Do you speak Spanish?
Here is an interesting article that I found. After reading it let us all know what you think.
11 Answers
Very interesting article!
I agree that those who don't lean Spanish will be left behind in the work place and miss out on learning a new culture.
It's the United State's second language, for sure, and learning it can only expand your job opportunities and circle of friends.
However, I also see the point of the woman who said that immigrants must assimilate and learn English to get along in the States. Without English a job that pays well would be almost impossible.
Moreover, I think it's rude (for lack of a better word) to go to any country and not learn the language. I wouldn't come here to Guatemala and expect anyone to speak English. It's my responsibility to make sure that I can communicate properly and become part of the community.
I'' m afraid that in Europe speaking Mandarin or Russian is regarded as much more important. The optional languages we learnt at school in Sweden, used to be French, German o and/or Spanish. English is obligatory.
Nowadays the most popular options are defintely Chinese and Russian.
I have heard that the Spanish are very keen to improve theri English and German skills in order to get work outside Spain. 500.000 young people leave Spain every year, in search of work, at the moment, I believe. Sadly, they have yet to arrive in my rather rural part of Britain, we rely on Russian and Latvian immigrants..
¿Que?
Muchos miembros han llegado a Spanishdict.com para poder comunicarse mejor. Ven una necesidad de aprender una segunda lengua en sus trabajos o como misioneros.
La hermana de mi compañera de habitación se ha movido a la Florida. Muchos de sus amigos son hispanohablante. Personalmente empezaba mi búsqueda para aprender español para que pudiera conversar con sus amigos en Florida.
Por favor, corrija mi español.
Many members have come to Spanishdict.com in order to communicate better. They see a need to learn a second language in their jobs or as missionaries.
My roommate's sister has now moved to Florida. Many of her friends are Spanish-speaking. I personally began my quest to learn Spanish so I could converse with her friends in Florida.
Gringo said:
I am very against the Arizona law allowing the "racial profiling" of immigrants, allowing the checking of ID papers without cause. It strikes me as a police state tactic.
I agree...that's horrific and unconstitutional. Reminds me of the DWB stops by the police.
p.s. DWB = Driving While Black
I agree with a couple of other people who said that a person who moves to a different country should make the effort to learn the language of that country. It shows an eagerness to communicate and a respect for the people of that country. If a person from Nicaragua moved to the U.S., I would expect him to try to learn English. If a person from the U.S. moved to Nicaragua, I would expect that person to try to learn Spanish.
I had the opportunity to hear a speaker from Mexico this weekend at a conference. He lives in the United States, but he said that when he is at home with his children, he only speaks Spanish with them even though they are all fluent in English. I think that's important because it helps them to stay connected to their cultural background. I also think it helps to give them a sense of identity. I think it is important and necessary (and a privilege!) to accept people from other cultures, but it's also important to be permitted to celebrate your own culture because it gives a sense of security.
Katydew made a good point. A second language should be taught early in life when children learn it easily. I'm not sure why second languages aren't usually taught until high school.
I encourage anyone I meet who is considering studying a second language to do it. It can open up many experiences. Not only can it assist with job opportunities, but it allows the learner to meet people from other cultures and interact with them. This enriches life, in my opinion.
I have wondered for a long time now why US schools don't require teaching a 2nd language from Kindergarten. Children learn and retain language best from ages 1-6. Why are we waiting until high school to even offer a 2nd language? In these days, Spanish really is a must for the job market in many states.
My children grew up in South African schools that always offered a 2nd and 3rd language from the time they entered school and most preschools were bilingual. They learn new languages easily and catch accents & sounds of new languages they learn like pros. How lucky they were to have that opportunity!
Ese artículo es de 2001.... hahaha
Ustedes me dan risa. Silly.
I agree It should go both ways. There are many people outside of the U.S. who learn English and speak it well. My online buddy Amando from Mexico doesn't understamnd why people from his country don't learn it when they go to the U.S. My mom met a Chilean who speaks English so well, my mom thought she was a native. I think many people feel the pressure of prefection especially the immgriants . They think they have to be natively fluent and some people expect them to be. And course there are many bilingual Spanish English entertainers Gloria Estefan, being the best example and Willam Levy being the lastest Obviously they benefit from reaching a wider audience. However, this issue of language has gotten completely polticial which I hate. It supposed to be about communication. If we communicate more the better, r, I always thought the backlash against Spanish has more to do with its speakers than the language itself. Someone said why should we learn Spanish those countries are bunched of failed culture and they why they immigrate here, . Politically in some areas that maybe true, but that discount a whole history.
"In college in the 1960s, French was the language most students studied. Now it's a distant second to Spanish."
Jaja, the reason I took Spanish in high school was because the line for French was too long. I sure am glad now!
Even though I see many more bilingual signs and labels in stores, the great majority of the people I see on a daily basis are totally monolingual. I hope that will change in the future, so that we can start to develop a reasonable society that respects the languages and backgrounds off all the people.
