I was born in Guatemala. I started stuttering when I was 2 years old. My mom and I moved to the United States to join my dad when I was 6 years old. When I first moved to the United States, I was surprised by how many homes there were. We don’t have that many houses where I lived in Guatemala. That wasn’t the only difference.
At my new school, everyone spoke English except for me. I was nervous at my new school in this new country. When I tried to speak in English, I started to stutter more. This made me sad. When I was in 5th grade, I started speech therapy. I learned how to slow down my speaking rate and when I get stuck on a word, I can use cancellations and prolongations to help. Now that I am in high school, I am the only one in my group who stutters. I am not embarrassed to talk in front of my friends. I want other English language learners who stutter to not be shy about talking.
Brian, 15, from Arleta, CA SLOW AND EASY HELPS
My name is Andrew and I’m 8 years old. I have been stuttering since I was one year old. It feels bad when I stutter. Sometimes I need to spell the word. It helps for me to get the word out when I use my slow easy speech. - Andrew, 8, from Daytona Beach, FL
u Dear Jenny,
I like what you do when you feel bad – you get your doll and talk to your doll. I have a doll too. When I feel happy or sad I talk to my doll too. Where do you live? I live Boone, NC. It’s okay to stutter – I stutter too.
Mackenzy, 7 Boone, NC
Editor’s note: Jenny’s Story (as referenced by Mackenzy) is in the book Sometimes I Just Stutter and Jenny lets us know it is ok to feel sad about stuttering and even to cry, but that it makes it better to share your feelings with someone else – especially your doll! Jenny doesn’t let her stuttering bother her so much any longer – it’s just part of who she is, she says.
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Don’t Be Shy About Talking
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