I'll wait for a Canadian friend to confirm, but Quebec is the bilingual, not all of Canada. In fact, English is the SECOND language in Quebec. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
I know that English is the primary language outside of Quebec and that French is the primary language within Quebec, but I pretty sure all Canadians can speak both. Correct me if I'm wrong, Canadians.
I know that English is the primary language outside of Quebec and that French is the primary language within Quebec, but I pretty sure all Canadians can speak both. Correct me if I'm wrong, Canadians.
Actually, Quebec is NOT bilingual. They have laws AGAINST having certain things in English too big or on top. (really stupid, I know). And no, I'm Canadian and certainly cannot speak french, and nor can my mother or dad. It does help being billingual when applying for government jobs, as many it's required. Out west there are a lot less French speakers, it all depends.
Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
I'm afraid I don't have my notes around anymore, but about a year ago I took a Communication Sciences and Disorders class, and in one lecture we learned that full immersion is far from the best method to learn a second language. As I recall, the best is a set of classes taught in the first language, and a set taught in the second (more or less what Kenny said about bilingual education). I'm not 100% on that, but I'm fairly sure it's that set-up. Unfortunately there are many complications with such a strategy - lack of funds and teachers are the main concerns - but ultimately it's the most effective method of teaching. To drop people into full immersion and expect them to learn English quickly is rather ludicrous.
Why the hubub about several languages? America has 250 million people roughly comprising 2 main languages. That's a walk in the park compared to Europe's multitude of languages.
Hell in Norway, we have 2 kinds of Norwegian as official languages in addition to the sami language spoken by the natives of northern Norway (kinda like our "indians"). One is mostly located in the western parts of Norway (most akin to the dialect I use, really), and the other capital-variant the most dominant (which I had in school).
When Norway of 4 million can have 3 official languages, then the US of A certainly can have 2.
Besides, as many have pointed out, learning languages is an asset, and the more languages you start to learn early on, the more languages you are likely to master. Learn spanish, and you can communicate with the rest of your hemisphere, so why not? We have both kinds of norwegian, mandatory english, and most of us german and/or french as well in school. I regret I never made much of an effort with the german I had, although I can spell out words and simple sentences in writing.
One nation, one language is just chauvinist crap. The govenrment is of the people for the people, and if a large portion of the population speaks a different language, well, the government must be able to use that language as well. The hispanics should learn english too of course, but it's really a matter of respect.
And the line must be drawn somewhere too, of course, but the US could well afford spanish as an official language. At least in the states where spanish is widespread. Again, it's about respect really.
Peace
Dan
"YOU [humans] NEED TO BELIEVE IN THINGS THAT AREN'T TRUE. HOW ELSE CAN THEY BECOME?" - Death
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
I know that English is the primary language outside of Quebec and that French is the primary language within Quebec, but I pretty sure all Canadians can speak both. Correct me if I'm wrong, Canadians.
I am bilingual, but i think it's still a minority that is bilingual in Quebec and Canada, although i think by the stats there are more bilingual in Quebec mostly for geographical reasons, of course i could be wrong.
The only problem in Canada is in the education system, both second language learning are not really efficient, reform in second language programs would be needed and the addition of a third language programs should be encourage (spanish)
When you go up to University level, french is considered a foreign language in Canada, so this must also be corrected.
"L'homme est né libre, et partout il est dans les fers"
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Actually, Quebec is NOT bilingual. They have laws AGAINST having certain things in English too big or on top. (really stupid, I know). And no, I'm Canadian and certainly cannot speak french, and nor can my mother or dad. It does help being billingual when applying for government jobs, as many it's required. Out west there are a lot less French speakers, it all depends.
What was stupid was when english signs were the norm and majority in Quebec, even with a huge majority of peoples being francophones, but that is forgotten AND forgiven easily. I said many times, now bill 101 could be reopened and adjusted, but it will never disappear, even if people like you think it's stupid.
"L'homme est né libre, et partout il est dans les fers"
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Comments
I know that English is the primary language outside of Quebec and that French is the primary language within Quebec, but I pretty sure all Canadians can speak both. Correct me if I'm wrong, Canadians.
Actually, Quebec is NOT bilingual. They have laws AGAINST having certain things in English too big or on top. (really stupid, I know). And no, I'm Canadian and certainly cannot speak french, and nor can my mother or dad. It does help being billingual when applying for government jobs, as many it's required. Out west there are a lot less French speakers, it all depends.
There's a big difference between 'the essentials' and 'a lot of the language'.
naděje umírá poslední
Hell in Norway, we have 2 kinds of Norwegian as official languages in addition to the sami language spoken by the natives of northern Norway (kinda like our "indians"). One is mostly located in the western parts of Norway (most akin to the dialect I use, really), and the other capital-variant the most dominant (which I had in school).
When Norway of 4 million can have 3 official languages, then the US of A certainly can have 2.
Besides, as many have pointed out, learning languages is an asset, and the more languages you start to learn early on, the more languages you are likely to master. Learn spanish, and you can communicate with the rest of your hemisphere, so why not? We have both kinds of norwegian, mandatory english, and most of us german and/or french as well in school. I regret I never made much of an effort with the german I had, although I can spell out words and simple sentences in writing.
One nation, one language is just chauvinist crap. The govenrment is of the people for the people, and if a large portion of the population speaks a different language, well, the government must be able to use that language as well. The hispanics should learn english too of course, but it's really a matter of respect.
And the line must be drawn somewhere too, of course, but the US could well afford spanish as an official language. At least in the states where spanish is widespread. Again, it's about respect really.
Peace
Dan
"Every judgment teeters on the brink of error. To claim absolute knowledge is to become monstrous. Knowledge is an unending adventure at the edge of uncertainty." - Frank Herbert, Dune, 1965
I am bilingual, but i think it's still a minority that is bilingual in Quebec and Canada, although i think by the stats there are more bilingual in Quebec mostly for geographical reasons, of course i could be wrong.
The only problem in Canada is in the education system, both second language learning are not really efficient, reform in second language programs would be needed and the addition of a third language programs should be encourage (spanish)
When you go up to University level, french is considered a foreign language in Canada, so this must also be corrected.
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau
What was stupid was when english signs were the norm and majority in Quebec, even with a huge majority of peoples being francophones, but that is forgotten AND forgiven easily. I said many times, now bill 101 could be reopened and adjusted, but it will never disappear, even if people like you think it's stupid.
-Jean-Jacques Rousseau