It's not okay to judge someone for not speaking their language of heritage, be it Spanish, English, Italian, or something else.
I saw a post on Instagram that elicited a strong reaction from me. It said that Mexicans who don't speak Spanish are like jalapeños that aren't spicy. That's like saying Italians who don't speak Italian are like chianti in a box. Or that people with English ancestry who don't speak English are like royalty without a crown. You see how ridiculous this is. I'm tired of people judging others for both how they identify themselves and for not being fluent. There are a lot of reasons someone may not be fluent in the language of their heritage. Maybe they...
have parents who were ridiculed for speaking their native language when they immigrated so they choose not to teach their children it
were kids who learned that their country's main language (like English here in the US) has the power so didn't want to speak their native language
understand their language of heritage but don't feel confident speaking it
I don't know all the reasons why someone doesn't speak their language of heritage. And people who judge others don't know either. It's just none of our business, you know what I mean? I'm tired of other people making folks feel less than. It's nonsense, and worse, it's a form of bullying. I had to comment on the original post. And a lot of people have liked my comment and decided to follow me. I'm glad about that because I want them to know that Amidon Studios is a judgment-free zone. We're here to help if they want help. That's all.
By the way, did you know that English is not the official language of the US? The Founding Fathers didn't want to specify one official language at the federal level and instead left it up to the states to decide. Only 30 states have declared English to be the official language. Three states have official languages other than English. And, if you were wondering after reading that inane Instagram post, Mexico doesn't have an official language either.
I'd love to know your thoughts on this. Feel free to comment.
Jackie Amidon Donaldson helps women feel confident speaking Spanish, English, and Italian like a native in 90 days or less. She loves helping them achieve their goals by setting up their action plan for success, showing them the tools they need, and supporting them each step of the way. Jackie's the owner and language coach of Amidon Studios and has worked with more than 1000 women around the world.
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