Spanish as an official language
What about if the we all have the opportunity to learn a second language officially since we are in the elementary, and becoming bilingual when ready to look for a job? and what about if spanish can be that language, as part of been one of the most popular speaking language in the wold.
6 Answers
Hi, welcome to the forum!
Just a few corrections:
How about if we all have the opportunity to learn a second language officially since we are in elementary? Becoming bilingual when ready to look for a job. How about if Spanish can be that language. Since Spanish is one of the most popular speaking language in the wold.
Being bilingual is good with any language. To make one or another the official is up to the people of the various countries. If that were to be the case, where would be the diversity? For now, I don't believe that is going to happen, at least not any time soon. So, it's a good idea to continue learning each one.
I'm no globetrotter but having traveled extensively throughout Western Europe a few years back, I noticed the widespread use of English in many of the metropolitan areas, e.g., Madrid, Paris, Amsterdam, just to name a few. I was both impressed and relieved especially when it came to asking for directions and such. The following article sums up, if anyone is curious, why Americans (present company included!) in general tend to be so monolingual... I don't subscribe to the notion but am profoundly (and frightfully) aware it exists!
Red, White & Blue is all we see
Disclaimer: Please pardon the inappropriate language - only meant to make a point! This does not reflect my personal view, by any means.
To make one or another the official is up to the people of the various countries
Couldn't agree more with rac1. When you speak of making something official, you're talking legislatively, which can start at the grassroots level or with elected/appointed functionaries, but either way carries with it something done via edict or statute.
Speaking as a Swede, we alredy have, officially , and for a long time, had to learn English as our second language, from an early age. It has clearly not done Sweden much harm! But then, Swedish is a minority language, beautiful and exressive though it is.
OK, this might not sit well with everyone but it is what I think. Yes, in the Scandinavian countries and many other countries, particularly in Euope, English is widely taught. My experience is that the people of those countries speak the language very well or even flawlessly. In The Netherlands, students usually study at least three foreign languages. English is also widely spoken very well in places like Malaysia. It pains me some and I would tend to apolgetic about what I think is an attitude held by some people in the United States (los Estados Unidos) that "This is America. We speak English and anyone who wants to be here should speak English." Again my apologies to people around the world who have worked hard to learn English (and other languages) and to those who have not yet had the opportunity to learn English or another second language. I guess that is why this site attacts such a following. However, to try to designate an official second language in the United States would be neither feasible nor fair to the many, probably millions, of people in this country whose first language is neither English nor Spanish.
In my country (Holland) it is obligatory to learn at least one second language all throughout secondary school. But it is more than likely that you will have had some years of Dutch, English, German and French. Learning (an)other language(s) is customary in other European countries too.
What is your native language and where are you from, greatlove?
