Why does it matter? The relative advantages of learning my language

Read any story that we haven't read yet and write a review of the story and explain why it matters. Why should anyone care about the story/read it?


The relative advantages of learning my language         by Amy Choi


This story is about the author's grandfather dieing and her not listening to him prior because of lack of interest and ability and her learning the language as a result.


It show's that immigrants are treated badly for their differences. The grandfather is even mistreated by his own granddaughter because he is Chinese and she see's him as different because of that. She refused to listen to his poems and she didn't like being in the same room as him, which she points out in the book by saying "'I hope he doesn't sit down'". If he was treated like this by his granddaughter, how badly must he be treated by others.


The author proves once again that family is more important than anything. She learns the language, not to learn more about her past or discover more about her culture, but to be able to communicate with someon in her family that she loves. Whether it is an uncle or an aunt she wants to be there for them when they need it. As she says in the book: "I am simply trying to ensure that the next time an elderly relative wants me to listen to them, I am not only willing, I am able."


Loss is normal and this story helps us to realise it. She isn't spending the whole story grieving for her grandfather, instead she is just telling us to care for our family before it's too late, as nothing can be more important than our families.