When I think of the diversity of this state, I can't help but think, "How can we have such weak language programs in our schools?" You cannot walk through the streets of Manhattan without hearing several different languages. I understand that, according to Henry Hitchings' book, 'The Language Wars: A History of Proper English', the language of the future seems to be English. It is studied worldwide and serves as the lingua france of business and popular culture. It is used widely in areas of shipping, diplomacy, computing, medicine and education. But recent research uncovers, one's native language is associated with tradition, home, religion, culture, school, arts and social sciences. What I found so fascinating about Hitchings' book was that holding on to one's native language is likened to the behavior of an environmentalist: the more English occupies the space of other languages people are like activists trying to preserve their mother tongue. This is the tongue that speaks to your heart, your family, your religion, your culture, etc. How do we preserve such a garden of babel? What steps do we take in New York to support this unique quilt of languages?

My New Documentary

So, I began with the question, "With all the many languages spoken in New York State, why aren't we the most successful in foreign language studies?" Why are we not applying and sharing the multilingual and multicultural knowledge around us? Is it a financial decision to teach so few languages at such a late age to our children? Or is it a bias that we have towards other languages? How political is speaking English? Or maybe it's how we interpret accents. I grew up in a bilingual home. My parents are from Ecuador. My mother always spoke in Spanish to us, my father usually English. My mother is a brilliant woman, top of her class and an incessant reader. With knowledge in most areas that sometimes left her professors in awe. Yet, she always had a strong accent when she spoke English. Even as a child growing up a very homogenous white community in the suburbs, I aware that her accent was seen as if she didn't understand English. Growing up in a bilingual home gave me a unique perspective on this country. I too, wanted to fit in like most children. No one around me looked like me or had a name as different as Carmen. I often thought about what was considered beautiful and there were no latin beauties on popular television shows. I often talk to my students about the foods I ate growing up. I never invited anyone to eat over. I was afraid they wouldn't like some of the staples, such as, the plantains, rice and beans. Things have changed considerably since the 60s. Hey, we have Shakira and J-Lo and the Food Network does highlight latin cuisine. But in so many other ways so little has changed. Which is why I need to do this documentary on the current views of foreign language studies in New York State.