Spanish Vocabulary with English Translations
Page
Spanish
English
1
La frontera
The border
El Rancho Blanco
The White Ranch
2
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico
Mexican National Railways
3
Mi’jo
My son
Cantinflas
A past popular Mexican comic and entertainer
Dios lo quiera
God willing
Otra vez la burra al trigo
Again the donkey in the wheat (you are
bugging me)
Panchito
Little Francisco (his nickname)
La migra
immigration
Viejo / vieja
Old man / old lady (used affectionately)
Comal
A flat stone skillet used for making tortillas
Verdolagas
Wild green purslane “Mexican parsley”
9
Carcachita
An old beater car or jalopy
13
Si, Papa
Yes,
19
Corridos
Popular Mexican songs
26
Como se dice “es tuyo” en ingles?
How do you day “it’s yours” in English?
35
Frijoles de la olla
A pot of fried beans
36
La curandera
A healer
El mal de ojo
The evil eye
37
Vieja, vamonos al hospital!
Old lady, let’s go to the hospital!
41
Santo Nino de Atocha
The Holy Child Jesus Christ
Virgen de Guadalupe
The Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus
45
El Angel de Oro
Angel of Gold
48
Tonto
Stupid, fool
52
Paisano
Fellow countryman
53
Que Dios los bendiga
May God bless you
56
Feliz Navidad
Merry Christmas
57
El perico
The parakeet
4
7
57
Periquito bonito
Pretty little parakeet
60
Santa Maria, Madre de Dios, ruega
Senora por nosotros los pecadores
ahora y en la hora de nuestra
muerte, amen.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners
now and at the time of our death amen. (This is
part of the Catholic “Hail Mary” prayer).
65
Contratista
Contractor--a person who comes around to
labor camps to find field workers
69
Mocoso
Snotty brat
70
La bola
The last picking of cotton
71
Alla
Over there
73
Braceros
Migrant workers (related to brazo = arm)
Ya esora
It’s time
75
Listo
Ready
76
Mi olla
My pot
Es todo
That’s everything
Tienen que tener cuidado
You have to be careful
Vamonos
Let’s go
Quince
Fifteen
80
Carne con chile
Meat with hot peppers
88
Huaraches
sandals
90
Sin verguenza
A shameless crook
91
Huerquito
Little kid
98
Abuelita / abuelito
Grandma / grandpa
Hacendados
landowners
Campesinos
Field workers
103
Librito
Little book
105
La Llorona
The Weeping Woman -- a Mexican legend who
kidnaps disobedient children
106
Mi’jito
My (young) son
107
Mi’ja
My daughter
108
El Ratoncito
The Little Mouse
110
Mi librito
My little book
111
Ya! No seas tonto!
Enough! Don’t be stupid!
79
111
Gracias a Dios
Thank God
119
Ya pues
Well, that’s enough
Se han vuelto locos
They’ve gone crazy
Ah si--es muy buena gente
Oh yes--he’s a good person
125
Classroom Discussion Questions for The Circuit by Francisco Jimenez (6th grade)
Chapter 1 -- “Under the Wire”
1. Who gives Francisco the idea of what California will be like? What does he imagine and
expect to find there?
2. What are the steps in the journey from the Jimenez home in Mexico to the tent labor camp in
California? Is the Jimenez family well-prepared for the trip?
3. Why can they not start work immediately in the camp?
4. How are they helped to get supplies and groceries when they arrive? Who helps them? Why
is this help somewhat ironic and unexpected?
5. Why does the family cross illegally into California instead of legally? Does it make you think
differently about this family, knowing that they are illegal immigrants?
Chapter 2 -- “Soledad”
1. Why is Francisco, a young child, left in charge of his infant brother?
2. Why does Francisco decide to pick cotton?
3. Describe the process of picking cotton. Would you pick cotton to help your family earn
money? Why or why not?
Chapter 3 -- “Inside Out”
1. How does Francisco imagine his first day of school?
2. What is the reality of school? Why does Francisco like his classroom right away?
3. What happens to Francisco as he listens to his teacher? How does he deal with this problem?
4. What is his favorite subject in school? Why?
5. Why do you think that Francisco likes to watch the caterpillar, who will eventually become a
butterfly?
6. What happens with the jacket? Why is Francisco embarrassed? What is his parents’ reaction
to the note from the teacher?
7. What is Francisco’s reaction to the blue ribbon? Why do you think he gives it to Curtis, the
boy who fights him and takes away his jacket but doesn’t even wear it? What does this action
tell you about Francisco’s attitude and spirit?
8. Why do you think this chapter is called “Inside Out?”
Chapter 4 -- “Miracle in Tent City”
1. Describe daily life in Tent City for Francisco’s family.
2. What are some of the things they look for at the dump? What does Francisco search for
especially?
3. What happens to baby Torito? Why don’t his parents take him to the hospital right away?
Chapter 5 -- “El Angel de Oro”
1. What kindness does Miguelito do for Francisco?
2. Why does Francisco try to save the gray fish?
3. Why does Francisco put a gray fish in the tank with the goldfish? Does this action tell you
anything about Francisco’s life?
Chapter 6 -- “Christmas Gift”
1. How does the weather affect the family’s livelihood?
2. How does the Jimenez family deal with the problem of not having money to buy food? Do
you think this situation happens with families in Mason? If so, what are some of the ways to
deal with this situation?
3. What does Francisco want for Christmas most of all? Do you think this is a reasonable wish?
Why or why not? Watch this video as Francisco describes the memory of this Christmas
morning: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB5OZdDm7js
4. Why do Papa and Mama cry on Christmas morning?
Chapter 7 -- “Death Forgiven”
1. Why does Francisco forgive his father for killing his pet parakeet? Do you think his
forgiveness is justified? Why or why not?
Chapter 8 -- “Cotton Sack”
1. Why does Francisco’s father “curse” the rain?
2. How does Francisco finally get to help his family pick cotton? Why is he so anxious to help?
3. How much does the family manage to pick in one day? Do you think this is a lot or a little?
How much money do they earn? How do their earnings compare with the quantity of work that
they do? Why are they willing to work so hard for so little money?
4. What happens to Francisco when they go to pick “la bola?” Why is Francisco disappointed in
himself?
Chapter 9 -- “The Circuit”
1. Why do you think the migrant workers called “braceros”? (Hint: the Spanish word “brazo”
means “arm”).
2. Why does Francisco get nervous and sad when he sees cardboard boxes?
3. Why is Mama’s olla so important and treasured to her?
4. Even though Francisco loves school, why does he hide with his brother when the school bus
comes around at the vineyard?
5. Why does Mama cook the three of them a special meal that night?
6. Why does his teacher, Mr. Lema, become Francisco’s best friend? How does he make
Francisco feel special and important?
7. What happens to Francisco after learning that Mr. Lema will teach him to play the trumpet?
Chapter 10 -- “Learning the Game”
1. Why do you think Francisco and his father get so many headaches? Why do they not visit a
doctor to get help?
2. Does the title “Learning the Game” only refer to kick the can? What other “game” might
Francisco be learning?
3. Why to Gabriel and Diaz, the contratista, get into a fight? What lesson does Francisco learn
from this situation?
Chapter 11 -- “To Have and To Hold”
1. Why do you think Francisco enjoys collecting pennies?
2. What is the purpose of Francisco’s notebook? Why does he carry it with him wherever he
goes? What does this tell about his character and plans for the future?
3. After his little sister Rorra takes his two old pennies for the gumball machine, Francisco is
very upset. Why is he so upset at the loss of two cents?
4. Why does Papa risk his life to go into the burning house to grab the silver metal box?
5. What does Mama mean when she tells Francisco, “If you know what was in your librito, then
it’s not all lost”? Does this advice have value for anyone else besides Francisco?
Chapter 12 -- “Moving Still”
1. Why does the Jimenez family have to work so hard during the summer?
2. Why is Francisco so anxious to return to the Bonetti ranch, even though he hates moving?
3. Why do you think Mr. Bonetti does not improve the housing conditions for his workers?
4. Despite his poor health, why does Papa not ever visit the doctor for real medical care?
5. How is it ironic that Francisco is ready to recite the Preamble to the Declaration of
Independence when he is picked up by an Immigration Officer for U.S. Border Patrol?
After Reading
A circuit has several definitions; among them:
1. A closed, usually circular line that goes around an object or area.
2. A circular journey or one beginning and ending at the same point.
Based on these definitions, why do you think this book is called The Circuit : stories from the
life of a migrant child? Do the different definitions provide different reasons on why the author
chose this title?