Should learning Chinese or Spanish be a required class in U.S. schools?
341087
It's already required in the school where I teach. Actually by the time they leave 8th grade they've had four languages in addition to English. \n\nWe begin teaching French in kindergarten and add Spanish in 3rd grade. Chinese is then required in addition to Spanish in 4th and 5th grade. In sixth grade they have a quarter of Spanish, a quarter of Chinese, a quarter of French and a quarter of Latin. In 7th and 8th grade they then choose one of the four languages for a two year extensive study that earns them a high school credit. \n\nOf course I think it should be required. If you have any question refer to a March edition of "Newsweek" magazine. Chinese is the shift. With so many dealings with China it has become imperative in the business world that we know how to communicate. Spanish is obviously important as well because of the exposure we have in immigration. Travel itself makes learning of various languages so important.\n\nAs a traveller, I notice that when I go to other countries that many Americans just "expect" people in the country they are visiting to speak English. This infuriates me. You are a visitor to THEIR country!! Make the effort! Don't feel entitled!!\n\nI love the fact that my children will be multilingual growing up. I so hope to expose them to the same travels I've been lucky enough to experience. And if they do embark on these journeys, I do pray they communicate well and show that Americans do make an effort!
694410
Other than Spanish class, or maybe a supplemental to Spanish class, would be a Spanish/English dictionary. I had that and a book on conjugating verbs (I took a Spanish class in high school, but unfortuneately my Spanish still sucks).
668765
Yes, it should be required.  US is the only country where people don't feel the need to learn another language.  In most other countries, people are at least bi-lingual.  I believe it makes a better rounded individual and gives appreciation for other cultures.  Besides, learning a language is MUCH easier when you are young; as a grown-up, it's very difficult.
132416
Some schools should look for ways to offer options, but actually- Spanish is becoming the second most important language in this country!   French is next to useless in many states.  Latin is barely useful- its helpful but has little application in the job market.  A great school might offer a remote classroom where motivated students could learn japanese, urdu, german,arabic, or russian or whatever.  Basic comprehension of spanish is important. If the student wants to study french, italian, or latin- then a background in spanish will still be useful due to some similarities in structure.
554034
English should be mandatory to live in this country. We shouldn't have to learn another language just to get by in our everyday lives. Not being ignorant or anything. People should be cultural and speak other languages. I just don't think Americans should have to know a second language to get along in life. I also don't think we should have to press one for English on every phone call we make. That should be a given.
639191
Sure, so let's have them not learn English.  Now they can't get educated because classes are in English. They cannot get a good job because American businesses operate in English.  They cannot even go to the grocery store and guarantee that they will be understood.  Hispanics should not be forced to learn English but they should be encouraged to take that option when presented.
577537
ok well heres what i see. private schools teach second language early on like in Middle school. and most always it is spanish. however, in public schools i believe they dont teach it until highschool. and by then you can choose what language to take. it doesnt have any negative effect. only positive. helps in future a lot for communications. especially if you live in California haha
393301
I agree. I guess we should ALL LEARN SPANISH and forget American History.  Who needs English, we should BEND OVER BACKWARDS FOR LATINO IMMIGRANTS, and IGNORE THE ASIAN IMMIGRANTS WHO BUST THEIR HUMP TRYING TO LEARN ENGLISH. WE SHOULD IGNORE THE HAITIANS WHO COME TO AMERICA AND HAVE TO BUST THEIR HUMP TRYING TO LEARN ENGLISH. WE SHOULD IGNORE THE AFRICAN AND EASTERN EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS WHO COME TO AMERICA AND LEARN THE LANGUAGE. WHY ARE SOME AMERICANS SO STUPID? WHY DO SOME AMERICANS GET OFFENDED WHEN YOU TELL THEM THAT HISPANIC IMMIGRANTS NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH. WHY SHOULD WE BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO HAVE THINGS IN SPANISH IF WE DON'T ACCOMODATE OTHER IMMIGRANTS THAT HAVE COME IN THE PAST AND ARE CURRENTLY COMING FROM OTHER PLACES LEGALLY. TO ME THAT IS VERY, VERY RACIST. WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT SPANISH? OUR FOUNDING FATHERS SPOKE ENGLISH, OUR CONSTITUTION IS IN ENGLISH, OUR STATE LEGISLATURES AND CONGRESS IS HELD IN ENGLISH, THE PRESIDENT GIVES HIS SPEECHES IN ENGLISH,ETC. IF YOU COME TO AMERICA, LEARN ENGLISH. This directed at TishaTiger,lynda_vosbein,PANCHA,kid_rigo92, and wongmoxy. As for those that said that we should learn a native tongue is missing the point. Why don't the Mexican government speak Nauhautl(the Aztec language)? Why don't Spanish-speaking countries learn the native language of the indigeous people? Because the Spaniards and Spanish-speaking governments see these languages as being INFERIOR to Spanish AND BECAUSE SPANISH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THESE COUNTRIES.IF YOU EXPECT TO IMMIGRATE TO A SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRY LIKE ARGENTINA OR CHILE, IMMIGRANTS ARE EXPECTED TO SPEAK SPANISH. THAT IS FOR ALL OF THE GERMANS, ITALIAN, FRENCH AND EVEN IRISH IMMIGRANTS TO THOSE COUNTRIES. SPANISH COUNTRIES DO NOT HAVE FORMS IN ITALIAN FOR THE ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS, FRENCH FOR THE FRENCH IMMIGRANTS, GERMAN FOR THE GERMAN IMMIGRANTS, OR EVEN GAELIC FOR THE IRISH IMMIGRANTS. IT IS EXPECTED THAT IF THEY WANT TO IMMIGRATE TO THESE SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES, THAT THEY KNOW THE LANGUAGE, SPANISH. WHY SHOULD THE UNITED STATES HOLD OURSELVES TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD THAT SOME OF THESE SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES HOLD THEIR IMMIGRANTS TO?AGAIN, I think that's racist. \n  I know I am rambling on, but the point is if you come to America, learn English, don't expect us to learn your language if the SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES WON'T DO IT FOR THE NATIVES OR FOR THEIR IMMIGRANTS. It is expected that if you want to immigrate that you should learn the language. The US should be no exception to that rule.\n\n I AGREE WITH YOU 100%.
916365
I'd recommend Mandarin Chinese.  It is very different from English and so it will stimulate new and different parts of your brain.  Also, China may be taking over the world soon.\nIf not that, how about International Sign Language?  Again, a very different language, and a useful one, too.
193082
Tape courses are not bad because Spanish is not a  difficult language to learn. After having acquired the sense of the languages, listening to their songs and watching their tv serials (especially Mexican) can also help alot.
123995
Yes, it is recommended.  Children absorb so teach them all you can.  I am trying to learn Spanish now and finding it difficult.
13153
I'd say Mandarin Chinese. Not only do you have to learn words ... inflection is also key ... and there are four inflections you can put on any word/syllable. And some of the words are best pronounced in a sing-song sort of tone. \n\nJapanese is definitely easier because it is not so heavily dependent on inflection. \n\nFrench, Spanish and German are all a piece of cake compared to Mandarin Chinese.
784080
It's going to depend on which languages you want to learn.  If the languages you want to learn are European in origin, I have a suggestion.  \n\nWhen I was in High School, I wanted to take a foreign language course, and I had to choose between Spanish and French. I chose Spanish, but for various reasons, I failed it. For the next 24 years I was under the impression that I couldn't learn a second language.\n\nThen when my daughter was taking Spanish in High School, I found that I still remembered quite a bit of it, and began to rethink my impression about my linguistic ability.\n\nOne day I read that Esperanto was the easiest language on earth to learn. I began learning it as an experiment to see if I really could learn a foreign language. Now I'm fluent at it, and have gone on to learn Spanish (I finished the 3 Pimsleur's Spanish courses in 1 year), and moved on to German. Later I learned a little Polish (to take a business trip to Poland) and studied Mandarin Chinese (just because a friend told me about the free course work on chinesepod.com).\n\nKnowing Esperanto first, helped greatly in my other linguistic experiences, but the thing that surprised me the most was that there is a culture around Esperanto that is alive and vibrant, with Music and Literature (both translated and original). Esperanto is my favorite of all the languages, and the easiest to learn of all my language experiences.\n\nPope John Paul II has called Esperanto the "New Latin".  \n\nThis article on Wikipedia is a very interesting article about the benefits of learning Esperanto before other languages.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaedeutic_value_of_Esperanto
1120219
Spanish shouldn't be America's national language but neither should English. The US has survived for over 200 years with a national language. We don't need one now.
1048249
From an article I wrote:\n\nWhy Learning Chinese is a Smart Business Move\n\nBy Matthew Worley\n\n \n\nTop 10 Reasons\n\n \n\nLike most Westerners, just a few years ago you might not have been thinking very much about China.  However, these days China is all over the news.  You, like more and more people, may be wondering, “Should I be learning Chinese?”  The answer is a resounding "Yes".  The following are the top 10 reasons why learning Chinese is a smart business move for the young professional or career-minded person.\n\n \n\nBecause the world is changing \n \n\nYou've heard it before.  Globalization.  Outsourcing.  Opening of free trade.  The US, while still important, must now share the stage with other countries, primarily China.  With China's admittance to the WTO, a large trade balance in its favor, and its booming economy, the need to interact with China is apparent.\n\n \n\nBecause everyone else is doing it \n \n\nOK, so not everyone else is learning Chinese.  But did you know that Chinese is the fastest-growing language studied in the US?  Enrollment in college Chinese language courses is at an all-time high.  Recently a bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress to provide Chinese language classes even for high school students.  Other countries are even more advanced in this regard.\n\n \n\nTo stay competitive \n \n\nIn a few short years, these myriads of workers fresh out of college will be hitting the work force with Chinese speaking skills.  By learning Chinese now, you set yourself apart as a proactive person.  Not only will you position yourself to compete with the new entrants, you can also take advantage of increased opportunities that arise as trade with China grows.\n\n \n\n \n\nGlobal supply chains \n \n\nBut your company has its factories in the US, you say.  But will it always have?  What about the subcomponents or raw materials?  Even US-based manufacturing firms are discovering that to maintain competitive cost structures, they often must deal with global supply chains and sourcing.  Of course, the largest provider of the subcomponents and raw materials is China.\n\n \n\nManufacturing \n \n\nChina has 1.3 billion people, a workforce that is good at labor-intensive jobs, and lower costs.  Enough said.  But these factories often have foreign management, consultants, accountants, etc.  And these factories also have to deal with the other end of the global supply chain.  By learning Chinese, you can help provide the links between these factories and American companies.\n\n \n\nBecause the Chinese market is the largest consumer market in the world \n \n\nIt's not just about manufacturing and outsourcing any more.  Today, Western companies are looking at the Chinese economy as potentially the most profitable market in the world.  According to the Department of Commerce, more than 16,000 American companies sell products in China.  The China of today is not the China of yesterday. In China, urban teenagers are seen walking with an MP3 player in one hand and a cell phone in the other, just as in America.  The Chinese are hungry for consumer goods -- foreign goods to boot.  Western companies need professionals with Chinese speaking skills to build links with Chinese companies, form partnerships with Chinese companies, and market, brand, and sell products to the Chinese.\n\n \n\n \n\nBecause your career may depend on it \n \n\nSo we already know that a) outsourcing to China is growing and b) there are already many young professionals in the pipeline learning Chinese.  Suppose you are a manager having to make the unfortunate decision about whose job to cut: what are you going to do?  Are you going to cut the person with the keys to potentially the most lucrative market in the world, the one who showed foresight and proactivity by going to learn how to speak Chinese to begin with?  No, I don't think so.  That person is too valuable.  Learning Chinese can only help your career and giv
310909
see... it's a little thing called freedom... maybe a grandpa of yours died for it... but people are free to talk how they want to talk and write how they want to write... if you don't like it... you don't have to talk to them... or do business at a place that caters to spanish speaking people... \nI mean in China towns accross the nation for years, Chinese and other asian languages are spoken and advertised...\n\nThe government has a lot it needs to do before it needs to worry about what language people are speaking... and as people of your "sort" seem to often say... if you don't like how America is doing it... maybe you should leave...
608454
Not particularly well.\n\nWhen I was in school, we were taught phonics, sentence structure, etc.  The current way of teaching is called whole language learning.  They throw out the basics and try to teach kids by making them read then using what they read to teach them about the language.\n\nIt's not working.  You can't build a structure without a firm foundation and the schools are trying to hang diplomas on walls that are barely upright because they have no base.