Some work on Essay 1

So I thought that the redraft of our "I" essays was due sooner, and I've already started on it. that's probably a good thing.
I chose to redo Essay 1 because I put a lot more effort into that one originally, and I think it needed less work to help it out.
Some changes I made:
- I added narrative bits with some dialogue throughout
- I removed my references to learning the subjunctive tense within my emails. (Yes, shock and horror, I have and am tampering with those emails. So they are not truly 100% original. There is my disclaimer) Professor had mentioned that my reference to the verb tenses took away from my "point" which is that language learning is natural and usually happens without our notice.
- I tried to show how much language I had during the various phases of my story, gradually increasing
- I changed my "point" a little bit.
       before: I was trying to say that language learning is natural and happens within the context of relationships
       now: I am trying to say that learning (language or otherwise) is a natural process that happens while we live life. Many of life's greatest lessons aren't going to be things that we set out to learn. They'll happen along the way, with all of life's quirks, relationships, oddities, and experiences mixed in.

My questions for you:
How do you think the Spanish words work in my document? Should I use italics, put definitions within the text or in footnotes, or write everything in English?

I'll include a little of the narrative I added, and you'll see what I mean, (note: by underlining I was trying to suggest tonal emphasis)

“Tienes que aprender, Alisia[1]” (You have to learn, Alisia) Cesia's mom exhorted me. She demonstrated how to flip a tortilla correctly.

“Um, sí,” I responded while rubbing the smoke from my eyes.

She continued, “Because if not, you'll never know how to cook! And what will you do when you go to other countries where there aren't microwaves like in your country?”

I smiled a little. This Spanish phrase was embedded in my memory long before I learned what it meant. Cesia's mom said it to me constantly, with the exact same emphasis each time. She was convinced it was her sovereign duty to prepare me to be a housewife one day. It was her who taught me to cook, embroider, and crochet.

“Asi?” (Like this?) I tried to flip another tortilla on the hot komal (clay griddle). Cesia rescued the ruined lump of dough.

“Asi,” she turned one over easily. Cesia also helped with my tutelage. From her I learned to wash my clothes by hand, keep a dirt floor clean, and collect the best pine cones for kindling.

  Soon, I found it necessary to step outside again to catch my breath from the smoke. I rubbed my arms then stared in shock as my singed arm hairs brushed away.

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[1]    Alisia “uh – lee – see – uh”