Mother Tongue

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Reading Check

1. As a writer, what unusual claim does Tan make about herself as a scholar?

2. What event causes Tan to reflect on her English?

3. What does Tan mean by “different Englishes”?

4. How does Tan’s mother counterbalance her English when communicating with native speakers?

5. What advice does Tan receive from her boss about her writing career?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What are the multiple meanings of “mother tongue,” as Tan uses it?

2. Why doesn’t Tan want to describe her mother’s English as “broken” or “fractured”?

3. In what ways is Tan’s mother judged by the way she speaks English?

4. In what ways is Tan limited by her mother’s English?

5. Why does Tan struggle with standardized English tests?

Paired Resource

“Where Asian Immigrants Face Language Challenges: Navigating Daily Life and Communicating in English”

• This entry shows the results of a focus group conducted by Pew Research Center.
• As you consider the Sociological Limitations of Language, compare and contrast the experiences of the focus group with the experiences of Tan and her mother.

“5 Important Differences Between Mandarin and English”

• This entry discusses the similarities and differences between Mandarin and English.
• Discuss how these differences create what is often called Perfect or Broken English.

Recommended Next Reads 

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

• Tan interweaves the stories of four Chinese American mothers and their daughters in this collection.
• Shared themes include Responsibility to Family and Sociological Limitations of Language.
• The Joy Luck Club on SuperSummary

The Bonesetter’s Daughter by Amy Tan

• Tan examines the relationship between an immigrant mother and her Chinese American daughter in this story.
• Shared themes include Responsibility to Family and Sociological Limitations of Language.
• The Bonesetter’s Daughter on SuperSummary