Why Does It Matter - The Relative Advantages of Learning My Language

Read any story that we haven't read yet and write a review of the story and explain why it matters. Why should anyone care about the story/read it?


This story is all about a Chinese girl who learns to speak Chinese at a young age. She lives in Australia where she attends a school where everyone speaks English, she watches T.V. which is in English and all of her friends speak English to her. She sees no point in speaking Chinese anymore so stops thus she can no longer communicate with her Chinese grandfather. He unfortunately dies and then later on in her life she decides to start learning Chinese again and she states ''The next time a old person wants to speak Chinese to me I am not only willing but able."


This is a very good story and reflects the multiculturalism of Australia but the problem is this girl thought there was no point speaking Chinese in this country. She thought it wouldn't help her and there was no point of being able to speak a language that is not spoken in the country she is living in.  


The story also reflects the regret she had no being able to spend much time with her grandfather as she gave up on speaking Chinese. By re learning the language and being able to speak it to her mother is very good as she realises that being able to speak two languages is a good thing a privilege to be able to do. Also then she won't regret not being able to communicate with her mother in Chinese. It can also help her in later life getting a job or if she moves to China she at least knows how to speak the language fluently. 


What is also very important in this story is the change of her attitude when learning the language. At first she saw no point and didn't want to continue to learn it but then later in life she realises the importance of family thus re learning the language so she can share it and speak to her parents no that her grandfather had passed on. In life today teenagers ain't very appreciative in having their grandparents but as they get older they realise the importance and privilege they have in having grandparents and importunately by then it is too late for most people. This links back to her attitude towards her grandfather when she was young as she didn't appreciate having him around and then after when he passed on and she got a bit older she regrets this and now wants to share what she has with her mother. She now talks to her mother in public in Chinese which I think is a big change in attitude and this is a positive thing.