Being a student from UofT I think we are all familiar with the concept of being bilingual. It affects our lives in many ways including our speech patterns, studying styles, behaviours and interactions with other people. This article will provide you with just a snapshot of the perks and quirks of being bilingual.
1. Basics
Let’s start with the most obvious one. Either your first language was not English or you had to learn another language for education e.g. people who learnt French for going to Montreal.
2. Confidence
It makes you feel superior to others even if you don’t admit it to yourself. A reason why international students of UofT must feel special!
3. Relief
You were very relieved after a few months of learning the second language. It is hard to understand the language at first but when you get the gist of it, it is all good.
4. Swearing
When you are in public and someone pisses you off, you can always talk in your native language so that this certain person doesn’t know what you are talking about.
5. Relay of information
Sometimes you have a weird way of combining the two languages to convey information.
6. Pride
Your family back home country are always impressed because you know a second language.But also because you go to UofT.
7. Mystery
Sometimes when you talk to yourself, people look up and ask ‘’what language are you speaking?’’.
8. Helpfulness
Referring to the last line, this means that you can help your cousins with their homework.
9. Secrets
You can write out your feelings or secrets in a notebook anytime because people around you won’t be able to understand it.
10. Funny
You are used to people staring when you talk to your mom.
11. Exotic
Your accent has become a mix of both languages also classified as the ‘’international accent’’. This is common in UofT too.
12. Confusion
Sometimes you interrogate yourself and ask which language you know better.
13. Hardship
Sometimes when you are asked to translate some certain phrases or words, you just can’t because there are no equivalent words to convert it to.
14. Geeky
When you read a text for class, you tend to make notes in the other language with which you are more comfortable.
15. Awkward
It is always awkward when you are out with your friends and you get a call from your parents.
16. Forgetful
Some of us end up forgetting our native language as we live overseas. It all returns back to normal during summer though.
17. Money
You also get confused with money during travels. How many Euros is $5? I guess being bilingual affects math too.
18. Bad skills in linguistics
I don’t know if this is true for everyone but in my experience, being bilingual and taking linguistics is a terrible combination.
19. Inadequate pronunciation
You might be fluent in the second language but might have problems pronouncing words.
20. Unique
Lastly, you know that being bilingual can make life a bit complicated, but you wouldn’t like it any other way because it makes you who you are.
