I am a speaker of English as a second language. I was born and raised in Portugal and did not learn English until I was 14, and then it was only something spoken in school. I didn’t come to the States until I was 22.
I will grant you that I majored in English in college — and yet when I came to the states, my language was stilted and foreign sounding.
I am now a published author, with well over a dozen novels sold (yes, to major houses, not self-published.)
We speak English at home — not much choice, as the only other option for my husband is French and his French is none too hot. My kids speak English. Because I am of Portuguese ancestry, we’ve been told that I should teach the children Spanish (!) often enough. And I’ve been told that Portuguese is their “culture” — which it d*mn well is not. They’re American. Portuguese might have been their ancestors culture, but it’s not theirs. Culture is not genetic.
I tend to become unhinged on this subject when yet another teacher calls me. While I am insisting they learn at least one foreign language apiece — it broadens ones perception of one’s own language — I want them to learn it as a second language. Not as equal or exchangeable with English.
This whole idea that languages are races is just mindboggling and bizarre. The idea that cultures are somehow inheritted independent of where you live is even crazier. It supports multiculturalism-through-despondence-and-fanaticism. People decide that since their culture is part of them, if you say their culture is non-functional, then you’re insulting them. They also decide they can’t change.
I’m here to tell you people CAN change. And even adults can function fully — nay, artistically — in their secondary language, if that’s what they want to do.
I support English-language-only in America because I believe in unlimited human potential.
