Why should I have to learn Spanish?

Question

I was in Spanish class today, and I asked myself... Why am I doing this? I simply answered (back to myself) well duh, there are many Spanish immigrants coming in the country. Then about 10 minutes later, I asked myself another question.... Why the hell should I have to learn another language just because of immigration. Personally, I think that English should be mandatory.

Answer 1

You don't have to learn Spanish, or any other language if you don't want to. You chose to take the class, but you do have the constitutional right to remain ignorant and monolingual.

Just don't complain if someone gets a job over you because they can speak another language and converse with international clients and customers. Immigration has nothing to do with it.

Answer 2

It seems that you constantly have conversations with yourself in class, don't you?
I agree with you (and I am not even an American), English should be mandatory.
Let me tell you that a lot of people here in Mexico decide not to learn English because they think it is an imperialist language. I know, that is stupid. I also agree with the other answerers: you do not have to learn a second language if you don't want to, or you can just learn another language. As long as you speak and write perfect English, you will be good. When I lived in the US for 1 year, I never met an American who was bilingual, except for those Americans of some hispanic heritage (and they learned Spanish at home). However, despite the monolinguism, all the Americans I met have great qualities that make the US a great nation.

Besides, here in Mexico City we also have immigration from indigenous people and I have not met a single person who bothers to learn any of the more than 50 native languages we have in Mexico.

In short, do not study what you don't like (unless it is mandatory) and continue to be a great citizen of such a great country!

Answer 3

Of course it is important for Spanish speaking immigrants who come to the US to learn English in order to communicate, but would it hurt for you to learn a little Spanish as well? It will open the doors to many opportunities and it will help you communicate with other Spanish speakers. If you go on vacation to a country where they speak Spanish it will be very helpful. And English is a very hard language to learn, so if you know Spanish you can communicate with these immigrants before they can communicate in English. Plus, it never hurts to know a second language.

Answer 4

English is mandatory, and you don't have to learn Spanish. Take another language if you don't like it, but you'll have to take something. There is no official language in this country, and it was founded by immigrants, you best suck it up and get through your two classes with a D or better.

Answer 5

You do not have to learn Spanish because of immigration. You have the right to learn whatever you want. However, there are 21 countries that use Spanish as their main language, many of them are popular tourist attractions. If you ever get the chance to travel abroad to one of these countries, people will respect and appreciate you communicating with them in their native tongue.

Answer 6

Learning another language doesn't necessarily give you an advantage in getting a job. I used to live in South Florida, where a lot of people living there don't speak English and if you don't speak Spanish like a native, you won't get hired either.

Answer 7

Wow dude. um.... english is the de facto language in the US (assuming u live there). Immigration is not forcing you to learn any other language, nor do you break the law in learning Spanish.

"Why the hell should I have to learn another language just because of immigration."

You are assuming you have to learn another language. You are wrong dude. Again dude, read your federal, state and local laws and you'll find out that, surprisingly, you are not required to "learn another language just because of immigration." It has never been required, so you dont HAVE to learn it. I hope you realized your flawed argument in your question. 2 pts please.

Answer 8

Because life isn't easy?... If you want to max out your future potential, your going to have to do somethings that seem like you shouldn't have to. In a perfect world your language would be mandatory. But you are going to be pushed into the world and its going to awfully helpful to understand those around you. We, as humans, have a need for interaction, thus, communication.

Immigration is a part of life. Why not make it easier on yourself as well as others?

Plus, most colleges require two years of a language. The big push right now is chinese because its the growing buisness language.

Answer 9

I LOVED aztrain's response........ he's just totally right.

You don't have to learn spanish..... in fact, if you don't like the idea of learning it, QUIT THE DAMN LESSONS ASAP..... you're just wasting your time and probably taking away a spot from someone who IS actually interested in learning a different language. Get out of there!!!!! Learning something new shouldn't be a pain, you should do it cuz you want to, cuz you like it and cuz you think it's the good thing to do. Forcing yourself to do something you don't want to will only lead you to failure. I hate German and haven't been able to learn any for this very same reason (and cuz it's too damn difficult).... your brain isn't receptive and it will not retain the information you get at your lessons if it's something you strongly dislike.

Answer 10

what if the immigrants just got here? they don't know english yet, especially if they are from another country than Mexico. Obviously there are many coulntries other that mexico that speak english. i mean, if you left the US because of the problems they are having in mexico and arrived somewhere where people didn't like you, couldn't understand you, and didn't want to help you, would it seem any different? think about it.