How important will it be to be bilingual in the next 10 years?

Question

Should we all take Spanish classes starting NOW???

Answer 1

Multi lingual is more like it . . . and it will be critically important

Answer 2

I don't think it will be more important than it already is. Speaking a foreign langauge is a skill, just like knowing how to use a PC.
Yet while PC -skills are indisepensable, language skills are not.
Whether knowing a language will be useful to you depends on what you want to do in life. The language you are learning also matters. If you are planning to stay in the US all your life, then frankly, Spanish may not serve you much. There are enough people already living in the US who speak Spanish fluently. If you intend to work in South America it is vital.
If you consider a more exotic language, say Korean, you could make your career only using your language skills, since people who are bilingual in Korean-English are rare. Yet there are plenty of people who are bilingual Spanish English.

Answer 3

Okay lets say that you're an employer and are choosing two candidates-one not much experience and bilingual and the second have enough experience but monolingual.
The first would have more potential because companies usually have overseas/offshore branch and you would need someone who knows the lingo so you won't be swindled.

Anyway, being bilingual have its perks. At least you know how to curse in a different language and have the confidence that someone is not talking badly about you :)

Answer 4

i think even now it is important to be bilingual i am qualified for a lot of jobs i have applied for and have plenty of experience but i have been turned down because i am not bilingual. I dont think i will ever take spanish classes only because i lasted one semester in it and failed no matter how hard i tried but i also think that anyone who moves to the US from a different country should learn to speak english, why should WE be turned down because we dont speak a language that others can ya know? i dont understand why it cant be equal????

Answer 5

well i been 10 years in same company,and let me tell you if you want to be a manager need to be bilingual Spanish English or move out of line.
it was not like that 10 years ago.by the way guess who got the job.
am bilingual.

Answer 6

I'm Canadian... our 'bilingualism' is French, but to be honest it would do us more good to learn Punjabi or Cantonese!

It's always useful to have a 2nd language... most Europeans do.. but in most cases their 2nd language is English! Many speak several different languages, but of course they have more opportunity to use them as they are in closer proximity to other countries.

But to answer your question... no. I'm assuming you're talking about the illegal immigrant question. I think it would be foolish to accommodate those who come to a country illegally... I understand why they would want to but lets be realistic.. THEY should learn English not vice versa!

Answer 7

For people over forty, no. But if I had children, I would have them in Spanish and Chinese classes as soon as possible, even before preschool. And also teach them to read Mandarin as well as speak it.

Answer 8

Not mandatory but will help you when interfacing with people that do not speak English very well.

Also it will help them understand better when you tell them to either speak English or get the hell out of this country.

Answer 9

I dont believe it will be nay more important than it is now. However that also depends on where you live or want to live in the future etc.

Answer 10

I refuse to. This is The United States of America, where the language is English. Learn it or leave. Sorry.

Answer 11

If we want to understand other cultures and need to be understood ourselves, I think it would be quite important.

I think it is about time to make our world bigger with lesser divisions.