Yesterday at work a mother came in with her adorable young daughter, who was probably about 6 or 7. I overheard them arguing in Spanish about the daughter coming up to the counter and ordering for them both in English. The daughter was clearly terrified, and Im so grateful that Ive been able to study Spanish and could put her at ease. Though I offered to take their whole order in Spanish, the mother told me that she wanted her daughter to learn how to do things in English. I told the girl not to be scared and that Id help her out if she needed it. She did a fantastic job, and I gave her a high five and told her that her English is great. The joy and confidence on her face was amazing, and I hope that next time she has to order somewhere in English shell be a little less scared. Im incredibly privileged to have been born into a family that spoke the official language of the country in which I live. Struggling to communicate with the world around them is an everyday reality for so many young kids. Its sad to sometimes see talented individuals ignored in school or the workforce just because there is a language barrier. If anyone ever wonders why Im so passionate about learning languages, its because of this: communication is one of the most amazing aspects of humanity. Learning to be a better communicator—whether in your native tongue or a foreign language—opens doors to build relationships, learn about new cultures and ways of thinking, collaboratively make the world a better place, and most essentially, feel that we are not alone as we face the challenges of life.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 19:48:59 +0000
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