Immigrants (legal or not) are following the same English learning patterns as immig. years ago. Why the fuss?

Question

In the past centuries of U.S. immigration, immigrants have generally arrived and learned a little English, but not become fluent. The second generation has been bilingual, and the third is monolingual English.

The article below has great stats, but points out that among 2nd generation Hispanics, 92% speak English "very well" or "well."

So why all the fuss about English? The language isn't in danger, and Hispanic immigrants are learning it just like Italians and Germans did before. (better than many Germans, in fact). As an English intructor, I'm not worried at all.

http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=282

Please, folks... If you want to disagree with me, that's fine, but please cite a source if you claim these facts are wrong.

Answer 1

Thanks for the link. Yes, I've heard of this study. And frankly I don't understand why people are so worried. My grandparents are swedish immmigrants and yes, even now they still don't have perfect command of english. My dad however doesn't speak any swedish at all. As you've said, this follows the pattern for immigration from earlier times.

It could be because of all the media hype, to steer our attention away from weightier issues such as false intelligence in Iraq, political scandals, etc.

Answer 2

I agree completely with your final sentence. I'm not worried at all either. Hispanic immigrants learn English very well and acceptably quickly and by the third generation are monolingual English-speaking and American as apple pie. If in some individual cases their assimilation is impeded or unduly delayed, it is certainly not because of a delay in achieving a high level of proficiency in English. There can be no real disagreement on that point.

But if you're suggesting that there's no more to it than that, then we are very much on different pages. Your implication would be that illegal Hispanic immigrants who speak flawless English should be moved to the front of the line and be put on an accelerated path to legal status for that reason alone.

The felt need for immigrants to learn English without undue delay is based on a felt need not to delay or impede assimilation, which is finally emerging as an important objective and beginning to appear without apology in this era of multiculturalism as a prerequisite to the receipt of a hearty welcome to the United States. Multiculturalism is OK within limits, but when it comes down to what trumps what, the survival of our national culture trumps the nurturing of multiculturalism every time. The learning of English is not the end, it is merely one of the means to the end of facilitating assimilation rather than inhibiting it.

If we disagree about the importance of assimilation and the necessity for removing impediments to it rather then erecting them or, worse, agitating for our government to erect them, let's talk about assimilation instead of chickenfighting in a vacuum, without context, over statistics on the rate at which immigrants learn English.

In fact, the word "assimilation" appears nowhere in your question: Why the fuss?

Well, actually, that's why.

Answer 3

The problem is that people are pressed into learning Spanish (especially in the South) because illegal immigrants, presumably your first generation non-English speakers become so populous that it becomes neccessary to learn Spanish in order to make a decent wage. Also, the illegals tell us that they have all the rights we have (not constitutionally!) and are Americans like us, and to drive home this point, they do what? Wave Mexican flags! What's up with that?

Answer 4

The question is not can they speak English or how fast they can learn it, it is how they want to get their citizenship. Most of the illegals want it given to them, because they work at a factory or for a U.S. company. The United States has a procedure that has to be followed and that procedure should not be exempt for anyone. Get your papers the correct way and their will be no problem.

Answer 5

The fuss is that the illegal immigrants of today want us to cater to them by having the option of English or Spanish. If they were really trying to blend in and become a member of US society (like previous generations) they would attempt to learn our language, instead of complaining that we won't learn theirs.

Answer 6

The fuss is not just about the English language but I will say I am tired already of seeing so many products now putting their labels in English and Spanish. They are catering to the Mexicans. This should be stopped and they can sink or swim in our national language.

Answer 7

Well NO they are not, the immigrants coming right now are being given Spanish or their language spoke to them HERE when my ancestors had to learn the language or lose out. It is NOT the same.

Answer 8

Because not all are. Many refuse to speak anything but their first language and don't want to even try to learn English. It really depends upon your geographical location.

Answer 9

I don't disagree, but I think you are missing the point (along with a LOT of other Americans). The problem is ILLEGAL immigration...pure and simple. Not Spanish, French, German, or even English...it's ILLEGAL immigration.

Answer 10

What's more and should make them feel better, but they don't see it.

Spanish is gone by the third generation, and this is a fact.

second generation members are usually, not always, bi-linguals, but by the third generation: bang! The assimilation is complete, isn't that what you want?