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Language Acquisition Autobiography

William Quiros

Los Angeles Pacific University

ENGL 420: Principles of language

Dr. Rankin Gonzalez

March 21, 2022

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Language Acquisition Autobiography

Thinking back about my childhood over 35 - 40 years ago has been a great challenge.

Although it hasn't been easy to remember so long ago, I have had the opportunity to engage,

reflect and have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the two languages that I have

acquired and have tried to improve in my life. The challenges that I found early on and juggling

two languages at the same time was something that I thought was normal. I thought everyone

spoke two languages. In contemplation of the earliest memories of phonology, language

acquisition, and the effect that it has on people and their scholastic aptitude. Will help gain

insight in the importance of language and literacy.

Earliest memories of spoken and written language

The earliest memory I can recall is my mother teaching me to pronounce “Papi” which is

daddy in Spanish. I believe she was changing my diaper and she kept repeating the “Papi”

repeatedly and I remember my lips moving trying to mimic her mouth. According to Admin

(2016) mentions that in years 1 through 2 the child can pronounce the following sounds in words

p, b, m, n, t and d (para. 3). I'm thinking that those first words that I used in Spanish were around

3 or 4. I was way off. Luckily, I spoke to my mother, and she mentioned that I said my first

words Before I could even walk. So, we extrapolated about 1 year old. Jumping to about 5 years

old I remember looking out a window to see older kids playing below. I was too small to play,

and I would yell out the window to get their attention and would say “Shea meng! Shea meng! ”

which meant shut up man! To this day I asked my father and my mother where I picked those

words up and they have no idea. I might have been in the second grade, but I remember writing

the year 1985 because the teacher had corrected me. I also remember getting yelled at by my
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sixth-grade teacher Mr. Kerbow Because my handwriting was horrible and no matter how much I

would write it would not get any better. My family at home would always speak Spanish and

between my sister and I we would speak English in our shared room. At the dinner table or

anywhere else around the house we would speak Spanish. My mother and father never really

encouraged us to read books, but my mother went out of her way to teach us how to read and

write Spanish. As I was learning to read and write in Spanish I was simultaneously learning to

read and write English and I was inadvertently applying, adjusting, and refining both languages.

The connection and feelings toward English language acquisition

I feel that the loving care that my mother took to teach me everything she knew about

Spanish. Which was surprisingly a tremendous amount. I was able to reflect that directly onto

English and have a deeper appreciation of what I was learning. I can remember at a young age

translating for my father at the hardware store. Or translating for my mother at the clothing or

grocery store. While simultaneously writing down information in Spanish and gathering

information in English. It would challenge my English language acquisition skills whenever I

would interact with my family and the world around me. If I didn't understand or was not able to

translate a word for my mother and father. I would give the description in English of the words

that I did not know to figure out the morphology of the word that I'm trying to translate. After

explaining this to the English-speaking adult, they would give me the correct word to pronounce

and the morphology. I would write it down and memorize and practice every chance I could.

During my middle school years, I really started to focus on my syntax free English language

acquisition. I think it is because of my early exposure to languages that trying to find the correct

syntax to be able to properly convey something in the English language. It is something that I
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have strived my best to accomplish. While simultaneously trying to do the same thing in the

Spanish language. Even though Spanish is not as syntax dependent as English is. I find myself

adding an additional layer to multiple language acquisition. Understanding Spanish is more

conjugation based rather than syntax based as English is to give meaning to words. I am

constantly asking my mother and my father to correct my Spanish in case I mispronounce

something as a continual reminder. I always felt inspired by my father. He is a builder, a

fabricator, a tool and die maker. Because I spend so much time helping him translate different

tooling words into English and showing him how to pronounce them. It gave me the confidence

and courage to pursue a similar career in engineering as a project manager in an architectural

firm. I would end up applying the same English language acquisition techniques that I used to

translate to Spanish and back to English as the inspiration to all my career goals. Including the

current 1 of becoming a special education teacher.

The impact of early language exposure to us as humans and students

The importance of early language exposure to humans it's critical. I think it personally

has helped me cognitively, speak, understand, read, and write two different languages. According

to Yule (2017), “Long before a child starts school, he or she has become an extremely

sophisticated language-user, operating a system for self-expression and communication that no

other creature, or computer, comes close to matching." (p. 190). At a young age we are like a

sponge ready to absorb all information given to us no matter what language whether it would be

one or multiple. Having the capacity to understand multiple languages at a young age. gives you

the opportunity to expand your mind with twice the capacity of what is absorbed since

everything is being learned in two different languages. The other plus of being fluent in two
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languages makes anyone a very hirable candidate in the open market. I can see that clearly in my

life as I am living proof of the very aforementioned. I have been blessed with the opportunity to

be able to take on two professional careers in my life. One as a project manager and the other as

a future special education teacher.

Conclusion

English Language Acquisition at an early age is an extremely critical and important

knowledge to have. In contemplation of the earliest memories of phonology, language

acquisition, and the effect that it has on people and their scholastic aptitude. Will help gain

insight in the importance of language and literacy. Having the understanding early on of

language acquisition and especially multiple languages can provide a tremendous advantage in

the work environment, socially, and for personal growth. If everyone spoke multiple languages

there would be a higher appreciation, I've not only other cultures, but people of all walks of life.

If more people in society embraced multilingual speaking. Everyone would be better for it. not

only cognitively but emotionally and on a personal level. Although knowing a second language

can be a great asset. It is critically more important to improve the one you already know.
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References

Admin, K. S. W. (2016, November 29). Speech Sounds Development Chart. Kid Sense Child

Development.

https://childdevelopment.com.au/resources/child-development-charts/speech-sounds-deve

lopmental-chart/

Yule, G. (2017). The study of language. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.