Why are Americans so against becoming multilingual?

Question

I see a great demotivation in our society as compared with other cultures whose children routinely grow up bilingual, trilingual and routinely multilingual.

It is such a rush to be bilingual. I've studied Spanish in public schools since age 12. I'm 37 and a Spanish teacher. This has come through hard work, practice and from the personal enjoyment I receive by communicating with native speakers.

I've accomplished my own bilingualism but I find it difficult to motivate the average high school student.

The US educational system is at fault too for wasting time with teaching techniques and curriculum that don't get results.

Imagine teaching math to students who after years of study and practice, can't add, subtract nor mulitply.

Most schools don't begin teaching languages in the early grades and that is probably our biggest mistake.

Until Americans see the benefits of learning other languages I don't see the motivation level likely to occur. Suggestions?

Answer 1

I completely agree with you! We may be the lone superpower, but we really need to stop acting as though our language and culture are the only ones that count and broaden our horizons. I have a B.A. in Spanish with a minor in German and I work as a Spanish tutor at a college. I also took four semesters of French in college. I try to practice my languages whenever I get the chance, because like you, I also think it's a rush to be multilingual.

Answer 2

There are a few sub-questions to be discussed here.
1- It is usually not wise to generalize and put all Americans in the same category.
2- Over the years I have seen that it is rather difficult for English speaking people to lear other languages. English being the most widely used language for business, education, internet, general communication, the whole world is trying to learn it. So, whenever people encounter a native speaker (English, American etc.) they try to use this opportunity to practise their English. This of course does not give much chance to you English-speaking people to practise any other language that you are learning. You somehow do not feel the need to learn another language. And it is not your fault.
3- It is true that educational systems in a lot of countries are failing to teach other languages sufficiently, in as short a period of time as possible. There are various reasons for students not being so successful in learning languages at school. We can also ask why they are not learning their mother tongues properly.
I am an EFL teacher. I have been teaching for over thirty years now. At the same time I feel bad that my students do not care much about their mother tongue. They misuse it, make deliberate mistakes etc.
I agree that people living in the US should learn to speak English, rather than compel Americans to understand their Spanish or any other language. This does not mean however, that Americans should not learn Spanish, French, German etc. Let us not mix the two. Becoming bi-lingual or multi-lingual is a fine thing; not trying to learn the native (and official) language of a country which you want to make your new home is a negative approach on the other hand.

Answer 3

It's a vicious cycle... bi- or multi-linguism isn't routinely taught in American schools, so many Americans without an appreciation for learning in two languages, so they don't have a deep appreciation for the value of bilinguism, so they don't make a move to have in taught to their children, and so on.

Although almost all schools require a few courses in another language, this is different from a bilingual approach to learning, and rarely results in true lifelong fluency.

However, I feel most Americans do value bilinguism in itself, and the good news is that a high level of immigration and respect of diversity preserves a bilingual heritage for many Americans. Depending where in the country you live, it's likely that half the people you know are fluent in two languages, often speaking English at school or work and another language at home.

So basically, I disagree that most Americans aren't against it... they just haven't been raised to it and don't see how we can get there from here.

Answer 4

Foreign language is not offered in many American schools until middle school. Then the student has a choice... should I take Spanish/French as my elective..... or one of the "fun" electives like ... Athletics? Woodshop? Auto Mechanics? Band ? Art? Home Ec? Martial Arts??? The students enrolled in foreign language classes are there because their parents insist... and they will tell you that. They find the repetitive language skills/tapes boring. They really see no benefit in learning a second language, and they may be right depending on their career choice.

Answer 5

I think it stems not from wanting to remain ignorant of the other languages but instead wanting the English language as the primary language for the U.S. even if it isn't the "official" language of the U.S.

There is a lot of discrimination against people in the U.S. who don't speak English due to the fact that we have always been told our country is a melting pot, a lot of people come to the U.S. with the intent of continuing their old ways and languages without adopting American ways and language. What people need to realize is that a melting pot means you become a part of the new while keeping some of the old and adding that to the new.

America is a melting pot, not a stew. When a country becomes divided into different and separate cultures without adopting common ground, disaster is near.

Answer 6

Rossonero is wright, you are a too much nation. Most of people if moves himself for a thousand of kms, they find the same language, or spanish people speaking it. I am Italian and I live near Milano, in a half hour I usually go in Switzerland, one hour and I stay having a coffee in Croatia, in Wien, in Paris, in Hamburg, Madrid, Amsterdam. In a half day, also with car I can go in Hungary, England, with plane I go to Moscow, Scandinavian nations and all the countries of Middle East or the North of Africa. So you can see how are the changing, from Viking people to the sons of Muhammad, we are forced, if we want exchange, to travel, to understand. We are lucky 'cause every summer arrive in Italy almost 20,000,000 people for tourism and vacations. So also in this case they come back to their countries knowing a little Italian and leaving a little of their languages. And along the year they arrive until 50,000,000 people, 'cause we have many Art conventions, visiting industries and many Fairs that are at the centre of the Mediterranean sea. Personally I know some people arriving from other countries that have decided to live in Italy or to pass their time overall in Italy, English people in Tuscany, French people in Venitia or in the South, German people near lakes of the North or some regions producing wine. Near me George Clooney has its 'villa' on Como lake. In Tuscany lives Sting, the singer of the Simply Red has a farm in Sicily where he produces wine, and many, many, many others, there's also an aboriginal american that lives on the Ligurian hills. All that not to be superior, but to say that the geographic form is very important. I'm happy to live in a part of the world where intercultural exchange are not only the condition of the great cities, that, it's really creative, moving minds, knowing and understanding. Ciao and sorry for my little English.

Answer 7

It is a matter of arrogance, ignorance, ethnocentrism, narrow mindedness, pride, fear, and some other things that I cannot remember now. They still live in the prehistoric idea of english being necessary and only english. Of course, that is as old as the Stone Age ( sort of the same thing ) because even in the very USA, Spanish is becoming more and more necessary if you want to find a job.
As Guillermo Alvarez Guedes said once: "The yanks sooner or later will have to move back to England unless they begin to learn Spanish"

Answer 8

I think one of the issues that is keeping most American's from WANTING to learn another language (Spanish in particular) is that a majority of the people who speak Spanish have made little or no effort to learn OUR NATIONAL LANGUAGE. That language is English, not Spanish or Chinese or French.

It bothers me when I call places to see where they're located or what their hours are and I have to ask that person (in Spanish) if they speak any English at all ... this is America, for heaven sake! In Mexico (and I've been there and know this first hand) the "natives" don't all speak English to me so I don't feel as alienated. I had native friends who were able to translate between us. In order for me to feel accepted fully in that country, I would need to gain at least a basic, working knowledge of the country's language. I believe that is common courtesy.

If transplants from other countries come here and expect us to learn THEIR language, I believe that is wrong. If America is such a great country, why come and change everything about it? Including it's widely-spoken language?

My great-grandfather came to this country from the Ukraine and never went back. He learned English and got a job here and made a life. I don't feel "jipped" for not being able to speak Lebanese or something just because I have that nationality in my heritage. I'm in America which was founded primarily by English-speaking European settlers.

I believe that learning a new language shouldn't be because we HAVE to, in order to communicate with an ever-growing Spanish-speaking population. I believe it should be because we WANT to be bi-/tri-/multi-lingual. I believe it should be so we can use it on a vacation to Spain or Mexico, or any other country that speaks a different language.

Answer 9

Spanish is also the second language in America but Americans want everything to be perfectly straight and in order and being multilingual is confusing.

Answer 10

It's tough because we're so physically isolated. Europeans for example can drive for an hour and wind up in another country, most americans can't do that. Plus, we see on the news people from all over the world speaking our language so we get used to the idea of them learning it so we don't bother learning theirs. I say we on the whole, I've studied a few languages myself and can get by in 4. That came after going overseas a few times and getting tired of my friends talking around me... How to motivate people who don't go to non-english speaking countries (and make friends once they get there) i really don't know.