Pre-Reading Assignment: Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue”

Objective: Before reading Mother Tongue, familiarize yourself with key vocabulary and ideas to help you understand the essay’s themes and language more deeply.

Part 1: Vocabulary and Collocations

Below are 15 vocabulary words taken from or relevant to Mother Tongue. For each word or phrase, write a definition in your own words.

Word / Collocation

Definition (Your Own Words)

Mother tongue

Linguistic

Englishes

Native language

Language barrier

Broken English

Fluent

Perception

Stereotype

Cultural identity

Language discrimination

Academic vs. informal language

Part 2: Pre-Reading Questions

Answer the following in a few sentences each:

1. What do you think the phrase “mother tongue” means beyond just language?

2. Have you ever had to explain or translate something for a family member or friend? What was that experience like?

3. Do you think the way someone speaks English can affect how others treat them? Why or why not?

4. Why might someone feel embarrassed or proud of the way their family speaks a language?

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