I speak both Mandarin Chinese and English. Mandarin is my native language, and I started speaking it from birth. I began learning English after I moved to the United States as an adult.

At home, we mostly speak Mandarin. I use Mandarin with my children and husband, but I also encourage my kids to speak English and support their bilingual development.

I use Mandarin at home and when talking to other Chinese-speaking families in the community. I use English at work with my colleagues, students, and families who speak other languages like Spanish or Arabic. I also use English when I travel or attend school-related meetings.

I feel most comfortable with listening and reading. These give me more time to think and understand the meaning. Speaking and writing take more effort for me, but I am improving over time.

I think I am still developing my English skills, especially speaking and writing. But I feel proud to be bilingual and able to communicate in both languages. My bilingual ability helps me connect with more people.

Some people may notice my accent or grammar mistakes, but I think they appreciate my effort and understand that I am trying my best. At work, my coworkers and families respect me because I care about the students and communicate clearly.

The biggest benefit is being able to connect with people from different cultures and support multilingual children. Being bilingual also helps my own children learn both languages. The challenge is that I sometimes feel nervous when speaking English in public or professional settings.

Because I know how hard it is to learn a second language, I try to be patient with my students. I use pictures, gestures, and simple words to help them understand. I also respect and support their home languages and cultures in the classroom.

We can support multilingual learners by valuing their home languages, using visuals and real-life connections in teaching, and involving families in learning. Teachers should also receive training on bilingual development and strategies like translanguaging to help students succeed in both languages.

References:

Cummins, J. (2000). Language, power, and pedagogy: Bilingual children in the crossfire. Multilingual Matters.

García, O. (2009). Bilingual education in the 21st century: A global perspective. Wiley-Blackwell.

Genesee, F., Lindholm-Leary, K., Saunders, W., & Christian, D. (2006). Educating English language learners: A synthesis of research evidence. Cambridge University Press.

I speak Mandarin Chinese and English. Mandarin is my first language. I was born and raised in China. I used Mandarin at home, in school, and with friends when I was a child. After I moved to the United States, I started learning English. At first, it was very hard for me. I was afraid to speak and made many mistakes. But I didn’t give up. I went to school, listened carefully, and practiced every day. Now, I can speak and understand English much better.

At home, I speak Mandarin with my husband and my children. I also help my kids learn English. I want them to know both languages. At work, I speak English with my students and coworkers. Sometimes I also speak Mandarin with parents or families who speak Chinese. In the community, I use both Mandarin and English.

For me, listening and reading are easier than speaking and writing. I need more time to find the right words when I speak English. But I feel proud that I can use two languages. I think I am still learning, but I have improved a lot.

Sometimes people may think my English is not perfect, but I think they respect me because I try my best. I care about my students and I work hard to help them.

Being bilingual has many good things. I can understand two cultures. I can help students and families who speak different languages. But sometimes, it is also hard. I still feel nervous when I speak English in public. But I always try.

My language experience helps me in the classroom. I understand how children feel when they are learning English. I use pictures, simple words, songs, and body movements to help them learn. I also tell them that their home language is important and beautiful.

In the future, I want to learn more about how to support multilingual learners. I believe we should work together with families, respect all languages, and help every child feel proud of who they are.

Thank you for listening to my story.

📍 Reading Area (Image with blue wall and bookshelves)
In our reading area, books are available in both English and Chinese. This gives students access to multilingual texts during independent reading time and encourages biliteracy from a young age.