An Interview with a Bilingual College StudentAngela Fritz is a Freshman at Ball State University, she was brought up in a Venezuelan- American household speaking both English and Spanish.
Do you feel that when learning your second language your cultural identity changed? "I grew up bilingual, learning both languages at the same time. So I never really had a moment to where I can say my identity has changed, as I was in two cultures at once. But when I am away from the US and away from the English language I do notice a difference in the way I talk, the way I move, and the way I see things." You said that when you are outside of the U.S. that you are different than when you are here, how so, and do you think this could be because of cultural assimilation? "Having the opportunity to be able to go and have family in Venezuela and studying abroad in Mexico for a summer showed me that where you are changes you. We all do this in your normal lives as well, when we are around different types of people we act differently. Well, it's the same is with other countries with different cultures. We unknowingly try to fit into the cultural norms. This can be so that we look like everyone else, act like everyone else, and talk like everyone else, just so that we don't stick out. Being in Mexico I would act and speak differently then when I would be in Venezuela, so I definitely do believe that in order to be accepted many people may leave behind their cultural norms and so forth and that can be cultural assimilation." What were some cultural differences in Mexico and Venezuela that made you act a certain way? "For example, in Mexico, the people are very uptight and care about details and aren't exactly willing to help strangers. And even though I am a person that helps people I wouldn't because that just isn't what people do over there and I didn't want to be seen as an outside. Spanish is spoken in both places, and even though it's basically the same there are different words for different things and while in Mexico I started using different slang than I usually spoke at home or when visiting family in Venezuela. Now in Venezuela it's almost the complete opposite. They worry very little, like to party and always find something to celebrate and be happy about. So while being in Venezuela I would be happy all the time and would be very optimistic. We unknowingly fall into the habits of the people around us. Whether its in how we speak, move, understand or learn. The cultural identity is what makes us who we are as bilingualists." |
Photo Credit: Angela Fritz
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