BLOG 11 : Chapter 21 - Revolution, Socialism and Global Confllict

Essay Draft #2

THE BROKEN LANGUAGE

PS:
- The intro and first paragraph need to be more completed. Mixed information everywhere. Add a bit more on paragraph #2.
- Not finished 

INTRODUCTION - 

I never knew I would of come this far with a language I didn’t know existed in this world that I now use everyday in my life. I learned that language in Singapore when I was in kindergarten. I started speaking it with all kinds of people to make friends, to participate in class and to adjust in this new society that is progressing. This language is called English, specifically Non-Standard English. My mom and I grew up half our lives with it and still learning. We both struggle in the language but in different ways. While my mother has difficulties pronunciation, I have to improve in vocabularies, spelling and grammar. An Asian-American writer, named Amy whose mother seeks the English language, have similar experiences. Throughout my essay, I will explain more in depth my relationships and my home experiences with the English language and personal 

PARAGRAPH #1 - Relations with the English Language

At school I was taught the Standard English but I speak the Non-Standard English. The Non-Standard English is what 90% of what most people use, it’s all about where you grew up in with cultural identity and history although the Standard English is the “correct” form of English, used in formal writing, reading and speaking

I never knew I would of come this far with a language I didn’t know existed in this world that I now use everyday in my life. For years I was taught at school with the same 

For years I was taught at school the Standard-English but generally speaking, I speak Non-Standard English. 

At the end of the day, I would come back home and re-think about those gibberish words that came out from my mouth. 

For years I wondered and asked myself, what language it was. It was called the Non-Standard English. The Non-Standard English is what 90% of what most people use, it’s all about where you grew up in with cultural identity and history although the Standard English is the “correct” form of English, used in formal writing, reading and speaking. 

Im managing this Non-Standard English pretty well as a foreign guy, as long as people understand what Im saying then I don’t have to worry about anything else.

PARAGRAPH #2 -

Generally speaking, the Non-Standard English is officially my second language after French. Even though, I speak it with most of my friends, we don’t use it at home. French is what is spoken most of the time and we just never speak English not because it’s uncomfortable just because it’s how it is. Families that go through the same thing would understand what I’m talking about. 

There may be one or two moments I’ll use English is with my sister for the reason that she understands better English than French. Why? Well during her youth, she would watch Disney Chanel which TV show full of movies, episodes and videos in English and by watching them three times a week, it improved her ability to speak it fluently and smoothly. I hate to admit it but she does speak better English than I do and even though she is four years younger than I am, she does correct me on couple words. 

Being bilingual isn't simple as it seems, sometimes words in French may be correct to say in English but they are actually untranslatable. Even using a different tone may seem to be an English word, where it’s not. In general, I can speak Non-Standard English to anyone and not having any issues for making friends.  

To not do those same mistakes, I had to do personal practices in reading and writing. See, I never liked reading but I knew that improvements would come from practicing it outside of school. It wasn’t easy at first, I had to go through different steps such as doing a lot of reading mostly focused on the spelling, grammar and vocabularies and getting a personal tutors. After getting a personal tutor twice a week for one hour, for two years, progress was being seen or I wouldn’t be here, writing this paper to you. 

It’s a challenge to learn two languages at the same time. 

PARAGRAPH#3 -

I read this story that relates a lot to my personal life, written by Amy Tan, who is the author and the main character where she talks about her personal experiences and relationship with her mother. She grew up with her Chinese mom who spoke “broken” English that is difficult to understand. She talks about how people can be rude and take advantage of her mother for not speaking clear English. At school, Amy had some trouble at writing because her mother’s English affected on developing English language skills. Even though teachers have tried to turn her down on wanting to become a writer, she kept pushing herself and let her challenges aside.

My mother speaks English with a thick French accent just like Amy’s mother speaking English with a thick Chinese accent. The way she speaks it isn’t wrong, its the way it sounds that people may not understand her. All her words are understandable to me but some people might not and may take it personally when she speaks it with a specific tone. 

When Amy was fifth teen she would call people on the phone to pretend she was her mother. I can totally imagine how, Amy’s mom would be standing speaking in Chinese while Amy is on the phone translating everything she is saying. That didn’t happened to me, actually I never spoke for my mom on the phone but It would have been an interesting thing to do. I would of learn some stuffs that she wouldn’t want me to hear. At the end of the day, I know that she is dependent to take care of her calls. 

In her story, Amy talks about being ashamed of her mother’s English. Explaining to others that her mother had a “broken” or “fractured” English made her feel uncomfortable. I had that same moment so I understand what she is feeling. I grew up half of my life with a mom speaking English with a thick French accent and when I would go to a parent/student-teacher conference or a meeting with the principal of the school, I do make sure that I tell them in advance that my mother’s first language isn’t English so that there isn’t a misunderstanding. 

I have been in a situation where my mother was being judge by some people, that were my friends but they aren’t today after disrespecting her for saying that she was dumb for not speaking English fully, behind her back. 

CONCLUSION - 

Her story was so interesting because her story kept the reader till the end. Most of her personal experiences matches with my personal experiences with having a mother that is also knew to a new language. Even though, English has been a challenging language to learn, I am grateful to be able to speak it and I am definitely not ashamed of having a mother that has a thick French accent to it. 

Using the help that is available improved my skills in learning faster in writing and reading.