Horizons magazine is published by Presbyterian Women (PW) the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Issue link: http://horizons.epubxp.com/i/521232
May/June 2015 17 descriptions on job offering websites. For example, the median basic salary is one third less for offerings that spec- ify Spanish required, versus the median basic salary for offerings that do not mention Spanish. 6 In my experiences in the U.S., Spanish has been given low priority. Though I am Puerto Rican, I spent my childhood in New York City and went to public schools from kinder- garten through fifth grade. When my elder sister entered first grade, her teacher discouraged my parents from speaking Spanish at home, saying it would confuse my sister and impede her developing English. After that, my father always spoke English at home, while my mother continued speaking Spanish. Personally, I do not remem- ber ever having spoken Spanish in my life until my brother, my sister and I returned to live in Puerto Rico and I learned to speak the language I had completely forgotten. Advantages of Multilingualism People who know more than one lan- guage tend to be more flexible, able to see things from more than one point of view. When you study a new lan- guage, you also learn about the culture and history of the country (or coun- tries) where it is used, if you want to really understand the language. You see other ways to look at things. While a roster crowing in English says "Cock-a doodle-do," in Spanish it says "Qui-qui-ri-qui" (key-key-re-key). Spanish has a word for the time when the food is finished, but everyone stays at the table, talking: sobremesa. The brain loves it. Every time you switch between languages, you exercise your brain. Your brain uses different connections to find the cor- rect word. Speaking a second lan- guage helps delay the onset of dementia, perhaps because of the activity across the brain. 7 You are able to communicate more easily with people who speak that language. Using the language shows your respect and appreciation for the other's language because it took time and lots of effort to learn. A second language can open up a wonderful world of experiences, knowledge, music and literature. It has for me. I travel on the wings of inspira- tion to the forest when I read Robert Frost's "Two roads diverged in a yel- low wood . . ." or recite from Pablo Neruda, winner of the 1971 Nobel Prize for Literature, "Puedo escribir los versos más tristes esta noche . . ." ("I can write the saddest poem of all tonight"). I can enjoy both Adele's and Luis Miguel's soulful songs. I meet God through the King James' English and the Reina Valera Spanish translations of the Bible. Coming back to live in Puerto Rico gave me the opportunity to get to know my culture and learn my native language, to see its rich history and contributions to the world. The United States is strong because it was formed by people from many nations who each brought their own talents and dreams. And new immi- grants continue to bring their talents and dreams. To open our arms to Every ti e you switch between l ngu ges, you exercise your br in. Your br in uses different connections to find the correct word. Spe king second l ngu ge helps del y the onset of de enti , perh ps bec use of the ctivity cross the br in.