Immigrants Should Really Learn English?

Question

Here's a personal example: a friend of mine came here from Colombia under a political asylum agreement and for one year her parents kept her and her sister out of school so that they could get english lessons. As a result, both girls could speak fluent english, the parents speak functional english and despite their strong South American roots their whole family is as red white and blue as the rest of us.

..... i understand that maybe there needs to be a transition period from english to spanish, but school districts should not provide Spanish language education for someone from grades K-12. School disctricts should provide for a 1 year transition period and after that it's all english. Of course i'm not saying ban Spanish in the home or the workplace as some will try to claim in their responses.

Maybe the government could even create special transition schools to help kids learn and master the english language while still learning how to add, subtract and all that. My main point is, A SPANISH-ONLY SPEAKING CHILD WHO STARTS SCHOOL AT GRADE 1 SHOULD NOT BE IN AN ALL SPANISH SPEAKING CLASS BY THE TIME HE REACHES GRADE 12.

"o6419.95751r", I knew someone like you would come along and bring along his distorted perspective. This sin't a case of "banning spanish." Like I said, no one is saying ban people from speaking spanish at home, work or in the school hallways. But ifyou coddle a child with Spanish or Chinese-only classes they're going to have a hard time at the university level due to the fact that universities don't play that game. Either you speak english there or you fail the class. And in the real world, you need to be able to speak english if you want to be a doctor, lawyer, police officer, EMT, stockbroker, mortgage broker, teacher, etc.

Answer 1

I getcha.In my area they keep the kids in separate Spanish speaking classes until they are proficient enough to be in English speaking classes.And they stay there for years.There's something wrong there.
Now I have a conspiracy theory brewing in my head.

Answer 2

Excellent idea. Parents should definitely take responsibility for the learning of their children. As it is with bilinugual education, students are getting alot of Spanish with very little English. There is no integration with English speaking children. Chinese speaking children are in one classroom, English speaking kids in another, Spanish speakers in yet another. It just like being home in China or a Spanish speaking country, not the United States And because the parents may not speak English, no practice of English in the home. A child can graduate high school and still not be fluent in English. This affects their schooling and future plans for a job or college. English immersion has actually had more proven success, seeing results often within the year and producing excellent English speakers.

Answer 3

I think it would be a great idea, if everybody did that!!! Or,if the schools had one or two classes geared to just spanish speaking students. What i mean is,instead of every teacher, in every classroom having to stop working with the kids who ALREADY know English, to help those that DON'T,maybe there could be a special classroom of spanish speaking students only, to help them learn English. That way,ALL children would benefit.

Answer 4

No, it's perfectly possible to use the immersion system for children, who pick up languages frighteningly quickly .. in Ireland some parents choose to put children in entirely Gaelic speaking schools .. all learning is through Gaelic ... and these kids become amazingly proficient ... the same for schools in other European countries ... this pussyfooting around is ridiculous, this administration could, if they would, go study what they do in other countries and check the success rate .... I mean, they certainly go to other junkets paid for by tax payers ... why not do something useful?

Answer 5

I think a universal language would be wonderful myself. I believe if you choose to live in a place that has language other than your own you should learn to speak their language as well. Slang is the really hard part for people to learn English spoken correctly is the easiest to learn. Just my opinion and thanks for asking. Good question. Have a good one:-)

Answer 6

Heres MY point. It does not harm our kids to learn another language. Americans should not be so dead set against their children learning Spanish or French or German or Japansese etc. It will help them get a better job in the future!

Answer 7

English is the language used in America. It doesn't hurt to know other languages but this is what is spoken here. Yes immigrants should learn the language of their new country.

Answer 8

I thought that Spanish was the first language in the USA now.

Answer 9

Immigrants should learn because it would make them more functional in the adoptive country. Eventually by their own they will be learning in order to survive. Otherwise they will live in a limited world of their own. Usually children of immigrants become integrated on their own.

Answer 10

why ban spanish, why not add more languages in grade schools from K-12?