The Tongue that Could Not Speak

I grew up in a single-language home, English. I learned as I grew that speaking English as a first language has many perks. For one, lots of countries teach English as a second language. I was then able to talk with many unique people in my lifetime. A lot of them were broken conversations and us trying to understand each other, but it was fun. Those conversations stuck with me and changed me. It got me wanting to experience other languages, cultures, and seek connections with people all over the world.

But it could have been easier. I might have grown up English-speaking, but I could have been bilingual. My mom grew up with a French-speaking father and a mother who could speak both. This was not passed down to their children, and, in turn, I missed my chance. It never bothered me as a child or teen. I never understood the power language has. I am an adult now with a passion for words, language, and storytelling. The possibilities I have missed out on due to this one generational misstep causes me to wonder. Where would I be if I had learned both?

I am a mom now, and this very issue has come up. In Canada, being fluent in English and French is a huge bonus. It can help my children get better-paying jobs if they choose that path in life. So, I have chosen to send them to a school that will teach them one language, and I will teach them the other at home. The whole family is in on it now. My grandparents are speaking French to my children to help their knowledge grow. My son is also learning ASL because he is interested in languages and has been since he was a little tyke.

I hope to teach my children that language is a way to connect with more people. The power of words is a way a gateway to new opportunities and adventures. My son told me one day that words are not just from our mouth, they come from our whole body. The truest words and he’s only 5.