In the article 'Mother Tongue', Amy Tan states that everyone has their own English but focuses on their own type of English. Amy focuses on how embarrassed she was that her mother couldn't speak the same English as everyone else around her. She grew up having to speak for her mother when people around her didn't understand her English. As she grew up, she began to realize that everyone, whether immigrants or Americans, has their own English. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay As a child from an immigrant family, I had the same experiences as Amy. I didn't think English was different for everyone. I grew up in a community where everyone spoke Spanish and English since we all stayed in the same groups, I didn't realize the differences. Once I grew up I started to notice that not everyone understood my parents, they had "broken" English so I had to talk/text them. I grew up embarrassed by the fact that my parents couldn't speak like other people, but now I understand that everyone comes from a different English. I know English is a general language, however, immigrants or Americans all have different types of accents when speaking. When I was a child, I was ashamed to speak Spanish in front of anyone. I thought I would be less of a person. I identify with Amy when she says, “I was ashamed of her English. I thought her English reflected the quality of what she had to say. (531) I grew up having to listen to my parents when trying to learn English. I understand now that it was probably worse for them than it will ever be for me, but having to speak for them when someone didn't understand was embarrassing. I wouldn't go out with them or bring any of my friends because when they talked it was broken. I didn't want people to think less of my family. Growing up speaking both Spanish and English makes me very fortunate, but it also comes with some disadvantages. I wouldn't talk much and I still don't because I'm very self-conscious about the way I talk. I know that when I speak it sounds almost the same as when others speak, but I still struggle to speak "proper" English. As Amy Tan explains: “Just last week, while walking down the street with her, I found myself conscious of the English I was using,…” (530). I notice that when I speak different English, that's what I notice and I don't like it. I want to know that people don't realize that when someone speaks they sound different, especially if they come from the same community as you. When I speak in Spanish, I don't feel as embarrassed because I know that if I'm wrong, my family will correct it, but when I speak English, I don't have the same support. I really need to think before I speak; especially when I come from an immigrant family, I don't want to look stupid. As I've gotten older, I think I've become a little wiser. I got out of the phase of my parents embarrassing me and started feeling proud that I didn't speak "perfect" English. Amy described many types of English that came not only from her mother but also from her. “The English I spoke to my mother, ... described as “simple”; the English she used with me,... described as “broken”; my translation from its Chinese,... described as “watered down”; and what I imagined to be his translation from his Chinese though..