English as a Second Language?

[johncalvin]

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I came to the U.S. when I was 10, and although I had studied in an English-speaking school, English is obviously not my first language.

As of today, however, I am much more comfortable and fluent in English than any other language.

So I want to put English as my first language (on the AMCAS app), but that's not being entirely honest.

Will I be disadvantaged in any way shape or form by putting down either one?
I know some on this site think adcoms are more forgiving of low verbal scores if you're an ESL student, but I don't know what my verbal score is just yet. My practice scores hover between 10-11.

 

[longhorn09]

You can do it in either way. It's not a big deal.

 

[LizzyM]

Your first language is the first one you learned to speak.

No one on the adcom will make an issue of your ESL -- if anything, there is always the hope that you'l be a big help if a patient or family from your homeland arrives in the hospital and needs someone who understands there language and culture.

 

[alibai3ah]

Your first language is the first one you learned to speak.

No one on the adcom will make an issue of your ESL -- if anything, there is always the hope that you'l be a big help if a patient or family from your homeland arrives in the hospital and needs someone who understands there language and culture.

But LizzyM (I am in a very similar situation as the OP)
During interviews would the admission committees feel betrayed/lied too if you come off speaking fluently. I mean I came to this country when I was 9 years old (I knew english before), but I am at a point now where most people do not know I was even born outside this country......

 

[LizzyM]

During interviews would the admission committees feel betrayed/lied too if you come off speaking fluently. ......

On the contrary, they'd be delighted.

 

[sportsfreak]

just a quick clarification...if AAMC asks for a primary language does it mean the language that I use the most or the first language that I learned?

 

[LizzyM]

just a quick clarification...if AAMC asks for a primary language does it mean the language that I use the most or the first language that I learned?

I think that primary in this context is different than "first". I'd say that they mean the language that is the one you use most often (if you use English at work & school but make love in French, then I'd say that English is your primary language).

 

[johncalvin]

just a quick clarification...if AAMC asks for a primary language does it mean the language that I use the most or the first language that I learned?

I misread the application! It said "primary language" not first language. Does that change the ball game at all?

 

[sportsfreak]

ok...so I grew up in Armenia and moved to US when I was 11. I learned English from scratch here in US. So while I use English for classes, I only speak Armenian at home and with all my relatives. At this point I don't know which I am better at. I still comprehend and speak Armenian better, but I am much better reading and writing wise in English. So I don't know which language would be my primary?

Also OP, where do you see AMCAS asking for 1st langauge, or did you mean primary?

 

[alibai3ah]

I misread the application! It said "primary language" not first language. Does that change the ball game at all?

Ok so now I'm confused.....Is your primary language what you speak at home or what you speak most of the time ( I don't spend a lot of time at home....)

If you come here at age 9ish or whatever, but went to an english speaking school before, what do i do?

 

[LizzyM]

In what language do you dream (at night, when asleep)? If you say both, flip a coin.

 

[sportsfreak]

I was just going to say since I think in Armenian it would be best to put Armenian as my primary language, but what I am worried about is the fact that I did decent in my English classes (2 A-) so the committee might think that I am lying.

 

[LizzyM]

I was just going to say since I think in Armenian it would be best to put Armenian as my primary language, but what I am worried about is the fact that I did decent in my English classes (2 A-) so the committee might think that I am lying.

If you are born in Armenia and claim to speak Armenian but do well in English classes, what's to question. If someone is born in Boston and claims to speak English as primary language but had 2 A- in Italian, are we going to think they are lying about being English speakers?

 

[umw2010]

its no big deal, ur primary language could be other than english and u can still be super good in English. it can actually benefit you because there are some ppl who are just born to be multi-lingual.

Think of the Primary language as if someone ask you what language do u speak and u can only choose one, which one would u choose?? or what language do u most comfortable talking.

As far as the thnking and dreaming go, i speak 4 languages and i am really good at speaking them. but i suck in writing and other stuff. when i am dreaming or thinking it completely depends on what i am thinking so if i am thnking something about school, its gonna be in English and so on.

 

[drareg]

so how about on the aamc what should I (im armenian) put down under race? none of them apply to me it feels like. i am not white, native american or asian american?

 

[LizzyM]

so how about on the aamc what should I (im armenian) put down under race? none of them apply to me it feels like. i am not white, native american or asian american?

You can leave it blank or use "other" (I think) but why wouldn't you be "white"? Armenians I've met have been what I would call "white" but it is up to you to self-identify.

 

[sportsfreak]

well the way I see it...Caucasian means white, and since Armenia is located at the Caucasus then I would say put white, since historically Armenia was always been there

of course this is true if I am correct in assuming the words Caucasian and Caucasus are connected in a way

 

[witness23]

way too much thinking in this thread

 

[runrunrudolph1]

I came to the U.S. when I was 10, and although I had studied in an English-speaking school, English is obviously not my first language.

As of today, however, I am much more comfortable and fluent in English than any other language.

So I want to put English as my first language (on the AMCAS app), but that's not being entirely honest.

Will I be disadvantaged in any way shape or form by putting down either one?
I know some on this site think adcoms are more forgiving of low verbal scores if you're an ESL student, but I don't know what my verbal score is just yet. My practice scores hover between 10-11.

I moved to the US when I was 10 as well. Armanian is your first language, than english and than anything else. They wont question it, they might just ask you in your interview about it... I think youre thinking too much about it haha

If anything I think it will help you because they will see that you understand another culture, language etc. def. a benefit

 

[witness23]

i really doubt it would come up in your interviews. English was my fourth language, put it as primary. never was asked in my interviews. it would be kinda random

 

[alibai3ah]

Is there an advantage to say your first language is your primary language in the sense that they will not look at your verbal score on the MCAT as highly?

 

[LizzyM]

Is there an advantage to say your first language is your primary language in the sense that they will not look at your verbal score on the MCAT as highly?

Maybe. More often I tend to look at birthplace (because it appears at the top of the application that adcoms see) and the PS and LORs. The primary/secondary languages sections are buried in a part of the application that is often overlooked.