Vaquero Voice

“Learning a language is really important because, not only are you able to communicate with more people effectively, but also it helps to open up and activate different parts of your brain that allow it to communicate better within itself. There’s studies done where bilingual students have an easier time making connections because they have a whole other language that they speak. So, there are different parts of the brain that are activated when you switch back and forth between languages. … And so, brain structure is really benefited, not from being bilingual or multilingual, not just your ability to communicate, so it is a very important skill to pick up. Especially if you’re down here in the [Rio Grande] Valley, for example, where we have many people who speak either English or Spanish or a variety of other languages. So, being able to communicate with them is important. Being able to promote healthier and more complex brain structure is also very, very important.” 

“It’s pretty important, it’s useful for future needs or if you ever need to help someone. Or, like I said, for future needs like a résumé or a new job. Like in my case, if I want to be a teacher, it is useful because I could be a bilingual teacher.” 

“I think it is significant to learn a new language so, that way, you can help others, whether that be translating for children, parents. It’s very important because a lot of people have a voice and it’s significant to understand that language and tone of voice, so that way, you can translate it into what is wanting to be said, because, sadly, others understand a language just like Spanish speakers understand English and English speakers can understand Spanish. So, it’s very important to help the other person feel strong and confident that you’re transferring the message correctly.”

“Yo creo que es importante aprender otro lenguaje como el español. En esta area geografica como es el valle es muy importante saber español porque hay que romper las barreras sociales. … Hay personas que están aquí y no se sienten comodas porque hay personas que no saben español y hay que hacer que todas las personas se sientan unidas porque al final del dia nada más somos una raza, la raza humana y hay que amar a todos nuestros hermanos y hermanas del mundo”