Speak the language
MaddestOfThemAll asked:
Understanding diversity begins with talking about the common and the different. You can’t talk about it if you refuse to learn the language.
Kids, you need to learn English. Or else you’ll be left behind in the technological swarm.
March 18th, 2009 at 8:01 am
The problem is not among the adults, who want to learn English and can’t get the education they want and need. It’s the kids who are getting the education needed, and refusing to learn that are causing the problem.
Worse, it’s the underpaid teachers who care that are getting abused the most by those students under 18.
The problem is not new. It existed when I was young. Budget cuts have made it worse.
March 18th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I agree that for many immigrants over the age of 18, whose primary language is not Spanish, it can be difficult to find places where they can learn English. I dealt with this not long ago with an elderly French speaking woman who desperately wanted to learn, but found few resources due to her age. (It seems any over 18 are basically ignored.) It was pure coincidence that lead me to her. I was able to find someone to teach her. She’s doing great.
March 19th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
I am an immigrant myself and know all your points to be true. I learned English in my home country and improved it when I moved along with my family to the US. I am currently studying Computer Science and have actually studied and even learned other world languages. What I see here in the US is that it is almost impossible for non-English speakers to learn the language (most immigrants come from a poor social background), this is where the govt intervenes, they must educate these people.
March 21st, 2009 at 12:52 pm
All very good points. But in order for there to be a change the government must intervene. As the growing Hispanic population expands in states like California and Texas, the various generations of immigrants see learning English far from being a need since most of them know that they will be doing blue collar jobs. The problem is that in many years to come there will be parts of the country where only Spanish is spoken. There must be an immigration reform and afterward drastic immigration laws.
March 22nd, 2009 at 11:53 am
“Their peers, who often already speak English, discourage it . . . California seems to have the worst case of violence against English speaking teachers.”
Ahahaha . . . maybe another thing students should be encouraged to master is the use of empirical data to back up general statements.
Looks like knowing english is not enough to produce logical arguments.
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:38 pm
esta bien
March 23rd, 2009 at 6:26 pm
I’m not from Mexico, but I have many very good friends who are. Some of my family is from Okinawa, some from Scotland and Russia, but most are Native American. My first language was actually Tsagali, the Cherokee language.
March 27th, 2009 at 2:50 am
True, but lately it seems many make the choice not to learn. Their peers, who often already speak English, discourage it, in the belief that they will get special benefits from being a non-English speaker. California isn’t the only state with this problem, but California seems to have the worst case of violence against English speaking teachers.
The point is, everyone should learn more than one language. English is a good start due to the technology where English is the base language.
March 27th, 2009 at 6:48 am
immigrant kids usually learn English very quickly.
March 30th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
immigrant kids usually learn English very quickly.
April 1st, 2009 at 6:26 am
immigrant kids usually learn English very quickly.
April 1st, 2009 at 11:13 pm
eres tus de mexico?
April 4th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I am surprised that I agree.
April 5th, 2009 at 7:07 am
totally agree!