4/18/06 ESL6 Wu, Cui Ying Pd6
There are many similar experiences for immigrates, in the other hand, immigrates also have many different experience. I think everyone has own life-style, hobby and taste so there must cause difference.
The author lived in America, but her mother forced her and her brother to learn Chinese when she was child. They felt very unhappy about that/ Their mother didn’t care about their feelings and insist on sending them to Chinese school every day instead of playing with their friends. She didn’t like it very much and she was very afraid of the stern principle so she though the school was terrible. She also recognized him as a repressed maniacal child killed. She though it was not necessary for her to learn Chinese. When I came to America, I didn’t be required to learn Chinese and go to Chinese school because Chinese is my first language. I know I need to improve my English since I lived in America. If I can not speak and write English very well, I will have lots of problems in my life. However, I still have one Chinese class at school. I’m Chinese and Chinese culture is very important to me. Actually, I enjoy my Chinese class so much and very proud of Chinese culture. I also feel cordial to see Chinese culture somewhere in America.
The author thought the language was a source of embarrassment. She disliked her grandma’s sound. She had tried to disassociate herself from Chinese language. It was kind of boring for her to balance Chinese and English. She did not want to hear Chinese in her life. To her, Chinese seemed meaningless and useless. Therefore, there was no reason for her to learn Chinese. However, I was preferred to learn different language. I think knowing more languages will help you know more different people. You can talk with them and learn more about their lives. You also can help more people. When I saw some Chinese who could not speak English, I would be able to translate Chinese to them. I also can tutor Americans to speak and write Chinese. I really very enjoy it. I felt so happy I could balance these two languages.
The author said when her spoke English, people nodded at her, smiled sweetly, said encouraging words to her. She was proud of speaking English well and people commended her for that. She could get confidence from speaking English. Even though my English was not so good, I still was very happy I could talk with Americans and they understood what I said. When I asked or spoke English to Americans, my family always smiled and listened to our conversation quietly though they did not understand what we were talking about. I was gratified that they appreciated what I did. I did not disappoint them. This was also my motive power to learn English well. English was very important to my life in America.
My parents could not speak English. My father could not remember 26 letters now. The author’s mother’s pronunciation was bad, so her brother always corrected her, but she could not do it well even she tried her best. My patents never learned English before and they were not young. It was no wonder, they got a big trouble in English. The author, her brother and her father made joke on her mother about her pronunciation. Sometimes, my sister, brother and me also made joke on my parents. I really wanted to teach them more English sincerely. I think if they can speak English, they will be easier to live in America.
I think there are many difficulties for immigrates, but there are many interesting things. Everything would have both good and bad sides. We must learn to balance it in our lives and we will have better lives.