<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>I'm on the Demographics section of the CommonApp, at the part that says:</p>
<p>"Please list all languages in which you are proficient, including English. Use the check boxes to indicate your level of proficiency." </p>
<p>For each language listed, the CommonApp asks if it's one's "First Language."</p>
<p>Now, I was born in China and lived there for five years - Chinese was obviously the first language I learned. However, at this point, even though my spoken/written Chinese is very good, my English is without a doubt better by a long shot. I've never been clear on the legal definition of a "first language," and as such am unsure as to whether I should check English, Chinese, or both as my "First Language(s)" </p>
<p>What do you all think?</p>
<p>First language = language spoken in household/neighborhood when you first learned to speak. You only have multiple ones if you grew up in a multilingual household. Chinese is your first language. Same way that many Hispanics spoke Spanish as children (first language) but now speak better English than Spanish.</p>
<p>“First language” is defined as the language that you learn during your critical period.</p>
<p>I’m in a similar situation as you. I immigrated to the United States when I was 2 or 3 years old, and while the very first language I learned was my native language, I quickly forgot it as I was thrown into American preschools and eventually the public school system. English is the first language that I learned to speak fluently and not baby-talk. Plus, to be fair, my parents speak more English at home than our native language…</p>
<p>So just put English.</p>