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Development of language

By vanegv
  • Birth

    Exposed from birth to both languages at home. Mother and other family members talked english, Spanish was my dominant language.
  • Colorado Here I come!

    Moved to the states. In six months of only speaking English my spanish was almost forgotten.
  • HIgh School

    Spanish was limited and I was placed in Advanced English in HIgh School.
  • Back Home

    Moved back to Puerto Rico, spanish was very hard to speak. Many pauses to speak. Did not know how to write. Reading was the only thing I was able to do.
  • First year University

    Spanish was more fluent. I still had problems with writing in spanish. Moved to College in the United Stated but my language level knowledge did not change.
  • Life as a mother and finishing Bachollors degree

    Had to talk more spanish because In-laws did not speak English. At the University the only person that knew English was my English teacher. I was forced to learn how to write in Spanish.
  • First Job as a Teacher

    Acquired first job as teacher. I was surrounded by spanish speakers, with minimun o no knowledge of English. Oportunities to practice English were isolated to maternal family only. Began to loose dominance of English.
  • Masters in TESOL

    Began my masters degree in English. We talked in English only and I was able to once again speak and write in English, only during the clases with my classmates.
  • English Teacher

    Began working as a bilingual teacher in a Private school. More time speaking and writing in English. Regained mastery of the language.