Where Hannah Writes

As a langauge teacher, I spend more time than most people explaining the importance of learning another language. There are certain benefits to language learning that are commonly recognized and frequently cited.  Learning a language can ease travel experiences during international vacations, allowing you to order food, hail a cab, and find a bathroom with confidence. Being bilingual may result in a greater income or increase your options in the job market.  Learning a language is a good brain workout. The effect that language learning has on the brain is not unlike the effect that exercise has on the muscles. I do not intend to diminish these financial, travel, and intellectual benefits. I want my students to know that being bilingual can help them get a job, and I support brain exercise.  But learning another language  is so much deeper and fuller than these surface level benefits.  Why does language learning really  matter? Learning a language is v...

Hispanic Heritage Month begins tomorrow. It lasts from Septemer 15th to October 15th and the Independence Days of Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua all occur during Hispanic Heritage Month. Texas, California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming were all part of Mexico prior to 1836 and 1848, and according to the Census Bureau, there are approximately 60 million Hispanic people in the United States. Before it the month begins, I want to address the question that someone may be thinking:  Why isn't there a month for white people? It's not fair that there is a month for African American and Hispanic people and no month for white people. As a child, I remember asking my parents why there isn't a "Kid's Day". I reasoned that "Kid's Day" should be a national holiday, just like Mother's Day and Father's Day. My parents explained to me that every day was "Kid'...