Growing up, going back and forth from China to the U.S. each year seemed as normal as going to class when the school year started. I do not clearly remember many thing during my toddler years, but I am often told that Chinese was my first language and I struggled learning and becoming proficient in English. From the start of Elementary school to 4th grade, I was labeled as ESL (English Second Language) and was required to take supplementary English classes. It was not until later on that I understood what those classes were and how I was among only a few in my year who required such classes. It seems odd that my English skills were behind my peers, especially since just like them, I was born in the U.S. and attended school here. I suppose the reason was while my parents were busy at work, I was taken care of by my maternal grandmother who only spoke Mandarin Chinese. Through my grandmother, whom I call laolao, I was influenced by the Chinese culture. Everything from language, to fairytales, to my yearly visits to China; I experienced what it was to be Chinese. I felt as if I was not just American, but also Chinese. Being able to speak fluent Chinese made it so I felt like I belonged no matter where I go as long as I bump into another Chinese speaker.

I also want to write about Chinese New Year, the closeness and familiarity with other Chinese people, and how easy it is to make friends and joke around.

• maybe write about how I like to draw and how I read Chinese books that have been translated to English and how I watch asian dramas and enjoy asian music, and anime.

Outline:

Starting sentence: I do not clearly remember many thing during my toddler years, but I am often told that Chinese was my first language and I struggled learning and becoming proficient in English.

• give explanation why and how I got better at English

I was taken care of by my maternal grandmother who only spoke Mandarin Chinese. Through my grandmother, whom I call laolao, I was influenced by the Chinese culture.

• talk about how from laolao, I was exposed and experienced to Chinese culture and often traveled with her to China.

Being able to speak fluent Chinese made it so I felt like I belonged no matter where I go as long as I bump into another Chinese speaker.

• explain and then talk more about how being Chinese is a part of my identity.

My plan for my audio essay to talk about how my story is about how I was not proficient in English in Elementary school because I was influenced by my Chinese background and spoke mostly Chinese at home. After introducing that detail, I plan to talk about how I often traveled to China and was exposed to Chinese culture from that and my Chinese family members. My story is really about how after that I want to say how because of my ability to speak Chinese, I feel like I relate and can easily become friends with other Chinese speaking people in both China and the U.S. Being able to cross over that language barrier brings many opportunities as well as a feeling of familiarity and closeness with other Chinese people no matter where you are.

What I need to work on:

• go in more in depth about my growth and struggles in the beginning with English
• Connect with benefits with knowing both English and Chinese
• More details about not doing good in English/ experience with it.