It seems like you're talking about it like it is a need, when it's not. It can be a good thing to stick on a resume, and it can help on occasion in the workplace, but unless you're looking to go into a career where Spanish is required, it's a bonus, not a must-have.

I understand that for your personal situation, knowing Spanish is important for you and your children. However, you can't generalize, because it doesn't fit every situation. A lot of people will never have to learn because there will be translators and other personnel to help with any language barrier.

In the interests of disclosure, I will say that I know quite a bit of Spanish, and used it occasionally at my last job (although it was not a factor in my being hired, and it has never been a factor in my hiring status). It was something I wanted to do, though, and it was never forced on me at any point in my education.

I personally think optional after-school programs could be a good compromise on the issue of teaching young children a second language.

One of my best friends growing up is an AKA. her father was always pretty hardcore on her, probably for her own good. When we were in HS, she wanted to take Spanish with me but her father said, " Girl, hell no you aint gonna speak no spanish. Imma make you learn Chinese, because thats there the money is at"

Well, oddly enough she took Chinese all 4 years, and even took it in college. SHe speaks it fluently now, and now travels between hong kong and san francisco all the time as some kind of banking crappity crap crap. Makes tons of dough. She still laughs at being the only black girl in chinese class.

i miss her :(

No, I've already said it's NOT about NEED, it's about opportunity.

My "situation" actually has nothing to do with it - whether people want to believe it or not. I felt this way long before I moved to NYC or ever met my husband.

The only reason I relayed my situation is because ktsnake made it seem that the only words anyone could ever use in Spanish are orders to your gardener or maid.

And that is also why I spoke about the Latin American business units at many of the American companies. I understand there are plenty of US companies with business elsewhere. Great. Again, ktsnake made it seem there is no reason to learn Spanish and I was giving reasons why it's beneficial. I never implied you had to speak Spanish or be destined to a life of crap jobs.

I took French in high school and always said languages should be taught earlier. If they have to "pick" a language because of lack of teachers for younger students, then to me the logical choice is Spanish. If people could have a choice, I think that's the best option.

There is no "THE" job market - if you moved to Montreal, it would certainly be different, as your knowledge of French would then be useful.

In some fields, there will be an onus on learning Chinese, Japonese, or French (say, if you work at the UN). I'm saying that this point is tautological at root - of course learning a second language opens opportunities in a certain situation.

Also - your experiences are anecdotal, and I'm not sure that has any real relevance.

In Montreal, this thread has no relevance, as we are discussing issues in the USA. Can you give me an example of a major US job market where French would come in handy??

Forest for trees - I was simply giving an example of why situational differences create a sort of tautology . . . "Second languages are better because it's better to know more than one language." This point is not unique to Spanish.

My entire point is that it's not a particularly insightful issue, and has no bearing on the thread as a whole - can you tell me how the relevance of Spanish on your job experiences influences immigration policy, or changing the National Anthem in Spanish?

You're applying specifics, where I'm claiming those specifics are relatively unimportant to the overall point. We've veered way off-course, into a sort of ivory-tower discussion of the utility of language in general - and that's a complete strawman, in my mind, when discussing whether or not it's appropriate to sing the National Anthem in this (altered) Spanish form.

(Also, I realize my last post came off a little snippy - I was in the process of editing it as you posted, I probably should have explained better, as in the above)

But that's the only point I'm trying to make. There are reasons besides ordering around the hired help to know a second langauge.

I discussed Spanish because the thread is about it (well, we've hijacked it but...)and ktsnake said something I found offensive. Offensive because I think it's ignorant to not see the other opportunities to use a different langauge - in this case Spanish.

Word - and I was trying to un-hijack

So, do you think those really hard to reach high notes are any easier in Spanish?! :p

Kathy -- sorry about that, it was in bad taste.

I agree, learning a second language can be valuable.

Well, considering congress passed a resolution that it should only be sung in English, this whole thread has become sort of useless.:) :)

Yes, Spanish has much better vowels for singing. English is a horrible language for singing. (Take the last sentace with a grain of salt - I studied opera in college, so I much prefer to sing in Italian)

Not as useless as that resolution. :)

They can't stop anyone. Resolutions aren't laws. :)

As I said in the PM, thank you. :)

so, speaking of whether or not the star spangled banner should be sung in spanish or not, does anyone have a translation of the version sung when george w. bush didn't have a problem with it sung in spanish?

you know, from that time when he was campaigning for the presidency in 1999 and 2000? you know what i'm talking about right? that time when he would show up at events with his own "viva bush" mariachi band, and did in fact sing the national anthem *gasp* in spanish? or does anyone have a translation of the national anthem when jon secada sang it in spanish at george w. bush's inauguration? just wondering.

look! there's even a picture!
viva bush band

and i suppose that senator lamar just mustn't have done his research very well when he spoke about his resolution. when he said that the national anthem had "never before been rendered in another language"? since after all, the u.s. bureau of education commissioned a version of the anthem in spanish in 1919. and of course, since the u.s. state department lists four versions of the national anthem in spanish:
himno nacional