Letter to Denton Record Chronicle published 8-19-18

So, I wrote an answer to Ramiro Valdez’ essay titled “What makes me look like I don’t speak English,” published in the Denton Record Chronicle on Sunday 8-19-18. It turns out that it’s not only gringos that judge a person by looks: it’s everybody, and by the looks of it, it’s not going to change anytime soon. Get used to it Mr. Valdez. Also, it’s worth mentioning that here in Texas when someone wants to know if you are bilingual, they are really asking if you speak Spanish. The fact that a person might not be bilingual by virtue of speaking three or more languages is not ever considered. Being fluent in four languages, by the way, the minimum requirement to get hired as a concierge in any hotel in Paris, Frankfurt or Brussels and doubtless most hotels in Europe. I have known several kids from Norway that speak eight languages by the time they were in high school, and if they spoke the other five as well as the three that I knew, let’s just say that it was truly amazing.