Why should Americans learn Spanish ?

Question

Why do we have to learn spanish while we all live in America,Why do we have to pay out of our tax's teachers to teach spanish at schools in America,Why do I have to decide which language I want to speak engish or spanish if I want to talk to a phone operater ,Why dont people take a stand and say WE had enough of this?

I would like to know if its just me that gets angry cause of all this BULL

I guaranty they have more variety of European and Asian people living here then spanish ,is it not fair for the rest of the Americans not to offer there language ?People who want to be a proud American and wave the American Flag are going to learn English

In the military I did learn 2 other languages but I live in America so I speak ENGLISH

I dont think some people understand what I am saying,I am in Tennessee They force our children to learn Spanish and there is only 1 choice or they flunk.and there is people out there living in this country who will refuse to learn engish even after 5 years ,America is spending millions of tax payers money to accommodate.

StarGazer<> please answer the Question ,what language did our Forefathers speak?????I hope you won't say spanish

Answer 1

There's nothing wrong with learning a language. But, in the USA, you shouldn't have to know Spanish to get a job. And yet, employers want bilingual employees especially in Texas. Many classified ads say "bilingual preferred" which means they only hire bilingual, which isn't right. We shouldn't be pandering to people who can't speak English. It's the responsibility of everyone living in the USA to learn English. Americans can't be expected to learn the language of every immigrant (German, Italian, Chinese, Thai, etc.) who moves here.

Answer 2

For me, I don't really follow the issue on the political aspect. I have always wanted to at least be bilingual, because of interests in other cultures and wanting to travel. I'm not sure how long colleges have required at least 2 high school years or 2 college semesters of a foreign language for admissions.

Not to say you don't have interest in other cultures or travel. You might have those interests, too. I just mean that it's an interesting thing to learn various aspects of other cultures.

I do hope though, that the US doesn't eventually become, for example 95% Spanish-speaking or other language & nationality. I hope that doesn't sound racist or anything. I just mean that nobody ever wants to see their country have a new majority language and nationality-wise, because it loses it's culture.

It would be the same in Ireland or the rest of the UK. They have their own rich cultures, and would not want to lose them because their population eventually became something completely different. Could you imagine Ireland no longer being Irish, and the main language & culture suddenly being something else?

So hopefully what I said before doesn't come out in a bad way. I don't have a problem with foreigners who are here legally. But, also there will eventually be an overall population if we let everyone into the US forever.

Answer 3

So we can order food in a restaurant!! LOL I'm serious it seems like we always get people at the register that can't speak English....it really is frustrating. I mean honestly at least try to learn some English to at least be able to get by.

I've been reading alot of the answers here and what gets me is that alot of you seem to think that it is ok the way things are going, you should take a look at the Philippines they have over 170 languages (for such a small country) depending on where you live. Alot of people don't speak English or Tagalog (official languages) as a matter of fact Tagalog is pretty much only spoken around the capital. This all leads to alot of strife within this country.....so many languages and the 2 official languages are hardly used in the provinces. So communication breaks down, which leads to alot of discourse. I can't help but wonder if America is headed down that road?? This is an English speaking country, if you come here you should at least try to learn English. And as for having to know Spanish to get a job that is discrimination in my book and those employers should be turned in.

Answer 4

I used to be like you, until I moved to Mexico. I no longer live there but I also don't live in the US either.

Mexico starts teaching their children English in first grade so that the children have a better chance at more opportunities in life. Why shouldn't we do the same thing? The reason that I think Spanish is the '2nd language of choice' is that it is the most universal language that make other languages easier to learn.

I took 5 years of French in high school...that was over 30 years ago and I've never needed it. Spanish...I could have used a million times and not just in Mexico.

Also, it is a proven fact that children that know more than one language are smarter in all other subjects. The more languages a person knows the better opportunities they have as well.

Its not for those that speak Spanish in the US that our children should learn Spanish - its for the betterment of each child - your child and my child - that we should encourage them to learn Spanish.

And, Spanish is the easiest language to learn.

Answer 5

I'm not going to learn it. If you come to this country no matter where you are from. You should learn English!
All the others had too what's suddenly different now?
The Italians came over here they started speaking English.....Other cultures also did. So I think they should learn it. Plus a lot of country's speak English so we can say the same about Spanish being the 2nd used language.
I can't only speak English and southern........lol
oh thought that was funnny
☺

Answer 6

I learned Spanish because that was a life-long dream of mine. The man from whome I learned this beautiful language is now my husband who came from Mexico. I prefer Spanish to English.
Besides, isn't it necessary now for high-schoolers to learn a second language to graduate? I'm pretty sure it is in some schools.
I'm not stopping there, either, I am also trying to learn Chinese (Cantonese mostly, but some Manderin if I can keep them straight) because I work at a Chinese reataurant and I love to obsurve other cultures. And what better way to understand a country than to be able to talk to them in their native lingo? Every language has it's own history and some things cannot be translated to mean the same thing.
I don't understand why don't appreciate diversity. Different skin tones, accents, eye color, hair color, even Barney appreciates those things. He he! Another thing is diversity in beliefs and thoughts (many being expressed on Yahoo!answers).
Ok, and as to why we have to choose English and Spanish on lots of stuff, these companies/businesses are able to reach many more people that way and that makes them more money. We don't have to learn Spanish, I don't know of anything American that there is no option to have in English. Do you? As long as English is the official language and everything is in English, I don't really have a problem with it. I find it all fascinating. But, that's just me and I don't matter to anybody, do I?

Answer 7

English is not the official language of this country. The forefathers didn't establish one for a reason. They wanted people to be free and to keep a diversity. I think they teach children Spanish in schools to help them get ahead in our changing world the same way other countries make their students take English. It's an important language to be able to speak. Not only that, it opens up the minds of these kids. Also, you live in the United States, America is way bigger than that.

Answer 8

I believe this...if you are going to live in another country, you should learn their language enough where you can communicate well with others. But why should I have to learn another language if all I'm going to speak is one. It's like having an American car with German spare parts or having a Bachelors degree and working at McDonald's flipping burgers. It's wasted knowledge and it don't make sense. There are many languages, English being the most known, but that's because it is easy to learn your own language first then another major one. Why do they know ours, they want to be here, blend here, and possibly make a life here. But how are we going to learn English, then hundreds of other languages to accommodate the world? I do not plan on moving to another country anytime soon.

Answer 9

I think it doesn't matter ,I think everyone should learn 2 or 3 languages i speak 4 I'm OK with that.Its no big deal, the more you know the more your worth. Why don't we stop making nukes and use the money for education instead? Spanish is a beautiful romantic language, i truly wish everyone could speak it. There are things you can say in Spanish that you cant really say in other languages and have it mean the same/

I speak Spanish , French, Italian,and yes English I'm lucky to have lived in many places which help me to evolve not only as a person, but linguistically as well .There is NOTHING wrong with sharing and leaning from others ,It helps us mature and grow as we develop our own criteria.
The only thing in this world i hate is not having the FREEDOM i deserve to be who i want to be, Government control and intrusion,as well as Anyone dedicated to injustice and criminal behavior toward Man Kind

Answer 10

You can choose whatever language you want in school. As long as its a foreing language. It's called cultural studies. With your spelling and grammer, we all know you need to study up on your english as it is. So no Spanish for you. Not till you learn ENGLISH!

Oh and by the way, English isn't the native language of America. That is the native language of England. It's just universal now, so we learn it to communicate with everybody. But it's nice to learn a new language. That would mean I'm smarter than you. I speak English and Spanish...FLUENTLY. AND I was born and raised in California. My family is Mexican/American from generations back...You narrow minded LOSER!

Answer 11

The only Americans that should have to learn Spanish are those going to travel in nations where the language is spoken.
Spanish belongs in American schools, under the same policies as French, or German. Spanish should not be a forced class in American, English speaking schools.
I know that even our president says English is America's language, but he is one of the people that helped force Spanish down American's throats. Calling it, our second language. Americans have no second language. They only speak English, and if other's want to call it American English, that is fine Americans call it English.