Language In Amy Tan's Essay 'Mother Tongue'

Moving from one's home nation to the United States of America is always a grueling situation but add in the constraints of language and the process becomes increasingly more taxing. Children of immigrants and their parents often face language and communication barriers upon arrival. This is the experience author Amy Tan describes in her essay “Mother Tongue”. Tan illustrates how the language spoken amongst family varies from the language spoken in public. As Tan communicates the language utilized in a child’s environment outside of an educational institution plays a part in how that child performs academically but that does not have to mean that child is below standards. The language used in a child's home can be as beneficial them in school as it can be detrimental. At some point in their lives these children will have to take standardized or achievement exams to assess what they have learned. Having English as a second language or as a language one is not as versed in can pose challenges on the writing, reading and even vocabulary portions of examinations. As Tan recalls from her personal experience “Math is precise; there is only one correct answer. Whereas, for me at least, the answers on English tests were always a judgement call, a matter of opinion and personal experience” (Tan, 181). On these tests one is on their own and must rely on what they know. However, for …show more content…
In her essay Tan talks about how this affected how she did in English in school and on academic achievement examinations. Perhaps there is a correlation between the language one speaks at home and how they perform academically not just in English. English encompasses reading, writing, understanding and speaking; which are necessary skills for every subject. It does well for teachers, colleges, and test creators to investigate and analyze this