Look, I understand you're not all that smart, but I still don't go to Cooley. :)

Oh, that sucks. They have a really good Starbuck's there!

I'm going to sue you for defamation of character, for saying I'm "not all that smart". I'm offended.

Also, what's your problem with dumb people? why are you always hating people that are intellectually not on the same scale as you? Not everyone can get into Cooley and become lawyers like you. :(

Oh honey, just about anyone can get into Cooley.

Feel free to sue me. I eagerly await service.

You're all pretty gay.

-Rudey
--:)

First I'm stupid, now I'm gay. Is someone going to call me a illegal immigrant now too?

you're an illegal immigrant

My grandmothers grandmother was a native american, so they say. I guess I can say that I'm a Mexican then right?

It's true that many of the illegal Spanish-speaking immigrants work in those types of positions.

However, it will be nice if my kids learn a lot of Spanish early in school so they can speak to their native Spanish-speaking, Ivy League educated, NYC business executive father and all his friends.

Learning Spanish is not about needing to communicate with the help... :rolleyes:

Does he not know english well enough to communicate to his children? :p

I think your situation is different because you have an ethnic background that makes you favor teaching Spanish to your children. Now what if your husband was from Germany, would you be teaching your kids German or would you still be sticking with the Spanish?

Offensive? Can you think of another reason that an english speaker in America would need to learn Spanish? Is it likely that very many of us will be working for spanish-speaking superiors?

What about acknowledging reality do you find offensive?

Yes, I can think of a very good reason for an "English speaker" to learn Spanish. Around this area, translators get paid very well. Also, if you own/manage a store or other "customer orienated" business, and many of your customers don't speak English, it would be in your best interest to learn some Spanish. I don't know too many *smart* business people who would shoot themselves in the foot by saying "If they don't know English, they can just go someplace else."

Without some law enforcement officers who speak Spanish, police will find it very difficult to do their jobs and may even face increased risk of danger.

Without some medical professionals who speak Spanish, doctors, nurses and EMS technicians will find it very difficult to provide adequate health care.

Without lawyers and court personnel who speak Spanish, the legal system will find it harder to deal with criminal, domestic and other cases where the defendants or parties speak limited English.

Without church workers who speak Spanish, churches will find it hard to minister to those whose English is limited.

And as AlphaFrog says, sometimes it's just plain good business to speak the language your customers speak.

Just a few examples of why an English speaker in America might find it worthwhile to learn Spanish.

I think everyone who comes to this country should learn to speak English. But I think we have our heads in the sand if we think immigrants (legal or illegal) are going to learn English overnight, or that older adults will ever learn English as well as their grandchildren. That's never happened with any other immigrant group.

So in the meantime, not a bad idea for some English speakers to learn Spanish.

It's NOT reality that the ONLY time a person will use speaking Spanish is to talk to the help.

I realize most people in the US won't have a Spanish speaking boss. However, every company I have worked for in NYC (2 investment banks, a major consulting firm, and now MasterCard) have huge operations in Latin America. They ALL view being bi-lingual a plus, but ESPECIALLY people who are fluent in Spanish. And the job opportunities run the gamut. I had a friend who made great money as a secretary on the Latin America's trading desk at Deutsche Bank.

Learning a second langauge at a young age is not about NEED, it's about broadening horizons and expanding opportunities.

And Pike2001, I understand your point. However, given the amount of people/countries in the workd that speak Spanish and the fact that the US has so many Spanish-speaking immigrants (legal and non), it's really the most 'logical' language to teach in school. And before someone tells me that Mandarin or Hindi are spoken by more people, the lack of a similar alphabet is the obvious issue there.

Don't speak Spanish, I don't comprende it