Pedrina 1

Kristel Pedrina
English 115
Hymes
7 December 2014
Cast of characters
Andrew Latham (pro bilingualism)
Kenji Hakuta (anti bilingualism)
(Time: August 2014. The weather is extremely hot outside. The sun rays are visibly coming
through the glasses of the classroom windows. A couple of janitors are cleaning the hall ways
despite the heat. Andrew Latham, who is about in his 60s, is sitting on one of the desks as he
reads some papers he is holding. Kenji Hakuta, who is in his 80s, slams the door open which
surprised Latham. His eyes are wide open and his eye brows and lids are rapidly shaking yet his
mouth is tightly closed. Latham, to deny his shock, pretends to show a calm aura. He stands up
and slowly approaches Hakuta.)
LATHAM (calmly): Hello, Mr. Hakuta. It has been a while since we last saw each other. How
have you been?
HAKUTA (still on the door, panting): I am not fine at all.
LATHAM: Why is that?
HAKUTA: Because I have read your article about the benefits of bilingualism.
LATHAM (flattered): Wow, from a Bruin alumni like you, I am completely flattered about this.
And what about my article, Mr. Hakuta?
HAKUTA (quietly enters the room and sits on one of the students desk): Hmm
LATHAM: Well, to be honest I am really surprised that you slammed the door open. I was just
quietly reviewing your article about bilingualism myself. My lesson today is
HAKUTA (interrupts Latham): Wow, you seem to be really happy about the situation. What is
funny, Latham?
LATHAM: Nothing is funny, Mr. Hakuta. Its just that It is just that the coincidence. That
two intellectuals like us are reading each others papers. Almost like high school when we would
let our peers proofread our papers. Except that we are both unaware that we are proofreading
each others papers. And is it not a lovely day to discover such cute coincidence?

Pedrina 2
HAKUTA: No.
LATHAM: Oh, come on now. Kawaii? Is it not Kawaii?
HAKUTA: Do not dare make fun of my language, Mr. Latham.
LATHAM (scratches his head): Do not tell me that my oh my
HAKUTA (tilts his head): What is the matter?
LATHAM (makes a sad face): Do not tell me that my paper caused your surprising attitude?
HAKUTA: Yes, yes it is the cause.
LATHAM (speaks proudly and lifts his one brow): Well, before your interruption, I was going to
say that my lesson today is about bilingualism. And you know, I was reading your article right,
and it also made me a little upset. Wow, what a coincidence again? Right? Kawaii. Kawaii.
HAKUTA: Stop. You have to stop. It is not funny at all. You think that speaking another
language let alone a foreign word would make you appear intellectual? For your information,
No. A big N and a big O.
LATHAM: Let me tell you this, Diaz, a scientist, coined this term called metalinguistic
awareness, which enables flexibility in the cognitive system of the brain hence promotes
intelligence. That is why I greatly believe in bilingual education because they pose great
diversity on language and culture backgrounds. Dont you think?
HAKUTA: Well, if you only know one foreign word then that does not count as bilingual
education, mister.
LATHAM: Also, according to DAcierno, the environment also contributes to the promotion of
excellent cognition. If bilingualism is greatly supported then bilingual kids are more likely to be
smarter. Dont you like to see a great future because our kids, the children, are very intellectual.
More intellectual than you us. Than us.
HAKUTA: Excuse me?
LATHAM: And do you remember that two students from Canada? Peal and Lambert who
closely studied the correlation of bilingualism and cognition. And that bilinguals outperformed.
Take note, out, as in OUTperformed the monolinguals.
HAKUTA (defensively): There is also a term called limited capacity container which means that
if you put too much information inside something, it would be too much and that might lead to
an overflow or explosion if you may. So for instance if a child is to learn two languages and
learn other things like mathematics or science as well, then the child might experience a burst of

Pedrina 3
cognitive fuses in his or her mind. And according to the reasoning of Jean Piaget, bilingualism
has no effect on cognitive process for it is only a belief. Belief.
LATHAM: Belief? Well, Peal and Lambert proved that wrong oh so wrong, mister. They proved
it scientifically based on research, mister. Research.
HAKUTA: Huh, you even included it on your own article that this person named Saito-Horgan
concludes that when he researched four groups of bilinguals who underwent Piagetian tasks, they
showed no cognitive advantage on the monolinguals. And that is also a scientific research,
mister. RESEARCH.
LATHAM: Lo siento si no me entiendes el punto que bilingualismo es importante. Que
barabaridad, Seor Hakuta.
HAKUTA (curls his eye brows): I am sorry but I did not quite understand what you just said.
LATHAM (giggles and whispers): Qu? Jajaja.
HAKUTA (sighs in disbelief): How dare you speak Spanish Huh, show off.
(Hakuta then stands up and exits the scene. As he opened the door, a number of students are
outside the classroom that seemingly heard the argument. Hakuta appeared to be embarrassed
but acted normal and continued walking. Latham continues to giggle until he loses sight of
Hakuta. He then welcomes his students and hands them out that some of the papers he is
reviewing.)

Pedrina 4

Work Cited
Latham, Andrew S. The Advantages of Bilingualism. Educational Leadership, Issue 3,
November 1998: Page 79. Print.
Hakuta, Kenji Cognitive Development of Bilingual Children. California University, Los
Angeles. 1986. Print