Mariana Alvarez-Mustangs Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL)- Walking through the halls of LRHS one will hear many conversations and laughter in the English language.
This may be common, but some don’t realize students may be speaking a different language on campus than they do at home. This might not seem like a big deal, but this can come with many pros and cons for the students who speak a different language at home.
While the students gain the benefit of knowing two languages, which they could use in their professional careers or everyday lives, it could also cause some confusion academically as well as socially.
Senior LRHS student Maya Omachel speaks Polish at home. She said “Sometimes my mind draws blank when speaking in English. Many of those times the word looks funky and off to me but other times I forget the word completely.”
On the other hand, speaking a different language at home can come with advantages. This skill can allow a person to multitask, have advanced memory, and have deeper understandings of a different culture.
Along with this, students can act as translators for peers who speak the same foreign language which can develop companionship, communication skills, and greater career opportunities.
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Junior LRHS student Gabriella Zevallos said “At work, being bilingual allows me to assist Spanish speaking costumers and make them feel more comfortable. It makes me more evaluable to employers and has opened doors for job opportunities because I offer a support that other may not be able to give.”
Translating goes further than just peers. Some students may need to translate academic information like college applications or academic testing to their families at home who may not understand due to the language barrier.
Junior LRHS student Sophia Sharypov, who speaks Russian, said, “The hard part about translating to my family at home is explaining the difference between the education system in America vs in Russia. It's difficult to explain why extracurriculars are important or why some other academic things are not as important.”
Knowing more than one language comes with some struggles but allows students to grow into compassionate people with many career opportunities in the future.