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Andrew Valle
Professor Jon Beadle
English 113B
23 February 2016
My Bilingual Culture (Original)
Being bilingual from an early age has helped me feel connected with who I am, it has
helped me to develop, and improve my skill at speaking different languages with individuals
who relate to my culture. There are 2 languages that I speak, at home with my family, and during
a family outing. However, I mostly speak English at school, because I have a long history of
English being spoken just as much as Spanish at my home, with family, and in school. I have a
family history that consists different races. There are many advantages that I have by being
bilingual. A bilingual can speak 2 languages, and experience the 2 cultures. Also a bilingual can
help someone who has trouble understanding English by translating for them. Another important
thing is that a bilingual can earn how to read and write from two different languages.

My grandparents from my mothers side taught me Spanish every time I would stay at
their place. Both of my parents left to go to work at their early morning jobs, and so I was placed
in the care of my grandparents. They only spoke to me in Spanish, and knew very little English
but from their teachings I would start learning how to speak another language. During the
weekend when I would see my parents, my dad would also speak to me in Spanish, and translate
what he said to me in English for me to understand. It was great, since all this contributed to me
learning how to speak another language. But also I would soon learn my origins from my
parents.
When I was in first grade the talk about ethnicity was taught in class of how for example
a person who was black is called an African American, of African descent. From this I soon
came to realize that I was of Hispanic descent since both of my parents are from South America.
Having been born in the United States I was exposed to both English and Spanish. I could
communicate with both the English and Hispanic community, and it was great to know that. I
even helped out as a translator for Hispanics who spoke or read very little English.

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When I used to take the city buses to go to high school every morning, I remember one
time on the way back to home I was spoken to in Spanish by an elderly lady at a bus stop who
spoke very little English. She was confused about if the bus would take her to where she needed
to get dropped off at or would go another route instead. I helped her by translating for her saying
that this was the right bus that she would need to take, since Ive been using the same bus
throughout high school it would surely take her to the route she needed to get to, and assured to
her that she neednt worry. Another time was when my parents would go through their mail they
would have trouble on knowing how to understand some words that were in English, and so they
would call for me to help translate. Sometimes bilingualism is a necessity, as a childs parents
may not be fluent in the majority (dominant) language spoken in the community (Bilingualism
in young Children Separating Fact from Fiction). When my parents are confused about a word in
English I help them, so that they may know what it means by translating it to them, since for
them English wasnt the primary language that they learned from in school, back in South
America, instead the main focus was learning in Spanish.

Its interesting to know that Spanish is taught by high school teachers here in the United
States. When I was in High school there were foreign language classes that I needed to take in
order to fulfill the requirements for graduation. I chose Spanish, because I knew that I would be
able to grasp the language, since I already know how to speak in Spanish I could learn how to
improve my grammar by learning how to read, and write. Multiple language abilities are a
resource for all students (Bilingual Students Need Support in Their Native Language).
It was easy, and sometimes difficult when it came to writing, because the structure of writing
down the words, and meaning of spoken words are sometimes easy to compare as if it spoken in
English, like for example the English word facile means easy and is spelt in the same way as it is
in Spanish. However, I wasnt always bilingual, when I was younger, and Spanish wasnt my
primary language instead it was English, since I was born in the United States.

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Having been born in the United States and feeling, knowing, and relating my life to only
English more than Spanish, was what controlled my behavior to behave more American. I only
listened to rock and Hip Hop never giving Salsa a chance, and didnt like the kind of food that
my mom cooked from her country. According to Self-identity and Culture Both spaces and
places in which people live help to define who they are (Jackson, Glenn, Williams 118119). I
considered myself an American only before I took a Spanish class in high school. But during my
first semester of Spanish when I was a freshman I came to realize how there is so much culture
in Spanish, and that I can be a part of that too. People learn at an early age to distinguish
themselves from others (Jackson, Glenn, Williams 118119). From there I came to recognize the
other part of me.
I was motivated to get into watching Spanish movies and T.V. shows. I also listened to
Spanish music and tried new foods and sweets that I never even heard of or tasted before. During
my summer right after I graduated high school my parents decided to take a vacation to South
America. It was great, because I saw where my patents used to live, and I also saw big cities like
Los Angeles where there were historic sites of ancient ruins from past civilizations. Not only did
I witness a new country, but my Spanish improved.
While I was in South America, to hear the people speak in Spanish helped me improve m
y pronunciation of words, and this was great, because I could be understood better if I spoke to
someone in Spanish. I was there for about 2 weeks and it really helped a lot. When I came back
to the United States I had a set an idea in place to go to a Spanish restaurant and order something
in Spanish, and see if I am understood. I went to Baja Fresh where they sell Mexican food and
ordered something in Spanish and see if I am understood. I went to Baja Fresh where they sell

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Mexican food and ordered something in Spanish luckily for me I was being attended by a
bilingual person such as myself and I was understood. In some ways I am lucky to move
between two worlds (Rodriguez 75). The day I went with my mom to visit my aunt I greeted her
in Spanish and she was surprised, because I could only speak clearly in English and could not do
the same for Spanish before so it was hard to understand what I was trying to say. I would then
attend the Spanish ministry at church with my parents and help out in taking care of the little kids
whose parents were attending the English sermon as a volunteer.
When I went with my parents to the Spanish ministry I greeted many people in Spanish
and then of course the older people would say how well I speak Spanish, and I was getting many
complements. I was very proud of myself for now being able to communicate with other fellow
Hispanics and to be a part of them. It was soon time for me to do my volunteer work, and as I
entered the class room I greeted everyone in English and introduced myself. Elderly women
were there complementing me, and saying how I was so polite. Its great to now be bilingual and
have 2 cultures.
From the beginning when I was young I was exposed to Spanish my by grandparents, and
father, and later on I could understand it. However, I only spoke in English and I never really lie
anything that had to do with the Spanish culture just American. But my skills were honed when I
took a Spanish class in high school that made be become more interested in knowing the other
side of my cultural identity which was that I am a Hispanic and I should speak Spanish as well.
Pronunciation of words was the problem though, which was later solved during my summer trip
to South America. From all of that I had finally developed my bilingual culture.

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Work Cited Page

Jackson, Ronald. Glenn, Cerise. Williams, Kesha. SelfIdentity and Culture. n.d. Print.

Rodriguez, Valdez Alisa. My Hips, My Caderas.

Writing: A Guide for College and Beyond. 3rd ed. Boston: Pearson, 2012. Print.

Lowry, Lauren. The Hanen Centre. Bilingualism in Young Children: Separating Fact from
Fiction n.d. 23 Feb. 2016.

Levitan, Joe. Education Week. Bilingual Students Need Support in Their Native Language. 12
May. 2015. 23 Feb. 2016.