THREAD 1/11 Hey, I’m 35 and today was my first day of school! I enrolled in a Spanish for Heritage Speakers class at my local community college bc I always felt ashamed que hablé como un gringo! I learned that my 30 Latinx classmates & I experienced bilingualism in a unique way.

THREAD 2/11 - As a function of our home life and the outside world where English is the dominant language, we had varied opportunities to develop our Heritage Language. As a result, some of us understand Spanish but only feel comfortable responding in English.

THREAD 3/11- Some of us grew up hearing and speaking Spanish but only until school started and we were required to focus on English. Some of us grew up with both languages simultaneously. Each of these experiences resulted in a different degree of fluency.

THREAD 4/11 - As a result, we were required to code-switch constantly in an attempt to communicate both at home and in the outside world. Additionally, there were expectations from our families, communities, and the outside world for our bilingualism to take a particular shape.

THREAD 5/11 - Read: the expectation was that bilingualism meant you were perfectly fluent in each language and if you weren’t, you were somehow less Latinx or less American. I bring this up because I know a lot of Latinx writers (and writers of other backgrounds) who struggle

THREAD 6/11 to feel culturally legitimate, particularly in this era where we’re finally beginning to celebrate diversity. So I wanted to take a moment to shout out to all my Heritage Speakers (of any language!)Your bilingual diversity (or lack thereof) is PART of your experience!

THREAD 7/11 - It’s part of the immigrant experience, the 1st gen experience, the 2nd gen experience and so on. It’s part of being mixed, it’s part of being adopted, it’s part of YOUR experience and it is valid no matter what anyone says.

THREAD 8/11 - Gloria Anzaldúa said in HOW TO TAME A WILD TONGUE “Until I take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself. Until I can accept as legitimate Chicano Texas, Tex-Mex, and all the other languages I speak, I cannot accept the legitimacy of Myself...

THREAD 9/11: Until I am free to write bilingually and to switch codes without having always to translate, while I still have to speak English or Spanish when I would rather speak Spanglish, and as long as I have to accommodate the English speakers...”

THREAD 10/11: “...rather than having them accommodate me, my tongue will be illegitimate.” Don’t let anyone make you feel illegitimate. Because whatever your experience with your Heritage Language, it reflects your experience as a human. Be proud, because it tells YOUR story.

THREAD 11/11: And if you decide it’s important to YOU to acquire new language skills, you are never too old to learn! And don’t be afraid to speak or not speak, and don’t be ashamed own whichever is your truth. Todos nuestros experiencias son importantes, especiales, y legítimas.