Are We An English-Speaking Country......or Not?

And there is no reason to accommodate.

Learn English, or get out.

 

Off-topic. This thread isn't about anyone incapable of speaking English, this is about also being able to speak other languages and choosing to do so in social situations with other people who also speak that language.

 

My point is, nearly all western languages are derived from Latin and Greek.

The presumption that a country shouldn't establish one language for purpose of conducting business efficiently for fear of offending people on the basis of cultural difference is just stupid.

No other countries, liberal or otherwise, accommodate such nonsense for fear of offending.

 

It's about being in the public school system and learning how to speak English. Do you really think 35 hrs a week.....based on a total 168 hr week, that it's too much to ask?

 

First of all, we don't know exactly what she said, do we? I'd like to hear the actual announcement. I've read some articles that said, "in class," others say just "while at school on campus." The Superintendent, who is the Principal's boss, is Hispanic herself. Here's a question for consideration:

1) Are all the teachers required to be fluent in both languages? Because if they are only English-speaking......how in the world can they conduct a class with their students talking Spanish?

 

whats the fuss? trends been its the 2nd gen 3rd gen americans that speak fluent english. if they dont their kids will. Thats how the Italians did it thats how the Germans did it and so on. Relax and let the melting pot do its work.

If its really that big of a deal to you CVS has a great selection of tampons (for your ears of course).

 

The "one size government fits all" theory of the cosmos. Can't even allow people to speak Spanish. So much for freedom. I didn't realize conservatives felt that way. (Just kidding, I knew they felt that way all along.)

 

That is not true. The U.S. Military training for language program run out of Santa Barbara, California for our intelligence officers is all total immersion. The LDS church missionary program that is famous for their linguistic capabilities is immersion. I have a guy in my company that speaks Finnish which is quite amazing. The CIA pulls from the LDS Missionaries because of their amazing language skills... all taught through immersion.

Not a problem. That is how Santa Barbara does it, the LDS do it, and what is most successful. This educator was doing these kids right, but it takes some P.C. liberals to screw these kids over.

 

Yes, US English borrows many words from other cultures. That is what makes an active natual language, the definitions, use, annunciations, et al, are determined by the cultural use of the language. I.e., Spanish words are different depending on the country, as well as English, U.K, U.S, and Australia are subtely different.

Some dictionaries have the progession of languages in the front and there is a Tolkein book about the Middle Earth languages that identify the cultural use of its language.

 

There is no official language of the U.S.. Congress has never bothered making English the official language of the U.S. (of course that could be because so few Americans actually speak proper English).

 

Cubans are actually a different breed of immigrants than Mexicans, those from the Islands and Central and South America. They are generally more resourceful, better educated, or at least want to be educated, and far more HAPPY to be living here. They want to be Americans considering where they're coming from. They lean Republican because they're harder working, more responsible and want to EARN a life, rather than leech. They resemble immigrants who came through Ellis Island deep down. Far different than the hordes coming up through Mexico, ect. Hey, that's just my experience with them for the past 2-ish decades living in FL.

 

God forbid a generation actually be bilingual.

 

True, though my key correction was the distinction between explicitly banning Spanish and demanding English only (effectively banning all other languages).

 

I'd agree if this were Kindergarten or First graders. These are Middle School students. And if they have been in this country for years and still speaking Spanish in class; something is wrong.

 

The 1960s Cuban refugees were the elite of Cuba.......and mostly of European descent.........very different from the Marieolito Cubans in the 1980s.....and the current wave of Mayans sneeking into the country.

 

But then there is IELI which which has immersion in the classroom and only recommends conversational Englsih with their roommates, classmates, etc. And still, it is very successful.

The miloitary may be the one exception becasue of the mission specific requirments for its intelligence officers. Not the same thing for civilian life.

For LDS, not exactly, but it also depends on where the missionary is going.

 

But they do assimilate and yet retain their own individual ethnic identity. They are just as American as you even though English may not be the preferred language they speak.

 

No....they are not assimilating if they continue into the Middle School years speaking Spanish inside the schools. Our schools are American public schools. All the other immigrants from before had to assimilate.....that includes the Irish, Germans, Italians, and the rest.

 

People can speak whatever language they like. However, no accommodations should be offered to those who do not speak English.

 

We are not talking about just in a classroom, but also outside of a classroom. What the principal did was a contradiction to learning. For instance, one of the requirments to graduate either junior high or high school is to have a foreign language requirement. Per her statement, with no exceptions in that statement, contradicts the purpose of learning another language.

It was moronic, stupid, foolish, and unprofessional. I want Jon Huntsmann to go to her and start, very loudly, speaking to her in Manderin. Maybe then she might understand the value of more than one language.

 

You cannot define "assimilate" by just speaking the preferred language.

In Texas, we have El Mercadeo, We have Sweedish, German, and Czech establismments that retain part of their culture and language in that town or cummunity. Texas also has a vested cultural history with Mexcio and Spain. German was the second most popular language spoken until WWI and WWII came along. And all of that is part of our Texan heritage. And yet, all have assimilated by merging their culture with the excisting community at that time.

To me, you are not wanting them to assimilate, but to dictate your cultural and heritage as the only form of polical and perssonal free speech to exist. And that is why conservatism has so much to do with communism. Congrats.

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that is a circular arguemnt.

 

Yes, I know. I am a 6th generation Texan! My great-grandfather was German and spoke no English. But guess what? He came here to BE American; he WANTED to learn and speak English and do everything American. He loved this country from the moment he arrived. Now....this is NOT to say that the family STILL doesn't like to go to the German Fests and learn about where they settled and to celebrate our German heritage. But we are all American through and through and have been since that first generation who came here. It was the SAME with my Irish ancestors as well. And yes, I DO love learning about those cultures that ARE my heritage!!

Wow; insults! You're now making up your own little stories about me.

 

Yes; pyjama, bungalow to name but two. Then there's Polish (my first language), which has absorbed French and English words and modified them slightly. Take 'purse'; in French it's portmonnaie, in Polish it's portmonetka. Then the French take 'le picnic' and 'le parking' and it really never stops. I love it, frankly, and I enjoy etymology. If the the Former Colony which, I assume is America, is an example of how to mangle English into a barely recognisable version of the language then, I would have to agree. Verbs become nouns overnight, etc.
Now, Geordie is another matter altogether; and is another language trying to persuade me it's English!

 

I have no problem with accommodations being made to those when they first get here...and those in the lower level classes.....like Kindergarten and First grade. It takes a while to learn a new language....especially when its not spoken at home. And they should...and do....get help.

 

I was completely unaware that the Socialist Party was considered a conservative party.

So how is not officially, and governmentially, accommodating non-English speakers somehow destroying their culture and heritage? LOL I FEEL SO DESTROYED WHEN MY FAMILY SPEAKS SPANISH. LOL

Pretty simple, speak the English language.