Jul 09, 2008 05:29PM GMT
Question
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Politics - United States
Do you agree with the statement 'You need to make sure your child can speak Spanish!'?
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raves +2 posted Jul 15, 2008 04:52AM GMT
Answered No
absolutely not. it shouldnt be required to be learned anywhere except in countries where it is the primary language. it should be encouraged for a child to learn a second language, though, whether it be spanish or german or french etc. they shouldnt be learning spanish to cope with the numerous people in this country who cant speak english. -
raves posted Jul 15, 2008 12:27AM GMT
Answered Si
My children are already multilingual and it is a great asset. They have more qualifications in business and in their personal lives. They consistently beat out the interview competition. They have also added ASL as one of their languages. If you want to live and work in your own back yard, don't bother. If you want to live and work all around the world, you better have four or five languages to choose from. Spanish, Madrin, English, Italian or German, and ASL would be perfect. -
raves +1 posted Jul 13, 2008 09:06PM GMT
Answered Si
It would sure help . I think he is saying that to gain the Latino vote . Hell they are just about to be the largest race here in California . I speak some Spanish . I think if taught at an early age you catch on faster .
I know this is the U.S and English should be the first language we speak . I know we get irritated when it says press one for English . But if you were in China or some place you had no idea how to speak the language ,I bet you would be happy to hear press 2 for English . -
raves +1 posted Jul 13, 2008 06:40AM GMT
Answered Si
My real answer is: depends. I'm from Miami. Not only do you need to speak Spanish to get gas in certain areas of Miami, but you also need to speak Spanish to get a large number of middle-class jobs. Otherwise, you can't communicate with target markets, suppliers, etc.
Why does this question have to be a yes or no answer, as if it were purely a matter of principle? Why can't it be a question of usefulness? A question of what the second language gives you access to? Or a question of what failing to learn Spanish or any other second language denies you access to?
I have a friend in Tupelo, Mississippi who as a result of learning Japanese as a second language is rising quickly in his bank's corporate hierarchy--due to the local Toyota plant. Is that un-American? Should he have stuck to his guns by demanding an "English only" country?
Isn't it more American to see a business opportunity, and to acquire the knowledge necessary to seize it? -
raves +1 Jul 13, 2008 08:30PM GMTI don't understand why it's a problem. My growing up in Miami has made me a hotter commodity in the nation's workforce. Without my pursuing it as a career, I've been a corporate translator for a pet-food company that sold its product to Venezuela. That was merely a tie-me-over job while I pursued graduate school for a different profession. I currently live in North Mississippi, and my Spanish has done nothing but open career opportunities for me. Why is that a problem?
The more languages you learn, the more business opportunities you will have.
English is the official language, by the way. All governmental documents must exist in English. Any other translation is merely to accommodate those who don't know English well enough for legal purposes. We have a lot of people from other countries who not only live here, but who also travel here, conduct trade with us, etc. We need translations for them if you believe in free trade.
Are you saying we should make it illegal to speak other languages in this country? Such as between two Spanish speakers in a gas station? -
raves Jul 14, 2008 06:17PM GMTBut you're forgetting those who don't immigrate here, but rather merely do business here--like the Japanese who run the Toyota plant in Tupelo, Mississippi. There are so many international businesses with operations in this country that we have an incredible amount of foreigners here on work VISAs.
You're also forgetting that the large number of immigrants here means that nationally located businesses now have connections in other countries that enable them to expand their operations. That's what happened that the pet-food company where I worked. The CEO met a Venezuelan in his neighborhood who said, "Hey, I know someone who owns grocery stores in Venezuela. That guy has to import his customers' pet supplies from other countries anyway, so why I don't I give him a call for you and see if he'd be interested in selling your products there." That's how international business gets started. Our economy depends on those types of international connections through our non-native citizens and residents.
You're also forgetting that the first generation of political dissidents to come over from countries like Cuba were mostly the older politicians who have to flee for their lives from regimes like Castro's. We grant them immediate citizenship because they know so much about the infrast...But you're forgetting those who don't immigrate here, but rather merely do business here--like the Japanese who run the Toyota plant in Tupelo, Mississippi. There are so many international businesses with operations in this country that we have an incredible amount of foreigners here on work VISAs.
You're also forgetting that the large number of immigrants here means that nationally located businesses now have connections in other countries that enable them to expand their operations. That's what happened that the pet-food company where I worked. The CEO met a Venezuelan in his neighborhood who said, "Hey, I know someone who owns grocery stores in Venezuela. That guy has to import his customers' pet supplies from other countries anyway, so why I don't I give him a call for you and see if he'd be interested in selling your products there." That's how international business gets started. Our economy depends on those types of international connections through our non-native citizens and residents.
You're also forgetting that the first generation of political dissidents to come over from countries like Cuba were mostly the older politicians who have to flee for their lives from regimes like Castro's. We grant them immediate citizenship because they know so much about the infrastructure of the enemy regime that they can provide us with insider information about our enemies.
Meanwhile, they're too old to learn a new language well. (Age does matter when it comes to learning languages.) And so they end up forming the Spanish or Russian-speaking communities. In those communities, only the older generation doesn't speak English. Their children speak English with strong accents and imperfect volcabulary. Their grandchildren speak English with no accents at all.
Our national security can't afford to deny the citizens of our enemies a speedy road to American citizenship. I know we have a booming Iraqi community since the first Gulf War and a growing Iranian community, and our government constantly taps them for information, connections, translations, etc. Without them, we'd be in the dark.
Meanwhile, like I said, those communities provide us with incredible business opportunities, both within this country and internationally. That's our primary advantage in the global economy.(less) -
raves +1 posted Jul 12, 2008 05:56AM GMT (edited)
Answered No
Obama didn't say he would mandate it, just suggested it.
I'm a liberal and don't think a child should be forced to learn Spanish if that child lives in the United States. I do think our education system should require students to become bilingual but give the students the choice of any language they want.
Learning Spanish may not be the best language for one to learn or give them the best opportunities for a successful future. It could be that Mandarin or Farsi may be more appropriate in this shrinking world
In school I had to take two years of foreign language in order to graduate, they should extended that to three of four. -
raves +1 posted Jul 11, 2008 05:40PM GMT
Answered Si
I don't quite believe that it should be spanish but I do believe it is good that our children need to learn another language. That promotes growth, competiveness and progress! That's all Obama was trying to say! Don't you want your children to be more marketable and versatile and flexible! This would be the best for our children!
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Answered No
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