Response#9

I think my L1 (Spanish) is a more emotional language for me. It is a lot easier for me to express love or hate in my L1. I think it has to do with the way I grew up. I feel that I find more words in Spanish to express emotion--my English falls short when I have to express too many feelings.
I see that as students begin to acquire the L2, for the most part when something very emotional happens they return to their L1 to express themselves. Again I think it has to do with finding the words.
When I got married to my husband who does not speak Spanish, I felt like I was having to learn more English. Sometimes I couldn't find the words to say--I've been speaking English most of my life but yet in Laredo where I grew up, I could always say a word in Spanish here or there and not have to worry about not being understood. Since then, I've had to work on my self to improve my L2 and better communicate with all. Coming out of a culture like the one in Laredo to one here in San Antonio or even Orlando where I lived for a couple of years can be a real language culture shock, it was for me.