Bilingualism is a complex and dynamic experience that shapes how individuals communicate, learn, and engage with the world around them. While many bilingual children develop language skills successfully, misconceptions about bilingual language development may sometimes lead to unnecessary concern about speech or language delays. To better understand bilingualism from a lived perspective, this interview highlights the experiences of Justin, a bilingual speaker of Mandarin and English who began learning English in early childhood after being raised in a Mandarin-speaking household. Through his reflections, Justin offers valuable insight into early language exposure, schooling, cultural influences, and common misunderstandings surrounding bilingual development—providing important considerations for families, educators, and speech-language pathologists.
Early Language Experience
- What was your experience like growing up bilingual in Mandarin and English?
- “I was born in China and raised in a Mandarin-speaking family. I started learning English at the age of five with an American teacher. I continued learning English in my middle school.”
- Did you feel more comfortable in one language over the other at different stages of your development?
- “I do constantly feel that using Mandarin would be a lot more comfortable than using a language. My proficiency in the two languages was unequal in my early years, which fostered the habit of using Mandarin over English. It’s true that I have grown more comfortable using English over the years, but I have not reached a level beyond Mandarin.”
- Were there moments when others misunderstood your language abilities or assumed you had a delay?
- “Yes. I had a problem with my hearing and Ankyloglossia. Thus, I do not speak as clearly in any language as others. But fortunately, it has nothing to do with my cognitive ability.
Langauge Development and Schooling
- How did your bilingualism affect your experience in school, especially in early grades?
- “Not really, it only gave me better grades in English tests.”
- Did teachers or peers ever comment on your speech or language use in ways that made you feel different?
- “I’ve received compliments on my English proficiency in middle school. But I do not think there is a moment my bilingualism made me feel different in a malicious way.”
- Were you ever assessed for speech or language support? If so, how was your bilingualism considered?
- “I realized I need language support, but since the problem does not affect me so much, I did not go for it. When I was preparing for the speaking part of the TOEFL test, my teacher told me that my consonant pronunciation and my tongue movements were not correct. My tongue’s condition made it hard to use the right position to speak when I started learning English, but this situation was much less severe for my Chinese. I do not know the reason that leads to the discrepancy, though.”
Cultural and Family Influence
- How did your family support your development in both languages?
- “My parents are good at English, and they have experience living abroad or working in jobs that require high English proficiency. Thus, they helped me with English a lot at home. And of course, we speak Mandarin more at home.”
- Were there any cultural expectations around language use at home versus in public or school settings?
- “I heard complaints about Chinese students speaking too much Chinese with each other at school. It’s interesting since it seems like a phenomenon exclusively belonging to Chinese students. Also, since the cultural background of students is more diverse here, I guess using English as an expectation does make sense in school and in public. By contrast, it would be strange for me to speak English with my parents under daily circumstances.”
Perspective on Bilingualism
- What do you think are the biggest misconceptions people have about bilingual children’s language development?
- “I think the biggest misconception is to assume that their proficiency in all languages is the same. There are a lot of bilingual children who do not start learning both languages at the same time or with the same intensity. Many of them do have a preference for one language. But don’t get me wrong, there are children who master several languages at the same level, and may be comfortable with all of them.”
- How do you feel bilingualism has benefited you cognitively, socially, or professionally?
- “It’s a huge help for me to know more people, to get better grades, and have more learning opportunities because of bilingualism. Also, I think it helped me learn new languages, like French in my case.”
- What advice would you give to parents raising bilingual children who may worry about speech or language delays?
- “It does take more time for bilingual children to learn both languages well since it takes more time. However, children learn about languages at a speed that we can never understand. Just give them patience, and the benefit of bilingualism will certainly outweigh the short-term development delays.”
- What other languages do you speak?
- “I also speak French.”
- What do you think SLPs should understand when working with bilingual clients?
- “They should not only consider clients’ development in one language. A more comprehensive test needs to be run on these clients to find out the complete situation.”
Justin, bilingual in Mandarin and English
Justin’s experiences illustrate that bilingualism is not a uniform or linear process, but rather one shaped by timing of exposure, cultural context, physical factors, and individual characteristics. His story challenges possible misconceptions that bilingual children must demonstrate equal proficiency across all languages and highlights the importance of viewing language development holistically. Justin’s bilingualism journey supported his academic success, social connections, and ability to learn additional languages. His insights emphasize the value of patience, culturally responsive expectations, and comprehensive assessment when working with bilingual individuals. For parents and professionals alike, this interview reinforces that bilingualism is a long-term asset, and when supported appropriately, its benefits are astounding.
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-HANNA MOELLER, Illinois State University, Senior Research and Marketing Intern
-NICOLE BUTLER, M.S., CCC-SLP/L (ASHA Certified and licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Founder and Executive Director of Speech Within Reach.)
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