Como si le Falta un Brazo: Latino Immigrant Parents and the Costs of Not Knowing English

Abstract

This study examined the perspectives of Latino/a immigrant parents about the place of English in their lives. The parents described how they had come to the United States with intentions of learning English, but various obstacles made it an overwhelming challenge. The author questions whether, despite rhetoric to the contrary, financially struggling immigrants may not be meant to learn English because they play a role in the nation's economy that could not be easily filled if they assimilated. Aside from making financial advancement a pipe dream, the language gap limits these parents' opportunities to shape their children's values, development, and education.