Native Language Question Forum

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bizchick05

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Native Language Question

Post by bizchick05 » Wed Jan 02, 2013 6:05 pm

Law school apps are requesting a "Native Language." Considering my native language is another language not English, do you think it would help my app if I designate the language? Or should I just leave it off? It's an optional question.

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dingbat

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Re: Native Language Question

Post by dingbat » Wed Jan 02, 2013 6:25 pm

bizchick05 wrote:Law school apps are requesting a "Native Language." Considering my native language is another language not English, do you think it would help my app if I designate the language? Or should I just leave it off? It's an optional question.
Do you have a US degree? If not, have you taken TOEFL?
I left it on and it didn't hurt. For the most part, they won't care, but it's a decent soft (aka tiebreaker)

redmessengerbag

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Re: Native Language Question

Post by redmessengerbag » Fri Jan 04, 2013 8:41 pm

interesting, I apologize for the threadjack, I'm a bit confused about this. English is not my native language, didn't start learning it until I was 11. I speak American English fluently without an accent. Even though I'm still a fluent Chinese speaker, my English is far better. What would you do in this case?

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sinfiery

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Re: Native Language Question

Post by sinfiery » Fri Jan 04, 2013 8:45 pm

redmessengerbag wrote:interesting, I apologize for the threadjack, I'm a bit confused about this. English is not my native language, didn't start learning it until I was 11. I speak American English fluently without an accent. Even though I'm still a fluent Chinese speaker, my English is far better. What would you do in this case?
I said English is my native language in a similar situation. My fluency in my second language is probably slightly lower than yours in Chinese.


No idea what is better for applications, I just think of myself as a native English speaker, not a native Urdu speaker.

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dingbat

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Re: Native Language Question

Post by dingbat » Fri Jan 04, 2013 8:49 pm

redmessengerbag wrote:interesting, I apologize for the threadjack, I'm a bit confused about this. English is not my native language, didn't start learning it until I was 11. I speak American English fluently without an accent. Even though I'm still a fluent Chinese speaker, my English is far better. What would you do in this case?
I'd list the language I'm "far better" at as native and the other as being fluent

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