My grandma had about a sixth-grade education. Both of my parents grew up speaking Slovak and Polish, respectively in the home. However, my mom said there was a "switch" in her head....outside playing with her friends: English, in the house: Slovak.
When did assimilation become such a bad thing? Incoming cultures share some pieces, take others away.
i imagine that out of necessity, my parents spoke it at home when they were little, but they were not able to speak when i was old enough to understand. they could UNDERSTAND my grandmothers when they spoke in their language, but they could only answer in english. i know my mom would always make fun of these cousins of hers that were very hoity toity growing up, not wanting to be associated with being Lithuanian etc. And then when they were older and retired they took Lithuanian classes and even joined the Lithuanian Nationality classroom group down at Pitt. my mom thought they were posers, HA!
It was similar for my folks, they spoke Polish in the homes (my father exclusively until age 7 when he was finally able to go to school), but whether in the steel mills or working on the farms and otherwise in public, the families would speak English and took pride in trying to fit in with everyone else.