Quote:
Originally posted by xo_kathy
I'm not talking about speaking the language of our economic peers. I'm talking about many major US companies having large business units in Spanish speaking countries. I'm talking about business opportunities here in the US where Spanish would be extremely beneficial. Or, if you take a job overseas with a US company, the life of an expat is generally pretty nice! 
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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.
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