Student Language Award Winners

Global Village Academy Student Wins Bilingual Essay Contest, Shares His Powerful Story

Rowan Young Woelk, a proud student in the Mandarin Village at Global Village Academy Douglas County, has been named the elementary division winner of the Annual CO-CABE Proud to Be Bilingual Essay Contest! His inspiring essay explored the significance of bilingualism, highlighting how speaking Mandarin connects him to his birth culture and opens doors to new experiences.

In his essay, Rowan reflected on the challenges and rewards of becoming bilingual, emphasizing how learning Mandarin has strengthened his connection to his birth country and enhanced his daily life. He shared personal stories, including when he confidently spoke Mandarin at a Chinese restaurant and how his language skills have allowed him to help others at Chinese Heritage Camp and H-Mart.

Rowan has deepened his understanding of Chinese culture through his education at Global Village Academy by learning from his teachers, classmates, and the books he reads in class. His ability to speak Mandarin allows him to experience traditions firsthand, from celebrating festivals to trying authentic foods with friends.

Quoting linguist Frank Smith, Rowan wrote, "Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club – the community of speakers of that language." He expressed deep pride in being part of this global community, where his bilingual skills bridge cultures and create meaningful connections.

We are incredibly proud of Rowan for his dedication to language learning and well-deserved recognition. Congratulations, Rowan, on this outstanding achievement!

According to American University, only twenty percent of US citizens are bilingual.  Being part of that twenty percent makes me really proud.  Becoming bilingual has not been easy, but it is worth the work.  I am proud to speak Mandarin because it connects me to my birth-culture.  Speaking another language also helps me learn more about other cultures.

Being able to speak my birth language is very special because it was the language I was supposed to speak originally if I had not been adopted. It feels good to have a connection to both my birth country and also my home country.  It makes me glad when Chinese people know that I speak Mandarin. One time, at a Chinese restaurant I asked a waiter where the bathroom was, “厕所在哪里?” He told me where it was. It made me feel proud and it was useful.

It also makes me proud to learn my birth culture, which is easier to do if you speak the language. At my school,Global Village Academy, an immersion language school, I get to learn about my original culture because of my classmates and Chinese teachers. My teachers have taught me about Chinese festivals and holidays. One of my friends brings Chinese food like duck tongues and other things and shares them with me. I also learn about Chinese culture because of the Chinese books I read in class.  In addition to learning about culture at school, I attend Chinese Heritage Camp for Adoptive Families where I have learned Chinese jump rope, Kung Fu, and Chinese painting among other cultural activities. I feel more connected to all these things because I am bilingual, and I can understand the native language of the people presenting them.  

I like being bilingual because I can do something that most people cannot. At Heritage camp I can speak Chinese while most of the other kids are not able to.  One time at China camp, I helped a kid who mostly spoke Chinese with his roller skates. Another time I helped somebody understand the price of an item at the market there. At H-Mart, an Asian grocery store, I can read what the items are, while most of my family cannot. I can even watch the movie Shang-Chi and understand everything they are saying in both languages!

Being bilingual has helped me a lot. It lets me connect to my birth language and my birth culture, and it feels good to do something that most people cannot.  Frank Smith says, “Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club – the community of speakers of that language.” I am proud to be in a club in which l get to learn my birth culture and language.

美国大学说，在美国，百分之二十的人是双语。我是那百分之二十的人，我很高兴。双语是不简单。我很喜欢说双语.

        我出生在中国。 我喜欢中国的人知道我说中文。一次，我在一个中国餐馆， 我用中文问服务员 “厕所在哪儿?”， 然后他告诉我了。所以双语有用。

      我也喜欢说中文， 因为中文是我出生国家的语言。我也喜欢双语, 因为我可以做很多的人不可以做的事情。我很感谢我的爸爸和妈妈，他们让我可以说双语。可以说双语对我的帮助很大。

    我很骄傲，因为我可以说我出生国家的语言，我也可以学我出生国家的文化。

References

Housman, P. (2023). Multilingualism on Rise in US: Illusion or Reality? An interview with Assistant Professor of World Languages and Cultures Amelia T seng. American University.

BSC EDUCATION. (2024). Inspirational Quotes for Language Learners.  https://www.bsceducation.com/blog/inspirational-quotes-for-.