Confused;U.S citizen and my native language

Parents Forum
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<p>@ sybbie719:
This thing is very confusing to me because i know my younger brother was in ESL and he too was born here. However, i’m not too sure if i was ever in ESL(probably was?). Is there a way for me to find out if i was? And if it turns out i was in ESL before but now i’m no longer a ESL student, does that mean i still have to take the TOEFL for Stonybrook University?</p>

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<p>Yeah, I do speak, write and read english everyday so yeah.</p>

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<p>I read somewhere that a combination of the non-English first language and a high English portion of the SAT score is viewed very favorably by some colleges as an indication of your ability to learn. Also, it is very possible to be born in the US and have a different first language and don’t even start learning English until pre-K. I know multiple examples.</p>

<p>My own two Ds, born and raised in this country, started to speak English when they went to pre-K despite the TV programs and cartoons they were watching. We speak our native language at home. My H and I are quite fluent in English, both of us have professional level jobs that require extensive oral and written communication, but at home we speak mostly our native language. Our kids are bilingual, they can speak, read and write both languages, but are more comfortable and more literate using English. They are also speak exclusively non-English with their grandparents.</p>

<p>My older D used to complain that she doesn’t need her native language until she went to HS, where this language was not offered (she took it in her middle school), and she had to start studying Spanish instead. HUGE difference, and she HATED it.</p>

<p>Now she is at U, and despite the fact that she has passed two foreign language Regents exams (her native language and Spanish) and does not have FL requirements for her degree, she is taking reading and writing classed in her first language. I guess she realized that it is useful.</p>

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<p>You can ask your GC. If you go to a NYC public high school, they can look at your test scores through ATS. In addition, if you hav not tested out the school would have to provide you with ESL services. In my experience, I have never had a student who has passed the NYSELAT (which is administered by the state),have to take the TOEFL for SUNY (if asked, you can just get a print out of your scores).</p>

<p>If SUNY has any problems, they ask you to submit an English proficiency report which can be filled out at your school</p>

<p><a href=“https://www.suny.edu/student/downloads/Pdf/FSA-3-a4.pdf[/url]”>https://www.suny.edu/student/downloads/Pdf/FSA-3-a4.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>SUNY also has a number of Intensive English Programs to support students who may not be proficient in english </p>

<p><a href=“https://www.suny.edu/student/international_esl.cfm[/url]”>https://www.suny.edu/student/international_esl.cfm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Stony Brook’s basic skills requirements</p>

<p><a href=“http://sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/bulletin/current/policiesandregulations/degree_requirements/entryskills.php[/url]”>http://sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/bulletin/current/policiesandregulations/degree_requirements/entryskills.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Well there you go, save yourself the trouble.</p>

<p>I don’t know if this warrants a bunch of analysis. Also if you would be uncomfortable or it would take you longer writing a college level research paper in your parent’s language then you have your answer. I certainly know my parents didn’t “worry” about which box to check, they never spoke English until dropped off to kindergarten and there were no “special classes” for ESL and they never looked back - they were Americans and they spoke English. I highly doubt the universities cared much about their proficiency at the language their parents spoke. It was a different age but, we tend to over analyze things these days, ESL is great don’t get me wrong it eases the assimilation, but people generally know which language they are most comfortable in, even when they are truly bilingual.</p>

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<p>@ newstudentmom: Yeah, my English portion of the SAT is pretty low and i thought maybe if i put English is not my native language then I would be an exception?</p>

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<p>@sybbie710: Thank you! (:</p>

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<p>If i was in ESL that means my native language is not English…</p>

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<p>Oh good heavens, if you are trying to figure out which angle you want to play I have no opinion.</p>

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<p>lilme~ I think your true question is : what would look better on my college applications?</p>

<p>Well, this is a double edge sword answer! If you put non-native —>you may have to take the TOEFL as many mentioned here above. Which is not an easy task!
If you put native, then your SAT scores are low and you may have to explain that in your essay or in the section that ask you if another language is spoken at home.</p>

<p>Just know that there is nothing special about your profile and your bilingual home, so I would try to focus my application on something else :slight_smile:
Good Luck to you!</p>