Native English Speaker?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hello all!
I have been wondering about this for a while now and I'm still not sure where I stand. I was born in Southern California to Mexican immigrant parents. My first language was Spanish but I soon learned English when I was 4 years old. I have been exposed to the language my entire life and it is my primary language now (the only person I speak Spanish with is my mother). Anyway, some out-of-state universities I have looked at ask non-native english speakers to prove proficiency in English. I guess if I have to take a test for it I would. Although, my concern is if I should claim myself as a non-native english speaker in the first place. I do see myself as bilingual since I speak both languages just fine, but am I not considered an English native speaker?</p>

2

<p>I am in the same exact position as you(except my native language is not Spanish). I put English as my native language on the common app. I feel it’s unnecessary to take the TOEFL if I have been in an English speaking school here in the USA for years. Also, my ACT English score should prove that I understand English. If anything, I am more fluent in English than my native language. If you feel as though taking the TOEFL is a waste of time, put English as your native language.
Nowadays, you do not have to be born in an English speaking country in order to be able to speak English well. Colleges need to realize this. My classmates in my African country could speak English more fluently than my classmates here in the US.
In fact(ironically), living in the US has made my English less “proper”.</p>

3

<p>I think most colleges actually require you to take the TOEFL if you didn’t go to an english speaking high school but since you spent most of your life in the US and probably attended an american high school, I guess it probably is unnecessary.</p>

4

<p>It’s a school-by-school thing but usually they say you don’t need TOEFL if you’ve gone to schools where English was the primary language of instruction for 4+ years.</p>

5

<p>If you’ve lived in America your whole life and you went to an English speaking high school, you do need to take the TOEFL. It’s primarily intended for international students (i.e. a student from China, educated in Chinese his entire life, wishing to study in the US).</p>

6

<p>I think you mean “you do not need to take the TOEFL”.</p>

7

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<p>Good eye!</p>

<p>10char</p>