Education: (1.) the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university, (2.) an enlightening experience. Although my first language was Spanish, English is now the language I am most fluent in and speak the most. Growing up surrounded by immigrant parents and my mom’s non native English speaking friends, my English was spoken in a slight accent and in broken phrases. Though school has always been my main source of English, the conversations I’ve had with my mom had of equal significance to the writings in class. Raised in a house where thick accents and half English half Spanish phrases were extremely prevalent, English sounded like a symphony that came in different notes. English was a song that could be played differently depending on composer. Learning English in two drastic different environments has made it feel like I can speak two different languages. Being able to comprehend both a professor’s lecture and a thick accent is a skill I often overlook. English has always been my favorite subject, being able to change the way I’m perceived simply by my vocabulary. While I look back and think my experience learning English has been mostly positive I also can acknowledge that it wasn’t as great in the beginning. Being “threatened” to be put into the ESL program as if it was a punishment. Ironic considering I was out in a dual language program the following year. I was made hyperaware at a young age that my mother’s English was imperfect and should be constantly corrected. Yet while not perfect it was one of my sources of English for many years and helped create the perfect environment for my ever evolving knowledge.
I think it’s interesting that you find such a positive look on English and learning it because there’s so many people who are learning English who say that the language doesn’t make sense and find it complicated. I also liked the part when you say “ English was a song that could be played differently depending on composer.” This line showed that in your Spanish/English household, depending on who you speak to, they speak English differently. In my household that only speaks English, we all speak English differently as well.
As someone who also comes from a spanish speaking household I like how you mentioned that being able to comprehend a professor’s lecture and a thick accent is a skill that you overlook because looking back on conversations is also something that I overlook. It is truly a skill that not many people have because not many people come from a household where English isn’t their primary language.