Quote:
Originally posted by dzrose93
I don't know how it is in public schools because I attended private high schools, but I was required to learn a foreign language. In fact, I took two years of Latin and 4 years of Spanish. And if I were to move to Spain, then you can bet that I'd be taking even more classes to make sure that I could function in that country to the best of my ability.
I think that making foreign language classes mandatory is a very good idea, and I honestly wish that our kids were taught another language at a younger age because children learn languages easier if they are taught them earlier in life.
However, all this doesn't change the fact that we've got a ton of immigrants to this country who don't care a bit about learning English. If you're just visiting, then fine. But if you're planning to stay here permanently, then you need to learn English because that's what the majority of Americans speak. Nothing irritates me more than having to stand in a long line at the bank on my lunch hour waiting while 15 non-English-speaking people ahead of me try to communicate with the teller concerning their paychecks.
There are tons of organizations in my area that offer English courses for immigrants. Most of them are churches, and the services are free. I just wish that folks would take advantage of them. It would make their lives easier, as well as mine.
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EXACTLY!!!
It's not that I don't think we shouldn't learn or allow other languages - becuase I do, I think being at least billingual should be mandatory.
But our government runs on English. English in the language of choice for major broadcast networks, newspapers, and other forms of entertainment. Most school systems (unless youre in an area with a very high % of a minority) run on English.
Technically, the language of the government = the national (notice I didn't say official) language.
The problem with "non-english speakers must learn english and english speakers must learn a foreign language" is that WHICH FOREIGN LANGUAGE? I've taken 6 years of spanish, and I think i'm pretty damn good at it. but do you have any idea how many people and how many languages are spoken in the US. There must be thousands. You can't single out one, like french, and say "all english speakers must learn french if I have to learn english" that's not possible.
Day-to-day transactions take place in English - its just the way things work. With free services offering to teach you English, there's absolutely no excuse not to. As they say, when in rome, do as the Romans do.
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