7: My First Hamburger ...... 34

Chapter 8: A Team Divided ...... 38

Chapter 9: Discrimination Without Limits ...... 43

Chapter 10: Big League Giants ...... 49

Chapter 11: From the Valley to the Mountain ...... 53

Epilogue ...... 61

English-Spanish Glossary ...... 63

English Glossary ...... 77 Acknowledgments

My eternal gratitude and thanks to Felipe Alou for not only allowing me to write his story, but for taking the time to personally share so many amazing ac- counts of his life and career. His sincere support of my efforts and the efforts of English language learners around the world is truly inspiring.

Many thanks to Clara Ho for going to bat for me to initiate this project and for coordinating my meetings with Felipe. Without her, this book would not have been possible.

Endless thanks to the San Francisco Giants for per- mission to use team photos that bring this story to life. To say that I appreciate their Giant support over the years would be a gross understatement. Their regard for me as a teacher and their desire to help their international players learn English is absolutely inspiring, to say the least. Chapter 1 The Dominican Republic

Florida

Cuba Dominican Republic

Haiti

In the Caribbean Sea, there is a tropical island. The island is called Hispaniola. The island of Hispaniola has two (2) parts: One (1) part is the nation of Haiti and the other part is the nation of the Dominican Re- public. The Dominican Republic is famous. It is famous for baseball! Baseball is very popular in the Dominican Republic. There are many professional baseball players from the Dominican. Many of them are famous. They are famous in the Dominican Republic and in Latin America, and they are also famous in the United

1 Felipe Alou States. Dominican baseball definitely receives international attention! The Dominican Republic also receives international attention for its beaches1. Its tropical beaches are very famous. There are many elegant hotels on the beaches, and many international tourists visit every year2. A popular vacation destination, the Dominican Republic is considered a tropical paradise!

For many years, the Dominican Republic was not a paradise! It was not a vacation destination, and it

1beaches - playas [sandy areas of a coast, sandy areas of a coastline] 2every year - cada año [each year, every 12 months, every 365 days] 2 Chapter 1 was not famous for baseball either. Between 1930 and 1961, a dictator controlled the nation. The dictator was General Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina. General Trujillo was a rigid, oppressive and violent dictator! He controlled the nation with political oppression and terrorist tactics. In the year 1937, the dictator organized a horrible massacre, called ‘El Corte’ (The Cutting). The massacre was organized to eliminate Haitians. There were many Haitians who lived in the Dominican Republic. The cruel dictator did not want Haitians living in the Do- minican Republic. He wanted to eliminate them from his nation! He said, “I don’t want Haitians living in my nation. Kill3 them! But do not kill Dominicans; only kill Haitians!” Haitians are black, and many Dominicans are also black. To distinguish the Haitians from the Domini- cans, the military used a tactic called a ‘Shibboleth’4. A Shibboleth is a military tactic that uses a spoken

3kill - maten, asesinen [murder, execute, end one’s life] 4‘shibboleth’ - ‘santo y seña’: una palabra o frase que se uti- liza para distinguir a un grupo o clase de personas que otro [A word or pronunciation that distinguishes people of one group or class from those of another.] 3 Felipe Alou word5 (or words) to distinguish people from different nations.The Haitians did not speak Spanish; they spoke Creole (criollo). The pronunciation of Creole is different from the pronunciation of Spanish. The Haitians could not pronounce many words in Spanish. In particular, they could not pronounce the word ‘perejil’ (parsley). When a Haitian pronounced ‘perejil’ (parsley) in Spanish, it was obvious that he did not speak Spanish and that he was not a Dominican. It was obvious that he was a Haitian! If a person could not pronounce the word ‘perejil’ (parsley) perfectly, the military would kill him!

5word(s) - palabra(s) [units of meaning in language] 4 Chapter 1 Trujillo ordered the killing of all the Haitians who were living in the Dominican Republic. He ordered the military: “Eliminate the Haitians! I want all Haitians killed! But do not use military arms6 to kill them; I do not want any military evidence! Kill them with machetes!”

A machete from the Dominican Republic

During the six (6) days of the massacre, the military (armed with machetes) killed more than 17,000 Haitians who were living in the Dominican. The irony of the massacre is that the dictator was part Haitian. During his dictatorship, General Trujillo was responsible for many violent and cruel acts, but he was also responsible for positive acts: He was responsible for the construction of schools, houses, hospitals and clinics. He was also responsible for positive economic 6arms - armas [weapons, armaments of war] 5 Felipe Alou progress, but the economic progress did not benefit the people! It benefited the dictator and his officials. The corrupt political officials lived like kings7, while Dominicans continued to live in poverty8.

7kings - reyes [rulers, sovereign powers] 8poverty - la pobreza [living with little or no money]

6 Chapter 2 The Rojas Family

During the dictatorship of General Trujillo, many, many Dominicans lived in poverty. The dictator and his officials lived in excellent conditions while the Do- minican people lived in poor conditions. The people did not have much money. They lived in poverty, and many lived in hunger. They also lived with a lot of political oppression. But in 1935, there was a child who had no idea that there was political oppression or poverty. His name was Felipe Rojas Alou. He was the

7 Felipe Alou son of José Rojas and Virginia Alou. José and Virginia had a big family. They had six children (in order): Felipe, María, Mateo, Jesús, Juan and Virginia. To José and Virginia, family was very important. They were very dedicated parents! The Rojas family did not have much money, but the children did not notice. They were innocent and happy; they did not notice the oppressive political situation or the poverty in which they lived.

The Rojas family lived in Haina, Kilometer 12 in the National District. It was called Kilometer 12 because

8 Chapter 2 it was 12 kilometers from Trujillo City1, the capital of the Dominican Republic. The family lived with very little money, but they had a house to live in. Felipe’s father was a talented carpenter, and he was responsible for the construction of the family’s house. His father was a carpenter and a blacksmith2, and his mother was a homemaker3. His father was black, and his mother was white. To the Rojas children, living in a house with white and black people was normal. Race4 was not important; to the children, there was no difference between black people and white people. The Rojas Family was very well respected by the Haina Community. José and Virginia had a stable family and insisted that their children have good character. 1Trujillo City - Ciudad Trujillo [Trujillo City was the name of the capital of the Dominican Republic. General Trujillo changed the capital city’s original name, Santo Domingo, to Trujillo City in 1930. After his as- sassination in 1961, the capital city’s original name was re- stored.] (En 1930, el General Trujillo cambió el nombre original de Santo Domingo a Ciudad Trujillo. Después de su asesinato en 1961, el nombre original fue restaurado.) 2blacksmith - herrero [a person who works with iron] 3homemaker- ama de casa [a mother who does not work outside the home, a stay-at-home mom] 4race - raza [the color of a person’s skin] 9 Felipe Alou

Santo Domingo: The Fort of Conception in the Colonial Zone. Between 1930 and 1961, Santo Domingo was called Trujillo City.

They insisted that they live with integrity and honor. They also insisted that the children receive an excellent education. Education was very important to them! Felipe and his brothers and sisters went to elementary school in Haina, Kilometer 12 and they went to high school5 in Santo Do- mingo. Felipe was 5high school (secondary school) - escuela secundaria [grades 9 – 12] 10 Chapter 2 very intelligent and athletic. He was an excellent student and was very dedicated to his studies. Felipe was a very talented person! He had a lot of confidence and he lived with an idea... He had a vision for the future and felt like he was going to do something important with his life. In the 11th grade, the Dominican Repub- lic’s Commission of the National Track Team6 selected Felipe to be on the team, a tremendous honor. Felipe was a javelin thrower7, and his participation on the National Track Team was the first indication that he was going to do something important with his life.

6National Track Team - Equipo Nacional de Atletismo [Track includes many events, including running, throwing and jumping.] 7javelin thrower - lanzador de jabalina [A javelin is a long object with a point, like a lance or spear.] 11 English-Spanish Glossary a - un(a) allowed - permitió; permitieron; (to) abandon - abandonar permitido abandoned - abandonó; aban- also - también donaron; abandonado (I) am - soy abilities - habilidades american(s) - americano(a)(s) ability - habilidad an - un(a) about - sobre and - y abruptly - abruptamente announcer - anunciador abused - abusó; abusaron; abu- another - otro(a) sado any - cualquier acceptable - aceptable apartment - apartamento accident - accidente (they) are - son; (you) accidentally - accidentalmente are - eres acts - actos area(s) - área(s) admired - admiró; admiraron; armed - armado(a) admirado armss - armas adored - adoró; adoraron; ado- arrived - llegó; llegaron; llegado rado arrogantly - arrogantemente (to) affect - afectar as - tan affected - afectó; afectaron; ascended - subió; subieron; afectado subido african - africano(a) asked - preguntó; preguntaron; after - después preguntado again - de nuevo; otra vez assistant - asistente agent(s) - agentes at - a aggressively - agresivamente ate - comió; comieron; comido airport - aeropuerto athlete(s) - atletas all - todo(a), todos(as) athletic - atlético(a) (to) allow - permitir athleticism - atletismo attention - atención 63 English-Spanish Glossary attitude(s) - actitud(es) (to) capture - capturar awards - premios captured - capturó; capturaron; (to go) back - regresar capturado ball - pelota capturing - capturando baseball - béisbol car(s) - carro(s) bathroom - baño career(s) - carrera batted - bateó; batearon; bate- carpenter - carpintero aba; bateaban (to) cause - causar; batter - bateador cause - causa batting - bateando celebrated - celebró; celebraron (to) be - ser; estar Central America - América Cen- beaches - playas tral because - porque championship(s) - behind - detrás campeonato(s) beloved - querido character - carácter benefit - beneficio charisma - carisma benefited - benifició child - niño between - entre children - niños big - grande Jesus Christ - Jesucristo bitter - amargado circular - circular black(s) - negro(s) city - ciudad blacksmith - herrero climbed - subió; subieron brother(s) - hermano(s) clinics - clínicas bus - autobús clothes - ropa but - pero coast - costa (to) buy - comprar cocoa - cacao by - por collegiate - colegial called - llamó; llamaron; llam- coloreds - un nombre (ofensivo) aba; llamaban para la gente negra o can - puede; pueden africanoamericanos can’t - no puede; no pueden commented - comentó; comen- capital - capital taron 64 English-Spanish Glossary commission - comisión convincing - convincente committed - cometió correct - correcto common - común corrupt - corruptos communicate - comunicar could - podía; podían community - comunidad couldn’t - no podía compassion - compasión crack - crac (to) compete - competir Creole - criollo completed - completó cruel - cruel completely - completamente cruelly - cruelmente (to) concentrate - concentrarse (the) cutting - El Corte concentrated - concentró; que day(s) - día(s) concentrara death - muerte condition(s) - condición(es) deceased - muerto confidence - confidencia decided - decidió; decidieron; confident - confidente decidido confidently - confidentemente decision - decisión confused - confuso (to) dedicate - dedicar consequences - consecuencias dedicated - dedicó; dedicado (to) consider - considerar dedication - dedicación considered - consideraron definitely - definitivamente construction - construcción delegation - delegación continually - continuamente delicious - delicioso (to) continue - continuar (to) demand - demandar continued - continuó; contin- democracy - democracia uaron departure - salida (to) contract - contratar; con- deplorable - deplorable trato designated - designado contracted - contrató; con- destination - destino trataron determination - determinación controlled - controlaba detestable - detestable converted - convirtió detested - detestó (to) convince - convencer devastated - devastado 65 English-Spanish Glossary dictator - dictador each - cada dictatorship - dictadura east - este did - hizo; una palabra cuya Eastern League - Liga del este función es poner un verbo (to) eat - comer o pregunta en el pasado eating - comiendo didn’t - negación en el pasado economic - económico difference - diferencia education - educación different - diferente either - tampoco difficult - difícil elegant - elegante director - director elementary school - escuela pri- disc - disco maria discrimination - discriminación (to) eliminate - eliminar disgrace - desgracia eliminated - eliminó; elimi- disgusted - disgustado naron; eliminado disillusioned - desilusionado eliminating - eliminando disillusionment - desilusión (to) encounter - encontrar distinguish - distinguir encountered - encontró; encon- distractions - distracciones traron; encontrado district - distrito energy - energía (to) do - hacer English - inglés doctor - doctor (to) enter - entrar does - hace entered - entró; entraron; en- Dominicans - dominicanos trado don’t - no entering - entrando door - puerta enthusiasm - entusiasmo (to go) down - bajar enthusiastically - con entusi- (to sit) down - sentarse asmo dressed - se vistió; se vistieron; entire - entero vestido entrance(s) - entrada(s) driver - chofer error - error duration - duración especially - especialmente during - durante eternal - eterno 66 English-Spanish Glossary eternity - eternidad (to) feel - sentir(se) every - cada felt - sintió; sintieron; sentido everyone - todos female - mujer; persona feme- everything - todo nina evidence - evidencia few - pocos evident - evidente field - campo exactly - exactamente final - final exceeding - excediendo finally - finalmente excellent - excelente financial - financiero exception - excepción firm - firme exceptional - excepcional firmly - firmemente exclaimed - exclamó; excla- first - primero maron; exclamado five - cinco exclusively - exclusivamente floor(s) - piso(s); suelo executives - ejecutivos food - comida expectations - expectativas for - por; para experience - experiencia formal - formal expert(s) - expert(s) forming - formando explained - explicó; explicaron; fortune - fortuna explicado four - cuatro extraordinary - extraordinario frequently - frecuentemente extreme - extremo from - de extremely - extremadamente front - parte delantera faith - fe fruits - frutas fame - fama fulfilled - cumplió; cumplieron; family - familia cumplido famous - famoso furious - furioso fan(s) - fanático(s) furiously - furiosamente father - padre future - futuro fatigue - fatiga game(s) - juego(s); partido(s) (in) favor (of) - (a) favor (de) general - general favorable - favorable (to) get (on) - subir a 67 English-Spanish Glossary getting (on) - subiendo a horrible - horrible (to) go - ir hospitals - hospitales going - yendo hotel(s) - hotel(es) gold - oro hour(s) - hora(s) good - bueno(a) house(s) - casa(s) got on - se subió hunger - hambre got off - bajó (was) hungry - tenía hambre grabbed - agarró; agarraron; I - yo agarrado idea - idea grade - grado if - si graduated - se graduó; graduado (to) ignore - ignorar had - tuvo; tuvieron; tenía; ignored - ignoró; ignoraron; ig- tenían; había norado Haitian(s) - haitiano(s) imagined - imaginó; imaginaba; hamburger(s) - hamburguesa(s) imaginado happily - felizmente immediately - inmediatamente happy - feliz; alegre impact - impacto hard - difícil; duro impatiently - impacientemente has - tiene; ha impeccable - impecable hat - sombrero implication(s) - implicación(es) (to) have - tener important - importante he - él (more) importantly - más impor- here - aquí tante high school - escuela secundaria (to) impress - impresionar him - él, lo impressed - impresionó; impre- (to) him - le sionaron; impresionado his - su impressive - impresionante history - historia in - en home - hogar inability - incapacidad homemaker - ama de casa including - incluyendo homerun - jonrón incorrectly - incorrectamente honor - honor incredible - increíble 68 English-Spanish Glossary indecisive - indecisivo killing - matando indication - indicación kilometer(s) - kilómetro(s) inning - entrada [a segment of a king - rey baseball game, during laborers - obreros which, each team bats; lake - lago there are 9 innings in a last - ultimo baseball game] last name - apellido innocent - inocente Latin America - América Latina insisted - insistió; insistieron law - ley instructor - instructor league(s) - liga integrity - integridad Major League - Grandes Ligas intelligence - inteligencia minor league - liga menor intelligent - inteligente (to) leave - salir intended - intentó leaving - saliendo international - internacional left - salió interrupted - interrumpió legislation - legislación interview - entrevista less - menos (went) into - (entraron) en; entró let’s eat - comemos en life - vida intolerable - intolerable like - como irony - ironía line - línea; cola irresistible - irresistible little - pequeño irritated - irritado (to) live - vivir is - es; está lived - vivió; vivieron; vivido island - isla lives - vive; vidas isn’t - no es; no está living - viviendo it - lo; la (no) longer - ya no its - sus (a) lot - mucho javelin - jabalina machetes - machetes just - solo made - hizo (to) kill - matar male(s) - hombre(s); masculino killed - mató; mataron; matado man - hombre 69 English-Spanish Glossary manager(s) - mánager(es) nervously - nerviosamente manner - manera new - nuevo many - muchos next - próximo March - marzo nine - nueve massacre - masacre no - no May - mayo normal - normal me - mí normally - normalmente mean(s) - significa not - no medal - medalla notable - notable medical - médico notably - notablemente military - militar (that they) notice - que notaran minutes - minutos noticed - notaba; notaban; no- modest - modesto taron moment - momento November - noviembre money - dinero now - ahora months - meses (to) observe - observar more - más observed - observó; observaron; most - el más observaban mother - madre observing - observando mountains - montañas obstacle(s) - obstáculo(s) (to) move - moverse; mudarse obtain - obtener moved - se movió; se movieron; obvious - obvio se mudó; se mudaron occasion(s) - ocasión(es) movement - movimiento of - de much - mucho (get) off - bajarse de my - mi (got) off - se bajó de name(s) - nombre(s) office - oficina nation - nación official(s) - oficiales national - nacional ok - está bien needed - necesitaba; necesita- old - viejo ban (get) on - subirse a nervous - nervioso (got) on - se subió a 70 English-Spanish Glossary once - una vez perfect - perfecto one - uno perfectly - perfectamente only - solo perseverance - perseverancia opinion - opinión person - persona opportunity - oportunidad phenomenal - fenomenal oppression - opresión pitched - lanzó oppressive - opresivo pitcher - lanzador options - opciones plan - plan or - o (to) play - jugar (to) order - pedir played - jugó; jugaron; jugaba; ordered - pidió; pidieron jugaban; jugado organized - organizó; organi- player(s) - jugadores zaron playing - jugando other - otro police - policía our - nuestro(a) policeman - el policía (to get) out - salir de political - político outfield - jardín; el área fuera poor - pobre del cuadro popular - popular Pacific - Pacífico position - posición paradise - paraíso positive - positivo parents - padres possible - posible parsley - perejil poverty - pobreza part(s) - parte(s) practice - práctica (to) participate - participar practiced - practicaba; practica- participation - participación ban (in) particular - en particular practicing - practicando pass - pasan preferred - prefería; preferían passed - pasaron preparation - preparación passing - pasando (to) prepare - preparar past - pasado preparing - preparando patient - paciente prestigious - prestigiosos people - gente principal - principal 71 English-Spanish Glossary privilege - privilegio respected - respetaba; respetado problem(s) - problema(s) responded - respondió; re- profession - profesión spondieron professional(s) - profesional(es) response - respuesta professionally - profesional- responsible - responsable mente restaurant(s) - restaurante(s) progress - progreso result - resultado prohibited - prohibido; prohibía resurrected - resucitó (to) pronounce - pronunciar (to) return - regresar pronounced - pronunció; pro- returned - regresó; regresaron nunciaron returning - regresando pronunciation - pronunciación reunion - reunión proud - orgulloso rigid - rígido proudly - orgullosamente room - habitación; cuarto publication - publicación route - ruta racism - racismo sadness - tristeza racist (s) - racistas said - dijo; dijeron; decía; reacted - reaccionó decían real - real same - mismo really - realmente sandwich(es) - sándwich(es) receive(s) - recibe sat - se sentó; se sentaron; se recognized - reconoció sentaba; se sentaban reflection - reflección satisfied - satisfecho repeated - repitió; repetía (to) say - decir replied - respondió; re- scene - escena spondieron school(s) - escuela(s) (to) represent - representar (talent) scout - buscador de tal- republic - república ento reputation(s) - reputación(es) sea- mar reservations - reservaciones seasons - temporadas respect - respeto second(s) - segundo(s) respectable - respetable secret - secreto 72 English-Spanish Glossary section(s) - sección(es) (to) speak - hablar segregation - segregación speaking - hablando (to) select - seleccionar special - especial selected - seleccionó specific - específico separately - separadamente spectacular - espectacular September - septiembre spirit - espíritu service - servicio spoke - habló; hablaron; severe - severo hablaba; hablaban severity - severidad sport(s) - deporte(s) shibboleth - ‘santo y seña’; una stable - estable palabra o frase que se uti- stadium - estadio liza para distinguir a un started - empezó; empezaron grupo o clase de personas states - estados que otro station - estación signed - firmó still - todavía signing - firmando stopped - se paraba sincere - sincero stopping - parándose a single - ni un(a); [one, solitary, store(s) - tienda(s) solo] street - calle sisters - hermanas stress - estrés (to) sit - sentarse strong - fuerte sitting - sentándose student - estudiante situation - situación studies - estudios six - seis success - éxito smell - olor successful - exitoso smelled - olía; olían (to) suffer - sufrir so - así que; tan suffered - sufrió; sufrieron; social - social sufría; sufrían something - algo suffering - sufriendo; sufrimiento son(s) - hijo(s) suit(s) - traje(s) spaces - espacios suitcase(s) - maleta(s) Spanish - español surname(s) - apellido(s) 73 English-Spanish Glossary tactic - táctica time(s) - vez (veces) talent - talento timid - tímido talented - talentoso to - a (to) talk - hablar together - juntos talking - hablando too - demasiado; también talks - habla total - total taxi - taxi tourists - turistas team(s) - equipo(s) toward - hacia teammate(s) - compañeros del National Track Team - Equipo equipo Nacional de Atletismo terrible - terrible traded - cambiaron terrorist - terrorista tradition - tradición than - que tragedy - tragedia thank you - gracias (to) train - entrenarse that - que trained - se entrenaba; se en- the - el; la trenó their - su; sus trainer(s) - entrenadores them - ellos; les; los; las training - entrenamiento then - entonces transformed - transformó; trans- there - allí formaron there are - hay transition - transición there were - había tremendous - tremendo they - ellos tremendously - tremendamente (to) think - pensar tropical - tropical thinking - pensando twenty - veinte this - este ; esta two - dos those - esos; esas typical - típico three - tres (to) understand - comprender through - por (did not) understand - no com- (javelin) thrower - lanzador de prendió (jabalina) understood - comprendió throwing - lanzando 74 English-Spanish Glossary unfortunately - desafortunada- we - nosotros(as) mente (to) wear - llevar puesto uniform(s) - uniforme(s) wearing - llevando unimaginable - no imaginables weeks - semanas united - unido well - bien university - universidad went - fue; fueron; iba; iban until - hasta were - eran; estaban; fueron; es- (moved him) up - lo subieron tuvieron (to) use - usar what - qué used - usó; usaba; usado when - cuándo using - usando where - dónde vacation - vacación while - mientras valley - valle white(s) - blanco(s) various - varios who - quién versus - versus (to) win - ganar very - muy winning - ganando victories - victorias with - con violent - violento without - sin visa - visa won - ganó; ganaron vision - visión wondered - se preguntó (to) visit - visitar wood - madera voice - voz word(s) - palabra(s) (to) vote - votar (to) work - trabajar voted - votó; votaron worked - trabajó; trabajaron; tra- (to) wait - esperar bajaba; trabajaban waited - esperaba; esperaban; working - trabajando esperó; esperaron works - trabaja waiting - esperando yea - sí (to) want - querer year(s) - año(s) wanted - quería; querían; quiso; (to) yell - gritar quisieron yelled - gritó; gritaron was - era; estaba yes - sí 75 English-Spanish Glossary you - tú your - tu

76 English Glossary English Glossary a - one; not any certain one (in- agent(s)- a person or business definite article) authorized to act on an- (to) abandon - to leave; to desert other person’s behalf abandoned -left; deserted aggressively - assertively; boldly ability - talent; special skill airport - facility for the landing, abilities - talents; special skills take off, and care of air- about - of; concerning; in regard planes to all - every; the whole abruptly - unexpected; sudden (to) allow - to permit abused - misused; treated in a allowed - permitted harmful way also - too; in addition acceptable - worthy of being ac- (I) am - 1st person singular of to cepted; satisfactory be accident - an event that occurs (Central) America - part of unintentionally North America south of accidentally - unexpected; un- Mexico planned American(s) - of or from the acts - behaves in a certain fash- United States; of or from ion North or South America admired - regarded with ap- an - one; not any certain one proval and - as well as; in addition adored - regarded with esteem, anguish - suffering; pain love, or honor announcer - a person who intro- (to) affect - to produce a change duces programs on TV or in radio affected - produced a change in another - additional; one more African - of or from Africa of the same after - later in time than; behind any - whatever or whichever it in place or in position may be again - another time G-1 English Glossary apartment - a set of rooms used atrocities - extremely shocking as a dwelling for one fam- thing or circumstance ily attention - observant care; con- (they) are - third person plural sideration; concentrate on form of the verb to be a single object or thought area(s) - a geographical region; attitude(s) - manner; disposition a particular extent of sur- awards - something awarded; face payment or medal armed - having weapons (to go) back - to return arrived - reached one’s destina- ball - a round object used for tion sports or games arrogantly - proudly; making baseball - a ball game played claims of superior impor- between two 9-player tance teams as - to the same degree; to the bathroom - toilet; room for tak- same extent ing a bath or a shower ascended - climbed or moved batted - the object upward batter - player who swings the asked - inquired of; requested bat; player whose turn it is information of at bat assistant - aide; helper batting - striking at; hitting at - preposition used to indicate (to) be - to exist; to live; to feel; location: in; on; near to take place ate - consumed; simple past beaches - sandy or rocky areas tense of eat along a shoreline athlete(s) - participant(s) in a because - for that reason sport, exercise, or game re- behind - in back of quiring physical skill beloved - well loved athletic - good athlete; physi- benefit - advantageous; good cally active and strong deed; act of kindness athleticism - athletic ability benefited - was to one’s advan- tage; was good for G-2 English Glossary between - in the space separat- capturing - was taking by force ing two points car(s) - automobile(s) big - large in height, size, or career(s) - occupation(s); profes- quantity sion(s) Bigs - nickname for Major carpenter - person who builds League baseball; the Big or repairs wooden struc- League tures bill - a statement of money (to) cause - to bring about owed for goods or services celebrated - commemorated; bitter - distressing; painful feel- observed ings championship(s) - series of com- black(s) - belonging to one of petitions to determine the several populations char- best competitor or team acterized by dark skin character - features and traits blacksmith - one who makes ob- that make up the nature of jects from iron a person, place or thing brother(s) - male sibling(s) charisma - charm; magnetism; bus - large motor vehicle used to presence transport large numbers of child - young boy or girl passengers children - young boys and/or but - on the contrary; yet girls (to) buy - to purchase Jesus Christ - principal deity of by - next to; beside; before a the Christian religion certain point in time circular - in the shape of a cir- called - telephoned; summoned; cle, round cried out city - large or important town can - is able to climbed - went up; ascended can’t- isn’t able to clinics - a site that provides capital - city or town that is the medical treatment official seat of government clothes - garments; articles for (to) capture - to take by force wearing captured - took by force coast - shoreline of the sea G-3 English Glossary collegiate - of or belonging to confidence - full trust or belief the college or university in someone or in one’s self coloreds - a word used to de- confident - sure; fully trusting in scribe people of dark confused - perplexed; bewil- skinned races (often offen- dered sive) consequences - effect, result, or commented - remarked; ob- outcome of an action served (to) consider - to think carefully commission - a group of people about in order to make a charged with certain duties decision committed - engaged in considered - thought carefully common - normal; usual about in order to make a communicate - to share knowl- decision edge of; to make informa- construction - the act of build- tion known ing or putting together community - group of people continually - habitually; very living in somewhat close often association (to) continue - to keep on compassion - feeling of deep continued - kept on sympathy (to) contract - to hire (to) compete - to try to outdo contracted - hired another person to win a controlled - dominated; exer- prize or award cised control over completed - finished converted - changed into a dif- completely - fully; entirely ferent form (to) concentrate - to think in- (to) convince - to persuade; to tensely about move by argument concentrated - thought intensely convincing - persuasive about correct - right condition(s) - social position; corrupt - guilty of dishonest state practices could - was, were able to G-4 English Glossary couldn’t - was, were not able to democracy - government by the crack - sound of a bat when a people ball is hit departure - leaving; going Creole - language spoken by deplorable - lamentable; very Haitians bad cruel - willfully or knowingly designated - named or selected causing pain or distress to destination - place to which per- others son or thing travels or is the Cutting - Massacre of sent Haitians in the Dominican determination - being deter- Republic ordered by Tru- mined; resolute jillo detestable - hateful, horrible day(s) - 24 hour period(s) detested - hated death - the end of life devastated - laid waste; de- decided - determined; settled stroyed decision - settled by giving vic- dictator - ruler exercising ab- tory to one side solute power over a gov- dedicate - devote; commit; ernment pledge dictatorship - a country where dedicated - devoted; committed; absolute power is held by pledged a dictator dedication - a devotion or did - simple past tense of do; to pledge; ceremony held to have done something; a honor a person or place helping verb that indicates definitely - certainly; positively past tense delegation - a group of individu- didn’t - past-tense helping verb als selected to represent a indicating negation larger group difference - state of being differ- delicious - very tasty ent; dissimilarity demand - ask for with proper different - not alike; separate; authority distinct difficult - hard G-5 English Glossary director - a person that directs driver - a person who drives a or controls vehicle disc - flat, circular plate duration - length of time some- discrimination - making a dis- thing occurs tinction in favor of or during - at some point in the against a certain group course of disgrace - loss of respect; honor; each - every one individually or esteem east - a cardinal point of the disgusted - offended; extreme compass 90° to the right of dislike for north disillusioned - lost one’s false eastern - of or from the east ideas about something (to) eat - to take into the mouth disillusionment - the state of and swallow; to ingest being disillusioned eating - taking into the mouth distinguish - to recognize as dis- and swallowing; ingesting tinct or different economic - pertaining to an distractions - that which pre- economy vents concentration economy - financial affairs of a district - a division of territory community or country do - to execute; perform; auxil- education - imparting or acquir- iary verb ing general knowledge doctor - person licensed to prac- either - one or the other of two tice medicine elegant - fine; luxurious; refined does - executes; performs; auxil- elementary school - school con- iary verb sisting of grades K-6 Dominicans - of or from the Do- eliminate - remove; get rid of minican Republic eliminated - removed; got rid of door - movable barrier for open- eliminating - removing; getting ing or closing an entryway rid of down - from higher to lower; de- encounter - meeting scent encountered - came upon; met dressed - put on clothing G-6 English Glossary energy - available power; capac- exceeding - surpassing; going ity for activity beyond English - language spoken in the excellent - extraordinary; supe- U.S. and other countries rior around the world exception - a case for not con- enter - to come or go in forming to a general rule entered - came or went in exceptional - unusual; extraordi- entering - coming or going in nary enthusiasm - eagerness; passion; exclaimed - cried out; shouted devotion suddenly enthusiastically - eagerly; pas- exclusively - not admitting sionately something else; shutting entire - whole; complete out all others entrance(s) - a point of entry; executives - person or people opening or passageway for with supervisory authority entering exist - to have life; to be error - mistake expectations - a thing looked especially - particularly; excep- forward to; something ex- tionally pected esteemed - held in high regard; experience - an instance of per- well respected sonally encountering or eternal - lasting forever undergoing something eternity - time without end expert(s) - a person with special every - each; all possible skills or knowledge in a everyone - each person; all pos- field sible people explained - made plain; made everything - all; each possible clear thing extraordinary - outstanding; un- evidence - that which proves or usual disproves something extreme - the utmost or highest evident - obvious degree; greatest exactly - precisely; accurately extremely - to a high degree G-7 English Glossary faith - belief not based on truth floor(s) - supporting surface or fame - renown; celebrity structure upon which one family - parents and their chil- walks dren food - nourishing substance famous - renowned; celebrity eaten or drunk fan(s) - follower; admirer for - intended to belong to father - a male parent formal - elegant fatigue - extreme tiredness forming - serving as; making up (in) favor (of) - in support of; on fortune - large amount of wealth the side of or riches favorable - positive frequently - very often feel - perceive; examine by from - a preposition used to in- touch dicate source or origin felt - perceived; examined by front - the part or side that faces touch forward female - persona of feminine fruits - edible part of a plant de- gender veloped from a flower few - not many but more than fulfilled - carried out; performed one furious - extremely angry field - a piece of land devoted to furiously - angrily sports future - a time that is to come final - coming at the end; in last game - a competitive activity place played by two or more finally - at last people according to a set financial - refers to matters con- of rules cerned with money general - an officer of rank firm - not soft; hard; stiff; rigid get - obtain firmly - rigidly; stiffly getting - obtaining first - being before all others in go - to move or proceed; to de- regard to order, rank, or part a place time going - moving; proceeding; de- parting a place G-8 English Glossary gold - precious yellow, metallic his - possessive adjective mean- element ing something belongs to gone- past participle of go him good - of high quality; excellent history - a branch of knowledge got - obtained dealing with past events grabbed - snatched; clutched; home - a house or apartment; seized suddenly residence grade school - elementary homemaker - a person who school manages the household of graduated - received a degree or his/her own family certificate homerun(s) - hit in baseball that had - possessed; owned; auxil- allows the runner to clear iary verb forpast perfect all bases and score a run tense honor - high respect for worth, Haitian(s) - people from Haiti merit, or rank hamburger(s) - a sandwich con- horrible - extremely unpleasant; sisting of a patty of ground disgusting beef on a bun or roll hospitals - a place where sick happily - in a happy way; with people are given medical pleasure or surgical treatment happy - glad; delighted hotel(s) - an establishment offer- hard - difficult ing lodging to travelers has - possesses; owns hour(s) - 60 minute period hat - a covering for the head house(s) - a building in which have - possess; own people live he - the male person being dis- hunger - desire or need for food cussed hungry - craving or needing here - in this spot; in this place food high - exceeding the common I - pronoun referring to oneself measure; far above the idea - a thought; a notion ground if - whether; even though him - a male ignore - overlook; disregard G-9 English Glossary ignored - overlooked; disre- innocent - not guilty garded insisted - was emphatic; resolute imagined - formed a mental instructor - teacher image of intact - whole; unbroken immediately - instantly; without integrity - sound moral charac- delay ter impact - influence; effect intelligence - ability to learn, impatiently - not patiently reason, and understand impeccable - flawless intelligent - smart; quick to implication(s) - something sug- comprehend gested or inferred intended - purposed; meant for important - of great significance a particular purpose importantly - significantly intercepted - cut off from in- impress - affect deeply tended destination impressed - affected deeply international - between nations impressive -imposing; awesome; interrupted - broke the continu- admirable ity of in - preposition used to indicate interview - formal meeting in inclusion within a space) which one person asks inability - lack of ability or questions to evaluate an- means other including - containing parts of a into - to the inside of whole intolerable - unbearable incorrectly - wrongly irony - using words to convey incredible - unbelievable the meaning opposite their indecisive - undecided; unable literal meaning to make a decision irresistible - lovable; enticing; indication - anything serving as unable to be resisted a sign irritated - annoyed; angered ingenious - clever island - piece of land sur- inning - a division of a baseball rounded by water on all game sides G-10 English Glossary it - direct or indirect object used left - went out of; went away to represent an inanimate from thing legislation - a group of laws en- javelin - a light spear thrown by acted hand less - fewer than just - a moment before life - the state of existence kill - end the life of like - as; is pleased by killed - ended the life of line - a number of people wait- killing - ending the life of ing one behind another for kilometer(s) - unit of measure their turn king - male monarch little - small laborers - workers live - exist; have life; reside lake - a large body of fresh or lived - existed; resided salt water surrounded by lives - exists; resides land living - existing; residing last - coming after all others longer - something that is con- Latin America - part of the siderably long in length or American continent south time of the United States a lot - much law - rules established in a com- loved - cherished; given deep af- munity by some authority fection league(s) - a group of athletic machetes - large, heavy knives teams who compete made - produced against one another male(s) - person of masculine Major League - top level of pro- gender fessional baseball teams man - full-grown or adult male minor league – a group profes- human being sional baseball teams that manager(s) - person who has prepare and train players for the Major League control of an organization leave - go out of; go away from manner - way leaving - going out of; going many - a lot; numerous away from G-11 English Glossary massacre - unnecessary killing moved - changed location; went of many humans or ani- from one place of resi- mals dence to another may - word used to express pos- movement - the process of mov- sibility ing mean - is defined as much - to a great degree medal - an award given to rec- my - belonging to me ognize an accomplishment name(s) - a word by which a medical - dealing with medicine person or thing is called military - dealing with the nation - a territory; a country armed forces national - pertaining to a terri- minutes - 60 second period of tory or country time needed - lacked something nec- misery - sorrow essary modest - bashful; shy; humble negro(s) - Blacks; African-Ameri- moment - instant; short period cans of time nervous - worried money - currency nervously - worriedly months - 12 parts into which a new - recently came into being calendar year is divided next - the following in a series more - in a greater amount or normal - average; regular quantity normally - usually most - in the greatest amount or notable - worthy of notice quantity notice - pay attention to mother - female parent noticed - paid attention to mountains - elevation of the now - at this moment earth’s surface rising to a observe - see; watch; notice summit observed - saw; watched; no- move - change location; go from ticed one place of residence to observing - seeing; watching; noticing another obstacle(s) - difficulties to over- come G-12 English Glossary obtain - to get or - conjunction used to link al- obvious - easily seen or recog- ternatives nized order - a command or instruc- occasion(s) - a special time, tion; request (as in food); event, or ceremony arrange a sequence of - preposition used to indicate ordered - commanded; re- origin or source quested; arranged in a se- got off - descended from; came quence down from organized - established; office - a room or set of rooms arranged into a structure used for work other - further or additional official(s) - a person holding our - belonging to us public office or having offi- out - baseball term indicating cial duties that one is no longer bat- ok - fine; well ting; having one’s turn at old - no longer young; having bat or base running ended existed or lived for a long outfield - area of the baseball time field outside of the dia- on - resting on; physically in mond contact with paradise - heaven; heavenly or once - one time wonderful location only - just parents - father and mother opinion - belief of view about parsley - an herb often used for something not necessarily garnishing food based on facts part - a piece of something; opportunity - chance some but not all of some- oppression - long lasting cruel thing treatment or control participate - take part in oppressive - unfairly causing participation - the act of taking hardship especially on a part in minority group particular - specific options - choices G-13 English Glossary pass - move in a specific direc- play - take part in an activity for tion; elapse; transfer to enjoyment someone else played - took part in an activity passed - moved in a specific di- for enjoyment rection; transferred to player(s) - a person who takes someone else part in a sport or game passing - moving in a specific playing - taking part in an activ- direction; transferring to ity for enjoyment someone else police - a civil force who serve past - belonging to a former to keep order time; an action or state that policeman - a member of the previously existed police force patient - able to wait without political - dealing with politics becoming annoyed or anx- poor - having little or no money ious or few possessions people - plural form of person; popular - well liked more than one person position - location perfect - as good as can be positive - certain; confident in perfectly - in a way that could opinion not be better possible - may exist or happen perseverance - commitment to poverty - the state of being poor; do something in spite of the state of being in ex- difficulty treme need person - an individual practice - rehearse; train phenomenal - extraordinary practiced - rehearsed; trained pitched - (in baseball) threw the practicing - rehearsing; training ball to the batter precious - of great value; of high pitcher - baseball player who price throws the ball to the bat- preferred - given priority; to ter choose before all others plan - a decision about what preparation - the process of one will do making ready G-14 English Glossary prepare - make ready racism - the idea that one’s own preparing - making ready race is superior prestigious - held in high regard racist(s) - one who believes or esteem one’s own race is superior principal - main reacted - acted in response to privilege - a right or benefit en- real - true; factual; existing as an joyed by one person be- actual thing yond the benefits of most really - in reality; actually problem(s) - crisis; a question receive(s) - get(s); obtain(s) needing a solution recognized - identified as some- profession - job one previously known; ac- professional(s) - an expert player knowledged among amateurs reflection - careful considera- professionally - as an expert tion player repeated - said again; did again progress - movement toward a replied - answered goal represent - to present again prohibited - forbidden reputation(s) - the regard in pronounce - to say in a particu- which a person is held lar or correct manner resent - to feel bitter or angry pronounced - said in a particu- reservations - hesitations respect - esteem for an individ- lar or correct manner ual; to hold someone in pronunciation - producing the high esteem sounds of speech respectable - worthy of high es- proud - a feeling of pleasure or teem satisfaction because of something highly honor- respected - held in high esteem able responded - answered proudly - with pride or satisfac- response - answer tion responsible - competent; capa- public - open to all persons ble publication - the act of publish- restaurant(s) - location where ing a book; making public food is served to customers G-15 English Glossary result - consequence sea - salt water covering part of resurrected - brought back to the earth’s surface life; raised from the dead seasons - period of the year return - come back; go back when something normally returned - came back; went occurs back second(s) - unit of time repre- returning - coming back; going senting 1/60 of a minute back secret - done or made without reunion - meeting; the act of the knowledge of others uniting again section(s) - a distinct part or di- rifles - a firearm held on the vision of something shoulder segregation - isolation from the rigid - stiff rest of a group room - space; a section of the select - choose interior of a building sepa- selected - chose rated by four walls separately - apart; divided route - path; way service - an aid; a help said - spoke; uttered set - put something in a particu- same - alike; identical to what lar place has been said or done severe - serious; harsh sandwich(es) - two or more severity - seriousness; harshness slices of bread with meat shibboleth - peculiar pronuncia- and/or cheese between tion or behavior that sets a sat - was seated group apart satisfied - content; fulfilled signed - wrote a signature; con- say - utter; speak tracted scene - place where an event signing - writing a signature; occurs contracting school(s) - institution where stu- sincere - free of falseness; free of dents are taught deceit talent scout - one who searches single - a hit that allows the run- for talented players to play ner to advance one base in for professional teams baseball G-16 English Glossary sisters - female siblings; females sport(s) - athletic activities with the same parents stable - not likely to fall; de- sit - rest on one’s buttocks and pendable legs stadium - sports arena sitting - resting on one’s buttocks started - began and legs station - headquarters for certain situation - state of affairs; condi- public services; place for a tion; predicament particular kind of work smell - scent or odor; to perceive still - motionless an odor or scent stopped - ceased; discontinued smelled - perceived a scent stopping - ceasing; discontinu- so - in this manner; very ing social - outgoing; characterized store(s) - an establishment by friendly companionship where products are sold with others street - paved roadway something - a certain, unspeci- stress - anxiety; strain; emphasis fied thing strong - having great physical son(s) - male offspring or chil- power dren of the same parents student - a person engaged in spaces - blanks; intervals learning speak - talk; utter; verbally com- studies - makes an effort to gain municate knowledge speaking - talking; uttering; ver- success - attain wealth, honors, bally communicating recognition special - unique successful - has attained wealth, specific - particular; having a honors, or recognition special purpose or applica- suffer - feel pain or distress tion suffered - felt pain or distress spectacular - outstanding suffering - feeling pain or dis- spirit - soul; intention tress spoke - talked; uttered; verbally suit(s) - a set of clothing meant communicated to be worn together G-17 English Glossary suitcase(s) - portable case used them - object case of they for carrying clothing while then - next; afterward traveling there - at or in that place surname(s) - last name(s) they - plural subject pronoun tactic - procedure, maneuver think - make decisions; evaluate talent - a certain skill or ability or deal with a situation; at which one excels consider options talented - gifted; having special thinking - making decisions; abilities evaluating or dealing with talk - communicate; speak a situation talking - communicating; speak- this - demonstrative adjective ing used to point out a specific talks - communicates; speaks person, thing or idea taxi - taxicab; car hired to pro- those - plural of that vide transportation through - pass between or team - group of people who among; in one end or side form one of the sides in a and out the other game throwing - propelling or hurling teammate(s) - members of the an object same team time(s) - duration; repetitions; terrible - very bad; horrible intervals terrorist- person who terrorizes timid - shy or frightens other people together - in one place; in one thank - express gratitude gathering; in close proxim- thank you – an expression of ity gratitude too - also that- (used to point out a spe- total - whole; entire cific person; thing; or idea) tourists - person traveling for I like that shirt. pleasure the - definite article used before toward - in the direction of a noun track - area where runners par- their - possessive pronoun, be- ticipate in races during longing to them track and field competi- tions G-18 English Glossary traded - exchanged as part of a unfortunately - regrettably business deal uniform(s) - an identical set of tradition - established or passed clothing used to identify down way of thinking or those belonging to a group system of beliefs unimaginable - inconceivable; tragedy - disaster, catastrophe unable to be imagined train - develop habits; make united - joined proficient by practice and university - institution of learn- instruction ing; highest level of education trained - made proficient by until - up to the time of practice and instruction up - a more elevated position trainer(s) - one who helps ath- use - employ for some purpose; letes become proficient utilize through instruction used - employed for some pur- training - making proficient pose; utilized through practice and in- using - employing for some pur- struction pose; utilizing transformed - changed transition - passage or change vacation - a period of rest or from one state, condition, travel in which work or or concept to another study is suspended tremendous - extraordinary in valley - a depression or lowland size, amount, or intensity; between hills dreadful various - two or more things dif- tremendously - dreadfully fering from one another tropical - from or of the tropics versus - against typical - normal; usual very - extremely understand - to comprehend; victories - wins get the meaning of violent - uncontrolled strong, understanding - comprehend- rough force ing; getting the meaning of visa - document allowing a pass- understood - comprehended; port holder from one coun- got the meaning of try to enter another G-19 English Glossary vision - sight when - interrogative used to ask visit - go and stay with; to come about a period of time; or go to how long ago voice - sounds uttered through where - interrogative used to de- the mouth termine in what place or vote - expression of opinion or location choice; the means (ballot) while - during the time that; a of expressing one’s choice period of time voted - expressed one’s opinion white(s) – word used to describe or choice light skinned people; Cau- wait - remaining inactive until casian something happens who - interrogative used to find waited - remained inactive until out which person something happened will - auxiliary verb used to talk waiting - remaining inactive about future actions or until something happens events want - desire win - be victorious; conquer wanted - desired winning - being victorious; con- was - past tense of to be quering we - subject pronoun represent- with - accompanied by ing first person plural without - not with; free from wear - to have on the body as a won - was victorious covering wondered - speculated; was cu- wearing - having on the body as rious about a covering wood - hard substance consist- week(s) - period(s) of 7 days ing of the stem and well - good; satisfactory branches of a tree went - simple past tense of go word(s) - unit of language con- were - past tense of to be, 2nd sisting of a specific set of person / 3rd person plural sounds what - interrogative used to ask work - labor for specific information worked - labored G-20 English Glossary working - laboring works - labors would - auxiliary verb, simple past of will yea - slang for yes year(s) - period(s) of 365 days yell - shout; scream yelled - shouted; screamed your - belonging to you

G-21