Biographic Information: English, Female, 29yrs
Themes: Biographical information (participant’s age, where participant is from, where participant lives currently, opinions on all), Moving from Mexico to U.S., Bilingualism (in general and in grade school), Education and schooling, Languages spoken by participant (proficiency and comfort of languages), Language use, Bilingualism and benefits of bilingualism, Translating Spanish, Mixing languages
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Transcript:
[00:00]
Interviewer: Hello!
Participant: Hi!
P: How are you?
I: I’m doing good. How are you?
P: Great. Thank you.
I: Thank you for participating in this interview with me today. Um, I will be talking- today we’ll be talking about your language use and background. And I do have a couple of questions I’ll ask you. So, I’m gonna start off with personal information questions, go on to education questions, and then, lastly, it’s going to be based on language information questions.
P: Okay. Yeah, that sounds perfect.
I: Perfect. Okay. So, to start off, tell me a little bit about yourself. How old are you?
P: I’m twenty-nine, currently.
I: Twenty-nine okay, and where are you from?
P: I was born in across the border in Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua.
I: Okay, and where do you live now?
P: I currently live here in El Paso, Texas. [1:00]
I: Have you lived anywhere else?
P: No, I’ve only uh, I moved here when I was thirteen years old. Um, and I’ve only had these two homes.
I: Okay. Which location do you prefer to live in? Given that you were um given the opportunity to live in two different, um I guess states or countries.
P: Countries.Yeah um, I think I have a lot more opportunities here in the United States. So, but um, I do, I do miss a little bit of home, you know. It’s um I guess traveling, it’s a little bit funnier in Mexico, but the opportunities and the resources for self-growth are a lot better here in the United States, so I would prefer to live here and stay here.
I: Definitely, so then you would [2:00] never consider like going back to move to Mexico?
P: No, um not really, I think um, as a bilingual here in in the United States, my assets are very well welcomed, and I can still express myself through my native language and English. So, I think um, I think I’m still happy here in the United States.
I: Awesome, I love that. Okay, we’re going to go on to your education. Are you currently attending school?
P: Yes, I’m a current student at the University of El Paso, so UTEP and I’m currently aiming to get a bachelor’s degree in science of education with a bilingual certification.
I: Oh, awesome! Are you uh, what made [3:00] you choose this career?
P: Actually, the same reason um of me being bilingual. Um, I think I reflect a lot in my past experiences when I was going to school um and when I shifted my education journey from Mexico to United States um it wasn’t easy, and my teachers always guided me with a lot of patience and full commitment, because I was a divergent student in the moment. Um, coming from my home language Spanish, and then transitioning into learning English uh was very hard, so I knew how hard my teachers tried to educate me, and to put me at the same level as my peers, [Uh huh.] so I think [4:00] that I have that advantage of me being bilingual to provide the same opportunities for other students, or for especially here in El Paso, that we are a- we live in a border city and Spanish, at least Spanish and English are the main spoken languages, and I think it’s just I have the opportunity to do the same, for those students that I know are struggling in the moment to learn a second language.
I: I love that! I, I definitely agree with you, I think, like the population itself keeps growing. So, I think there are a lot of individuals that need that help. So just being able to assist them throughout their school year, I think that’s awesome. [Yeah.] Um. Sorry. Is there certain grade level that you like want to work with? Or are you just up for any level?
P: No, I am um, I am aiming for elementary. Early years [5:00] (laughs) because that’s usually the gap that it’s prefer to assist students when they’re transitioning um in learning new languages. So I have, and I like the general education as well. So that’s why I didn’t wanna just pick one subject and focus in that one subject. I think being able to be a general educator and also a bilingual instructor. I think it just uh allows me to implement um both languages in all subjects. Not just one specifically.
I: Oh okay, and are you nearly done with school?
P: I have about two more years. Um I have to get into the program, but I am currently am volunteering at an at a uh elementary school [6:00] uh assisting a fourth grade teacher. So I’m getting a little bit of the career ex experience and uh still learning. But I still do need to do my um my two year um (4.0) what’s it called? Preparation. It’s like the last two years, where I actually had to be more hands on and submitting paper works and stuff like that. So I still have about two years.
I: Oh, okay, okay well, they’ll definitely fly by. (laughs) [Yeah.] Well you mention that you’re volunteering with the fourth-grade teacher right now. [Mhm.] Uh, given that you said you had some experiences as growing up with um the way that your teachers helped you and everything. Do you see that happening in the classroom today? Like, do you see the teachers also trying to help those students that are um, I guess, in the process of learning [7:00] English?
P: Yes. So I was actually shocked um, when I started (clears throat) the first day that I that I went to this elementary um this is a bilingual elementary. [Okay.] So English and Spanish are both implemented um and, for example, in this specific class in the morning session, it’s English and then in the afternoon they switch to Spanish. So, they have half a day in English, half a day in Spanish, and I also did notice that it’s not necessarily just English or Spanish. In this particular case we have a girl from Turkey. We have a couple of of people from Asia. Um, so, it’s not just necessarily English and Spanish, but now we’re having this type of classroom [8:00] structure um, these students are not only becoming bilinguals, but trilinguals. They’re- they know more than two languages. So, [yes] it’s uh, from experience, yes, it is necessary, and it is um being instructed in class, too. So, they do um benefit a lot from having a classroom where they can express themselves either in Spanish or English.
I: Definitely, and do you notice that these kids use their native language in the classrooms, or do they just try to stick to their English and Spanish that they are already learning?
I: That is interesting, because usually, as I see the lecture go by um and the student makes a connection to the lecture, most of them, or a few of them do express themselves in Spanish. [9:00] Uh, especially because when they make a connection with the particular lesson, they, they, they, connect themselves to to what they experience from back at home, and that usually is in Spanish. You know, if this student didn’t grow up wi- in a household where the main spoken language is Spanish, they re- they preferably um express themselves or try to explain that in Spanish [Yeah.] rather than English, then translating it to English, yeah.
I: Interesting. Okay. On to the next question, um what are your plans. Once you’re done with school.
P: Once I, I am done with school, I plan to um hopefully get hired right away. Um it’s at least in this um field. I feel like you don’t really have time to take a break or anything. So, if I graduate in [10:00] June, July, um then I had to be ready to start working that next month in August because of the school year.
P: So, um I do hopefully plan into once I complete my internship. Um, that I get hired right away, and since there is quite a demand for teachers at the moment, and me uh willingly be a bilingual certification. Hopefully, I’ll get a pretty good uh or hired right away so that I can um start working literally as soon as after I graduate.
I: (laughs) Well, good luck! I’m sure you will get hired right away.
P: Thank you.
I: Do you plan to stay here in El Paso, or would you like to eventually branch out once you have your degree?
P: I think, there, I’m not close to the [11:00] idea or the possibility to uh maybe transfer to another city or even state. But I think as for now I, I think my home place truly needs teachers that are specialized in both languages, and the can provide that education of equality to every student. So, I think my. I think my town will need me so I, I am happy to stay here, but I know that there’s other cities that you know, pay more, or you know there’s better opportunities. But I, I mean it- it’s an option, but I think I would prefer to stay in my hometown where I grew up, where I have my mentors, where I can go back to my mentors and ask for help e- or guidance. So, I think for now I’ll be happy to work here [12:00] on the EPISD uh program.
I: Awesome! I and I’m sure, El Paso, it seems to start growing even more. So I’m sure, like the um job opportunities are just going to keep rising as well as the pay. Just ‘cause I think it’s starting to grow a lot more than it usually was.
P: Yeah. I agree, too.
I: And now we’re going to move on to your language information. What was your first language?
P: My first language was Spanish.
I: Spanish. okay, do you speak any other languages?
P: No, just English and Spanish.
I: Just English and Spanish, okay [Mhm.] and did you learn um the- these languages at home or in school.
P: I learned Spanish at home, and eventually um the more s- grammatical correct way in school. [13:00] ‘Cause I went to school in Mexico until I was twelve years old.
I: Okay
P: So I, I was pretty good um and writing it, pronouncing it, understanding it. Um, and then when I transfer to- over here to the United States, that’s when in school I learned English through a program that I was in put on. I was put on a ESL program and that’s when I started to learn English.
I: Oh, okay, would you say that um one of these languages was easier to learn than the other? Or do you think it was like, roughly the same?
P: I think um English definitely was harder for me to learn.
I: Okay.
P: Um, [14:00] just because I had zero um, I just had zero knowing of any English. So, I had to start from ground at thirteen years old, where that’s an age. That it’s a little more difficult to learn and so so yeah, I think it was a little more difficult to learn and so, so yeah I think It was alittle bit more difficult to learn English, but I did um they had me- at my on my home they only spoke to me in English, so even if I did understand, they would just keep ta- talking to me in English, and I think I was able to learn it a little bit faster. But um, I don’t think it was the right way for me to merge into English now that I am learning more about languages and things like that. Um, but yes, I was a little more difficult to learn [15:00] English.
I: So then, given that you’re bilingual with, when did you become fluent in both English and Spanish?
P: So I was fluent with Spanish, obviously, when I was twelve years old um but fluent in both,(2.0) it took me about two years um to be fluent in s- English but that was because I had very direct instruction, and the amount of Spanish that I was receiving was very low,
I: Okay.
P: compared to the English amount that I was receiving. So it was definitely um, I, I let’s pretend that I put my Spanish at hold when I started learning English, because the main focus for me was to learn English English, and that was the only thing I practice. I stopped [16:00] practicing my Spanish um but since I learned Spanish up to twelve years old I, I wasn’t able to completely delete Spanish from me. So I continued to um know my Spanish, which I am lucky I’m thankful for, because I know in other cases, students that emerge to English. They totally forget about their Spanish, and they just never speak of it, and they just totally forget it. So, in my case, I think I was fluent with both around fifteen years old.
I: Fifteen. Okay.
P: Mhm.
I: And would you say that there was any like certain words or phrases that you completely kind of forgot about, since you were just primarilyly focusing on English that were in Spanish.
P: Um, yes, there’s times where even until now I just don’t know [17:00] like I know what a word is in English, but then I don’t know how to translate it, or I forgot what it is in Spanish. So, I would say my Spanish right now. It’s not a a hundred percent. But it’s probably like a good 85%, just because that transition to English truly, um, did affect my Spanish. Um, so I, I do struggle a little bit with that one, especially in the spelling since I stopped practicing um you know, spelling and certain things, and the proper Spanish um, so yeah, I do struggle with a few words.
P: Maybe an example of it would be um I guess certain holidays or or certain things that sometimes we don’t celebrate in Mexico. That it’s like, well, [18:00] how do you find a word for it in Spanish? If it’s not even celebrated, you know, so I don’t. I can’t think of a word at the top of my mind. But yes.
I: Oh, interesting, okay, let’s see, and the next question is, what language do you use the most, as of today?
P: As of today, I think I speak um English the most.
I: English okay.
P: Yes.
I: And then does your language vary based on who you’re speaking to, and the environment yet that you’re in?
P: Yes, it does. Um, in school I do speak mostly, and communicate mostly in s- uh English. In my, at my work space, it’s English as well. And then, when I’m at home with family members, it’s definitely Spanish.
I: Okay? And then what about when you’re with your [19:00] friends?
P: When I’m with my friends? It’s like a mix of both.
I: Okay.
P: Like we, we usually communicate in both um languages.
I: Yeah. Perfect. Can you tell me about a time when you had to alter your language because of the situation or the individual you were interacting with?
P: Hmm. (7.0) I’m trying to think.
I: If you can think of any, if you can’t, it’s okay.
P: Yeah. Um, I can’t think of any at the moment.
I: Okay, that’s okay. On to the next one question is, has knowing two languages benefited you? And if so, in what way?
P: (clears throat) Uh, yes, I do think that knowing two languages has benefit me in so many ways. [20:00] Um, I mean I was able to since the beginning I was I was able to um you know, certain words look similar to in in English and Spanish, so I was able to make some connections. So since the very beginning, I noticed that even though it’s not completely the same, I was still able to make some connections uh [Okay.] knowing Spanish, and as of today. Um, I mean in my education what I wanna be in a few in a few years um it’s very beneficial, because I’ll be able to help students that are going through the process of learning a second language and at work, I think it also benefits um, because most of the people that work uh there, they only speak Spanish. So, I’m always translating, for the bosses to them, or vice versa. [21:00] So I can use my trans languaging as in a huge variety of ways in work, school, with friends, with family favour- I mean trans languaging it’s just a great tool that I use almost every day.
I: Oh, awesome. Would you say that you’re comfortable translating for others then?
P: Yeah, yes, very comfortable.
I: Okay. And then have you ever mixed up both languages? For example, your fa- your family members may speak to you in Spanish, they hear your response in Spanish, and then switch to speaking to you in English, so kind of I guess incorporating both languages at once.
P: Mhm. I think that happens mostly with my cousins, where we are talking in one language, and then we just randomly switch to another one. So yes, we do. And um, I’ve, I’ve done that myself, too, where sometimes I just feel like I can [22:00] continue the conversation uh or expression in a different language, because he just sounds a better, or because it makes more sense, and because I know my friends will understand me, regardless of what whatever language I’m using. So yes, I I yes, I’m part of that, unfortunately, [(laughs)] even though it’s not correct. But yes, I’ve done that. (laughs).
I: How often would you say that you incorporate both languages within a conversation?
P: Very often. Um, I guess it depends in the space like we had mentioned before. At work of course it’s only for the most part uh English, but in comfortable spaces as in like family friends and um whoever I meet that I know speaks both languages than I usually just go fifty/fifty half a sentence can be English. Half the other sentence can be [23:00] Spanish. (laughs)
I: Perfect, and would you say that you aim to fix or prevent this from happening in your conversations, or do you think you kinda just let it flow and kinda keep, keep up with it?
P: I let I usually let it flow, and I just keep it the way it is, uh because it’s just become something so normal that everybody does and it just feels natural at this point to do it like that to speak s- both, or mix both languages. Uh, but now that I’m taking a bilingual class um I noticed that when I had to answer a question fully in English, and then fully in Spanish, I, I, I struggled a little bit because I just wanted a mix and ever since then, and this was about a few weeks ago. So ever [24:00] since then I’ve been trying to stay focused in either English or Spanish, so if I catch myself doing that or just continue with whatever language I started with, or vice versa.
I: Okay perfect. Do you think you have any tips on how to prevent this from happening?
P: Um. Any tips? Well, I think it just depends who you’re talking with, and I guess the environment you’re in so like, if in my case, if I’m talking to my boyfriend. I know that he also prefers Spanish, so I would just try to focus and stay in Spanish. Uh, if I guess it just depends on the situation you’re in. [Okay.] But,
I: Umhm, yeah.
P: Yeah.
I: Has this ever happened? I guess, incorporating both languages? With the school that you’re working with the fourth-grade um classroom that you’re with, [25:00]or it hasn’t really happened to it- to you.
P: Um, it hasn’t happened to me, but it has happened to the teacher from the observations that I’ve made, um I’ve noticed that sometimes she will um just randomly switch from English and to Spanish, or she’ll give an example, and like she’ll say it in Spanish.
P: Um, but I feel like the students do that as well. So, I mean, and they understand both at the same time. So. but to me, when I’m in, when I’m in there, I usually express myself in English. But if this, if I see that this student is struggling. Then I, try to help in Spanish, [26:00] in the language that they understand better.
I: Okay. And do you think this causes confusion for them the fact that the teacher incorporates both languages.
P: Um, you see, that’s what a lot of people think, [Mhm, mhm.] and I can say why that could cause confusion. But usually, um, (3.0) we want to- the instruction that the students are getting they they’re able to make connections instead of getting them confused. [Hmm.] Um, I think they are able to just make connections between both languages. So even if the teacher is saying the instruction in English and then provides an example in Spanish, the students could still base on what they’ve heard. I think [27:00] they can make a connection instead of just getting confused, uh at least in certain subjects, you know? Like in math, it could be a little different, because there’s just numbers, it’s more. But in um maybe in a science lesson or something like that, I think they just make connections instead of getting confused, and students are usually pretty um -once they feel confused, they usually blurt out like a question or something like that. So, I so far, I haven’t seen that I haven’t seen um I haven’t seen any of that other than the making connections [Okay.] to.
I: So, given that they are able to make connections, and they kind of get the whole understanding of it. Do you think that this is okay? The way that sh- you’re like, I guess the way that the teaching is going, or would you, I guess, try to fix it in any way. What are your thoughts on that?
P: [28:00] Um, my thoughts are that there is um a variety of instructions um that are possible for students. Um, for example we have the ESL program and then we have in this case, since it is a bilingual elementary, they have, like the dual language, where they usually can focus fifty/fifty in Spanish fifty in English. But I think based on the program and what the parents want for their students. That’s the way it should be taught, because there’s a lot of programs where the main goal is to completely get rid of their native language and to stay focused in the second language. They’re learning in this case, English. Um, [29:00] but then there is programs that want the student to maintain both languages without losing their Spanish. Um, and in in this classroom, at least from what the teachers, said she- the parents are very concerned at that their students that their children are losing their native language. So they’ve asked specifically the teacher to like help them with their Spanish, to not let them forget it. So, it just truly depends on what- I guess in this case, the parents want for their s- children.
I: Okay? Oh, perfect. Well, I think it’s great. The fact that they’re like expanding on these different programs just because, like, you said like given that like, you’re focusing mainly on bilingual with both of them. So, I think it’s great that they’re getting like an experience fifty/fifty on both.
P: Yes, and there’s um the programs. I mean, there’s, there, there’s a lot of programs. I mean, we have transitional bilingual [30:00] education which that one for sure uh wants to get rid of their first language, and then we have the developmental which that’s the goal to um to be fluent in both. So, their their native language stays in through the whole entire process and dual- then we have the dual language. We have the bilingual immersion um heritage language. There’s just a lot of programs that truly focus on what their main goal is. We also have usually the heritage one. It’s where um it can be up to college level. I mean, I can go on about examples and different programs. Medium language. It’s it’s just very interesting um when it comes to language. There’s a huge variety of things that people can do with their language if they want to keep it, if they want to remove it. If [31:00] they want to learn both if they want to learn a third language.
I: Yeah, it’s definitely something that’s just going to continue to grow and grow and I think it’s just going to have a lot of resources towards the end.
P: Yeah. Uh huh.
I: Um, okay, so we’re almost done, I just have a one more question for you, [Okay.] given that you are so close to the border, do you think that like it’s very beneficial for individuals to know both languages? Or do you think it’s okay they only know one language? What are your thoughts on that?
P: Um, I mean, I think that I mean, for the most part um people that are coming across the border, I think they should learn ther- the language that is spoken in this country, which is primarily English. [okay.] um, with the second highest being Spanish, of course. Um, but there [32:00] usually is a program for those people. And that’s the newcomer programs where they, these, these people usually have just arrived in the United States and their, their language goal is too learn enough English to be able to participate in the community, in the in their school, um and we’re talking about children obviously, in their school. If we’re talking about adults in their community you know, just for them to feel part of community. [Yeah.] So, I do think that it is important for them to try to learn it, the second language. Um, um, Yes, it’s harder for adults, obviously, but it’s not impossible and if they truly want to be part of the community and build a better life [33:00] for themselves. They should try to learn the second language.
I: Definitely. [Mhm.] Well awesome! Those are all the questions that I have for you.
I: Thank you so much for taking the time to sit down and conduct this interview with me. I truly appreciate it and have a wonderful day.
P: Thank you so much.
I: I’m going to go ahead and stop the recording. Now, Okay.
P: Perfect. Thank you. Have a good day.
[33:24]
New Mexico Border Spanish Corpus 