Mother Tongue

In telling this story, Tan was trying to show different perspectives on how others look at non-English speaking people.  There is a stereotype that goes along with not having  English has their first language and she is showing us this in her story.  Her teacher didn't want her to be in English because there were outside factors weighing on the opinion.  Tan's mom did not speak fluent English, which is why Mother Tongue is such a good title.  They look at who is raising Tan and not how Tan is speaking.  Because her mother had broken English, she was judged differently.