Mary Vincent “Meleheti Latu”

Christina Salmon

English 538: Bilingualism

June 22, 2007

Born in Nuku’alofa, Tonga:

• “The Friendly Islands” – nicknamed by Captain Cook

• Constitutional Monarchy• The King of Tonga is very

respected.• Only monarchy in the South

Pacific • Was protected by the British, but

now independent• Tongan Pictures

Meleheti Latu

• One of 13 children who were all bilingual in Tongan and English

• Father knew English well, but her mother does not know much English.

• Most people in Tonga know English, but Tongan is the primary language used.

Education in Tonga

• Children are required to take one English class each year of school.

• Students take exams in English.• If the teacher is British or an

American, then class is conducted in English.

• Students pay tuition to attend high school and college.

• Tongans are very motivated to learn English, and there are few distractions.

• 98% Literacy Rate

Her Education

• Attended an all-female private high school, Queen Salote College

• Two years at a Teacher’s College

• Became a third grade teacher when she was 18 years old

• Taught for 4 years, including the English class

U.S. Peace Corps in Tonga

• Burton Vincent went to Tonga to develop information technology in 1976 with the United States Peace Corps.

• Mary was appointed his Tongan tutor.

• They fell in love and got married in Tonga. When Burton’s commitment to the Peace Corps was fulfilled, they returned to Harrington, Delaware.

A New Environment

• 22 years old in a foreign country

• She was mostly worried about understanding others and being understood.

• She was very trusting and adjusted well.

• Her new family made her feel very welcome.

New Experiences

• She had never seen snow before.

• Hair dryers scared her at first until she got used to them.

• She had never used an electric oven before.

• Having a baby shower was a very shocking and surprising experience too.

Speaking English in the U.S.

• Learning pronunciation of words was one of the most difficult parts of learning English.

• Remembering the different tenses was also a challenge.

----------------------------------------------------

• She thinks that immigrants in the United States should learn English, but still maintain their native language.

Dominant Language Today

• She thinks and dreams in English now. Her self-talk is in English also.

• She still prays in Tongan. Whenever she talks with her family members, it is in Tongan.

• She will sometimes tag-switch when speaking Tongan: I know, ok.

English Ability

• Speaks English fluently with an accent

• Sometimes switches pronouns (she, he)

• Not an avid reader of English

Using Tongan Now

• Now she thinks it is a good idea for children to learn another language. She regrets not teaching her children Tongan.

• All of her nieces and nephews are bilingual. She does not think they will teach their children Tongan unless they marry a fellow Tongan.

Mom Today

• She works in a daycare center, and she is very well-liked by the parents.

• She is very proud of her family, and she loves her life here in America.