Language played a huge role in Amy Tan’s life. It played a big role because since her family is immigrants, it shaped her as a person. Language shaped Amy’s perception of herself. Due to the fact that her mother spoke broken English, she thought that because she was raised by someone with imperfect English, it lowered her English grades and also how she did on English test. ” I think my mother’s English almost had an effect on limiting my possibilities in life as well… While my English skills were never judged as poor, compared to math, English could not be considered my strong suit.” This shows that she thinks her struggles in English compared to math has somewhat to do with the fact she was raised by an immigrant mother who spoke a broken English. She became aware of her language biases because when she would speak publically to other students and adults, she would speak normal, proper English. However, when her mother was mixed into the group of people she realized the difference in the way she talked. ” Recently, I was made keenly aware of the different Englishes I do use. I was giving a talk to a large group of people, the same talk I had already given to half a dozen other groups… My mother was in the room. And it was perhaps the first time she had heard me give a lengthy speech.”

People who’s second language is English or are raised in non-english households are constantly aware of the way language is used around them. English is my first language. However, I was raised in a spansh household. I am always changing the way in speak. In public, with other people, I speak normal English. But at home speak both spanish and broken English because my mom speaks both. Sometimes we just switch back and forth without realizing and that’s how it is for most non-english households.