Allison Aguilar

Mr. Franco

ENG 110

November 1, 2025

Synthesis Essay

          When people move to a new country and try to learn a new language, they often feel compelled to adapt in order to fit in. They want to sound “normal” and not stand out. But when they do this, they sometimes lose confidence, parts of their culture, or even their connection to family. Many people don’t realize how challenging it is to balance two languages or two worlds simultaneously.

In my story “Language Difficulties,” I talked about being scared to speak Spanish because I didn’t want to sound wrong or embarrass myself. When I mentioned, “confidence comes from being there rather than being perfect,” I meant that I learned to value effort over perfection. Before, I thought people would laugh at me for my accent or mistakes, but I found out that most people just care that you’re trying to communicate. This shows how trying to fit into one language or culture can make someone forget how special their own language is. I used to hold back, but when I started helping Spanish-speaking parents, I finally felt proud of using both languages.

Jamila Lyiscott explains something similar in her poem “Three Ways to Speak English.” She says, “I speak three tongues: one for each—home, school, and friends.” This quote means she changes the way she speaks depending on where she is and who she’s with. I really understand that because a lot of people who grow up around more than one language have to switch back and forth. When she says this, it shows that she’s not just changing her words; she’s adjusting part of her identity every time. It’s like she has to perform different versions of herself to fit in. I think this connects to my story because I also had to learn that the way I speak doesn’t make me less smart or less capable. I also feel like this is something common that a lot of people do and can relate to when trying to fit in. Whether it’s a mannerism that’s acknowledged by people or not, we tend to switch our way of speaking to fit the people or situation we are in.

In “Why I Keep Speaking Up Even When People Mock My Accent,” Safwat Saleem mentions, “My accent is a part of my story, and I’m done being ashamed of it.” This line is really powerful because it shows how much he had to fight to be proud of his voice. For a long time, he stayed quiet because people made fun of him. When he says this, it’s like he’s finally accepting that his accent tells others where he comes from and what he’s been through. This connects to both my story and Jamila’s because we all had to learn that our accents or ways of speaking are not something to hide; they’re part of our history and identity. This also encourages others that there is nothing wrong with their accent and that they should be proud of it. It demonstrates that our voice, our most powerful tool, is a part of our identity, and in being ashamed, we are showing that we think so little of ourselves.

All three stories show that when people try too hard to fit into a new culture or language, they can lose the most important parts of themselves. They lose confidence, pride, and sometimes the ability to connect with their families. Jamila shows this through her “three tongues,” Safwat shows it through his accent, and I show it through my fear of speaking Spanish. Each of us learned to take that back by accepting how we speak, but there’s still more to think about, like what happens to younger generations who grow up speaking less of their parents’ language, or how families change/ feel when that connection fades.

According to the NAEYC article “To Speak or Not To Speak My Language,” it’s mentioned “… maintaining children’s cultural and linguistic heritages leads to stronger identity development and long-term academic success.” This phrase really caught my interest since it demonstrates how speaking your native tongue doesn’t affect your development. The author also claims that families that abandon their native tongue often do so because they believe that learning English is the only path to success, which often leads to children losing some of their identity. In a way, it makes me think of my own experience because I nearly gave up speaking Spanish due to fear, and I would have lost something significant if I had stopped speaking it. The article also describes teachers who use cultural events, music, and stories to support families in maintaining their native tongues. I became aware of how important it is for teachers to really encourage their children’s languages rather than attempt to replace them after reading that section. I believe there is much more to be said about how families and schools work together in protecting home languages and what it’s like when the support isn’t there.

Another perspective to observe would be how language loss has a greater impact on families. According to the article on interacting with non-English speaking parents, “Always begin with positives when communicating with a parent that speaks little or minimal English.” This demonstrates that even parents can feel excluded if they don’t speak the “real” English. They may feel guilty or excluded from conversations concerning their own children. The article also discusses how schools can use software to translate instructional content into “over 100 languages,” demonstrating that language does not have to be a barrier given the right assistance. This relates to my essay since I assisted parents who did not speak English and saw how difficult it was for them to feel included. If schools and communities do not encourage native languages, people begin to feel like outsiders in their own lives and homes.

All of these experiences, including my own, demonstrate that when people try too hard to adapt to a new culture or language, they sacrifice aspects of themselves that they may never regain. They lose their voice, confidence, and ties to their families. However, if we acknowledge the importance of every language and accent, we see the importance and have ways of changing it. When individuals are supported, they may preserve their culture while also succeeding in a new environment. I understand that giving up my language to fit in almost cost me my culture and voice, but now I’m glad to speak both English and Spanish, even if I make mistakes.

 

Work Cited