Ch 6 Moving Between Languages

 Chapter 6

Moving Between Languages

When I moved to Colorado in the 6th grade, it was a unique experience. Many people were bilingual or multilingual in our ski resort town. Where I came from, it wasn't as prevalent in the Midwest as in Colorado. In fact, many schools in Colorado started teaching Spanish in the First grade. Many people were bilingual or multilingual, speaking both English and Spanish. Many would speak Spanish when we went into a grocery store or restaurant. Once, in Glenwood Springs, we entered a Burget King, and every person in the restaurant spoke Spanish. Everyone at the tables, the people in line, and the people who were ordering their food all spoke Spanish.

I wanted to learn Spanish and tried, but I didn't pick it up easily. I didn't have a driving force behind it, like going on a vacation to Mexico. So it was just another thing to learn to me in school. Everyone else was far more advanced since they had been learning it for an additional 5 years. 

English is a universal language, so we are spoiled in the US. Many countries have adapted to English, so many Americans find it easy to travel to other countries. I have numerous multicultural friends, and I listen to them talk about us being spoiled, and I have to agree. Some of my multicultural friends speak in another form of English/ Spanish mash-up. When this happens, it is known as interlanguage. I find it funny when they speak both English and Spanish and mix it all up. Their family understands it, so I guess if it is good for them, it is good for me, too. 

Thinking further on this, I now want to learn another language. 

Lj. (2020, September 24). Easelly - 6 language infographics for National Foreign Language Week. Simple Infographic Maker Tool by Easelly. https://www.easel.ly/blog/language-infographics/
Martin, J. N., & Nakayama, T. K. (2022). Intercultural Communication in Contexts (8^th ed.).

Lj.