I'm smarter than a fifth grader...and I refuse to learn Spanish. I live in America. They can learn English if they want to communicate with me, otherwise, I have no problem ignoring them.
When I went to school(in the 60's and in northern Illinois), we had mandatory spanish classes--so we would be able to speak more than just english, just like the students in Europe, Japan, etc. The reason it was spanish was because of how many people spoke spanish. What's wrong with this country is our xenophobia.
Sorry, even in Germany you are given so much time to speak German or leave the country. Why can it not be that way here? Learn English or leave. My children can all speak foreign languages, so can I.
In second grade we had a few french lessons. I really loved it. As an adult, I feel that learning other languages is essential. I wish that I had learned Spanish when I was younger. It so much more difficult to learn as an adult. We have so many Spanish speaking people here. On the other side, I feel that English should also be mandatory too. In meeting people from other countries, it seems as though they learn at least one or two other languages other than their own in school. Here is the United States I fear that we are behind, and at a disadvantage because of this. This is just my opinion. I just feel that had I learned Spanish when I was younger, it would have been easier, and maybe my brain would have retained me.
I'm with Rob on this. How about some mandatory ENGLISH classes? What's wrong with THAT?
I live in the MIDDLE of a primarily ENGLISH-speaking country (that would be the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA for those of you that are having trouble with this concept).
In my line of work (manufacturing), it is absolutely ESSENTIAL that everyone I work with be able to speak and understand ENGLISH. It's a SAFETY consideration. There are a million ways to tell someone that "this machine will hurt/mame/kill you/me if you/I do this (fill in the blank). Whomever I work with needs to be able to understand these things for MY safety, as well as THEIRS. If THEY get hurt or killed because THEY couldn't understand ME, is that MY FAULT for not learning THEIR language in MY HOME COUNTRY or is it THEIRS for not learning the language of the country THEY DELIBERATELY WENT TO? I don't want to see any bloodshed at work and being able to speak and understand English is an excellent safety measure. Nothing racist, prejudicial, or "xenophobic" about not wanting my coworkers to get hurt.
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Comments: 12
I'm with Rob on this.
As an adult, I feel that learning other languages is essential. I wish that I had learned Spanish when I was younger. It so much more difficult to learn as an adult. We have so many Spanish speaking people here. On the other side, I feel that English should also be mandatory too.
In meeting people from other countries, it seems as though they learn at least one or two other languages other than their own in school. Here is the United States I fear that we are behind, and at a disadvantage because of this.
This is just my opinion. I just feel that had I learned Spanish when I was younger, it would have been easier, and maybe my brain would have retained me.
I live in the MIDDLE of a primarily ENGLISH-speaking country (that would be the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA for those of you that are having trouble with this concept).
In my line of work (manufacturing), it is absolutely ESSENTIAL that everyone I work with be able to speak and understand ENGLISH. It's a SAFETY consideration. There are a million ways to tell someone that "this machine will hurt/mame/kill you/me if you/I do this (fill in the blank). Whomever I work with needs to be able to understand these things for MY safety, as well as THEIRS. If THEY get hurt or killed because THEY couldn't understand ME, is that MY FAULT for not learning THEIR language in MY HOME COUNTRY or is it THEIRS for not learning the language of the country THEY DELIBERATELY WENT TO?
I don't want to see any bloodshed at work and being able to speak and understand English is an excellent safety measure. Nothing racist, prejudicial, or "xenophobic" about not wanting my coworkers to get hurt.