    People have been coming to America for ages, and their reason is for opportunity. Opportunity to live, grow, and flourish in a new home. Many immigrants come over thinking that America is the land of equal chance, but in reality their ethical background hinders their chances. The impediment of the English language is an instance of a societal obstacle that Asian Americans face in their community displayed in Amy Tan’s Mother Tongue.

    In Belluck’s "An interview with Chang-rae Lee,” Belluck discusses the society a Korean-American author lived through in order to lead up to his first book. The interview goes on to how Lee’s book was his ultimate achievement in getting his family name proven to the American culture. Chang-rae Lee had a difficult time finding his cultural background.

    Lee and Tan share an accomplishment of becoming an American author. This comes to show that even though someone comes from a family that doesn't speak English, they can still proficiently learn the new language. In Amy Tan’s “Mother Tongue,” she had to become the form of communication in public for her family.  Comparably, Belluck writes about how Lee had to do the same: 

By the age of 10, he (Lee) was the family translator. But he had also become ashamed that his immigrant family had not assimilated. Some days he refused to help his mother talk to the banker or the shopkeeper, scolding her for not learning English. (Belluck 1)

    Lee tells Belluck that he was embarrassed that his mother and family couldn’t interact with others in everyday life. Tan, in agreement, writes “I believed that her (Tan’s mother) English reflected the quality of what she had to say. That is, because she expressed them imperfectly her thoughts are imperfect” (Ben Harley, Nicole Fisk 344). People’s families who cannot speak English well will have a harder and more stressful childhood due to internal family problems, thus creating another obstacle on their mind toward having an equal chance in opportunities.

    In “Career Barriers For Chinese Immigrants In The United States,” Leong and Tang discuss Chinese immigrants ethical issues at the workplace, in the community, and at school. First the writing give us an overview and history of Chinese immigration, including past immigration policies. At the workplace, China native people are stereotyped “of the efficient, hard-working, and productive Asian American” and “has even had a lasting impact in the workplace” (Leong and Tang 1). Since these stereotypes are made they are expected to have high yielding results from them. In the community, there are few Chinese role models and major differences in cultures, so many immigrants are shy in the neighborhood and are limited to these already Chinese filled towns. At school/college, many Chinese people are already at a disadvantage because of the differences in the educational curriculum between countries and may lead for them “feel lost and unable to participate in classroom activities” (Leong and Tang 1). In addition, Chinese who are inefficient at the English language are out casted due to the lack of resources that the setting presents. 

    Later, the authors tell the reader how these barriers can be overcome. Leong and Tang recommend that the best way to break through these is to learn the English language. In the community and workplace, Chinese immigrants should reach out to anyone for help included fellow neighbors and tutors. At school, children need to ask their teachers for extra help. The authors stress that the youth of Chinese American citizens is most important to learn the language because young learn languages easier and it will expand the boundaries for careers and neighborhoods. The text also discusses that society needs to help the immigrants through programs to reduce the stereotyping and increase equality.

    Tan writes about how people in public did not understand what her mother was saying, so it was hard to be proud of her culture, just as Leong and Tang discussed. Maybe Tan’s mother would have been more confident in pubic if she had a positive Chinese role model. Leong and Tang talk about how for the Chinese immigrant youth to “overcome barriers and build social connection is important for expanding their career options” (Leong and Tang 1). Tan was very proficient in English and overcame the barriers for her family, like communicating in public and becoming an author. You can’t destroy the barrier more than writing books in English for a living. 

    Leong and Tang tell the reader that since Chinese are unable to communicate, they are restricted in society. Tan’s mother is a prime example of this, as Tan writes “I think my mother’s English almost had an effect on limiting my possibilities in life as well” (Ben Harley, Nicole Fisk 345). Through these pieces of information, it can be argued that Chinese immigrants have a societal obstacle of becoming financially sustainable because of their language barrier. 

    This article shows another perspective on Mother Tongue because it shows many other thoughts that citizens had of Tan’s mother that Tan did not talk about, such as stereotyping her. Leong and Tang tell us that people not only didn’t understand Tan’s mother, but also thought less of her due to her “broken English.” Leong and Tang’s article shows how much harder Tan’s life was growing up with her family then she actually discussed; Amy Tan only skims the limitations of her immigrant family. 

    Leong and Tang suggested that the best way to break the immigration barriers is to learn the English language, but there is a better way. The best way for societal obstacles like not speaking English is for the citizens of the United States of America to be more accepting. The U.S. is known as the “melting pot” of the world because of all the mixtures in culture and races. This country needs to signify the “melting pot” name more through its people understanding and appreciating the diverse ethos that brought the U.S. to where it is today. 
