Importance of Being Bilingual Essay - 901 Words

In the United States, it is important for a person to speak English fluently because it is the official language in America and everybody communicates in English. Many people believe that English should be the only language in America and that sometimes people may face prejudice when they speak English with an accent. For some parents, the fear of prejudice makes them decided not to teach their children their native tongue. On the other hand, there are many other reasons why some parents want to teach their children their native tongue. Gabriela Kuntz explains in My Spanish Standoff why she did not allow her children to speak Spanish at home. Kuntz’s explanations are acceptable, but some research studies reveal that most young children can†¦show more content†¦She writes that in the early 1960s, her father worked as a diplomat in Peru. Therefore, her family had to leave the United States and return to Peru to live. During that time, her brother who was born in the Uni ted States had to attend school in Peru. Interestingly, even though the school where he attended was taught in English, he still spoke English with an accent. She also argues that many Latinos who have lived in the United States for quite a long time, but they still speak English with an accent because they often talk to each other in Spanish. She says that many Latinos preferably attended Sunday mass in Spanish rather than in English. Obviously, it appears that Kuntz makes her decision not to teach her children her native tongue mainly based on those facts that she sees and experiences in her lifetime. Kuntz’s arguments are acceptable because they are somewhat related to the reason why I speak English with an accent. I was 16 years old when I came to the United States. At that time, my English vocabulary was very limited. Even without much English knowledge, my parents still wanted me to go school. I ended up going to Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, California. The first few weeks in high school were like a nightmare for me because, at that time, I could not understand what my teachers or classmates were saying in classroom. I had no friends at all. I went home and saidShow MoreRelatedBilingualism in Canada: Good or Bad?612 Words   |  3 Pagesdefine being a Canadian is living in a country with two official languages, but doesn’t mean that living in a bilingual city you have to know French and English. A bilingual country, people or even ethnicity is a benefit to the citizens and society. A research in psychology proves that learning a second language increases reasoning and problem-solving abilities. Canadian children who are bilingual appreciate cultural differences and have the ability to communicate better. Being bilingual is makesRead MoreThe Importance of Bilingual Education in America Essay1019 Words   |  5 PagesThe Importance of Bilingual Education in America First off, it’s important to understand the difference between learning and education. Learning is the ability of an individual’s brain to acquire and retain information for a lifetime, whereas education is an aide to further strengthen a student’s learning capacity with the use of resources: teachers, libraries, classroom environment, etc. All students are essentially equal when they enter the educational environment, however students who don’tRead MoreBilingual Education Is Effective Teaching Strategies For English Language Learners1265 Words   |  6 Pages Now, let us tackle into what an experienced bilingual afterschool program coordinator and a nonprofit organization, the National Association for Bilingual Education, have to say regarding the filed of English Language Learning. 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