Abolish bilingual education, Gingrich urges

whispering hands

almost every other coubntry teaches english as a second MANDATORY language.. while we piddle away at elective languages. I seriously agree with expanding the language predestinations of our children by requiring them to learn a second language as well as English. I have been to several other countries ( work missionary trips, and pleasure trips) and they require that all students from grade up learn English even in some places in Russia they are doing this now.. why?? Because America is a huge potential for future resource and they know that in the end they will need to speak English to accomplish work related tasks.

So why then if as Americans we also know we are to eventually relate to foreign cultures as a ned for future commerce don't WE learn a few languages ourselves?? Shoot move to Haiti.. there if ya don't speak Spanish French or Creole, you're screwed.. And Russia ya better learn it.. because we are in THEIR country.. right? so yes learn English well ( even though most Americans these days don't even speak correct forms of English anyway; I find that sad) but also embroaden your minds and learn a few other languages as well.

Collin

whispering hands wrote:

Because America is a huge potential for future resource

I doubt that's the reason.

caifan82

soulsinging wrote:

if what ever became law?

Banning bilingual education.

soulsinging wrote:

im reading marquez... in translation

I can assure you, it's not the same. So many things get lost in translation. Reading Molière in Spanish wasn't as fun as reading it in French. There are very good translation, but it's never the same.
Still, my point was actually that since this guy says that Spanish is ghetto language, then he is saying that every writer that's written a word in Spanish has lived in a ghetto, thus not worth reading (that's not what I think, but what he implies with his derogatory words).

soulsinging

caifan82 wrote:

Banning bilingual education.


I can assure you, it's not the same. So many things get lost in translation. Reading Molière in Spanish wasn't as fun as reading it in French. There are very good translation, but it's never the same.
Still, my point was actually that since this guy says that Spanish is ghetto language, then he is saying that every writer that's written a word in Spanish has lived in a ghetto, thus not worth reading (that's not what I think, but what he implies with his derogatory words).

then maybe i should pawn the books i dont have time to learn spanish just to read a novel. and there are enough good english novels to keep me occupied for a while. im not saying every hispanic immigrant should move here and master it to the point they can understand ulysses or catch-22. but learn enough to speak or read a ballot.

josevolution

Collin wrote:

I disagree, I think four months isn't plenty of time at all.

it is to get the essentials of communicating with the majority of the public ,i wen't thru this my self .........

caifan82

I just read the poll results in CNN.com, and actually 44% of the readers agree with "Do you agree with Newt Gingrich that bilingual education teaches "the language of living in a ghetto"?".

Now that's sad.

http://www.cnn.com/POLLSERVER/results/31048.exclude.html

Pearl Jam and toast

cutback wrote:

I agree although not in Newt's hate-filled, racist way.

Yeah I can understand the basic point that people need to learn English if they come to live here but jesus christ Newt.... Maybe we should find some people that aren't seething with nationalism and racism to work on this instead of people in the republican party like mr gingrich.

pjfanatic4

TheVoiceInside wrote:

"The American people believe English should be the official language of the government. ... We should replace bilingual education with immersion in English so people learn the common language of the country and they learn the language of prosperity, not the language of living in a ghetto," Gingrich said to cheers from the crowd of more than 100.

Wow... now I wonder if some African language was being taught in schools what the reaction would have been...

I know it's purely political, because minorities (hispanics) tend to vote dem, but he should be smarter than that...

kenny olav

From what I understand, bilingual education is the most effective means to teach immigrants English. There was a ballot initiative vote on bilingual education back in 2002, and I remember a local Asian immigrants' group fought against it. There's a town near me called Quincy where there is a large number of immigrants from China and Korea. Imagine moving to the U.S. from China when you are 5 or 6 years old, and you have to be immersed in English only classes. The difference between English and Spanish is nothing compared to the difference between English and Mandarin. So really, bilingual education is the only way to teach these kids, and that goes for Spanish-speaking kids too.

Now, I am all for one country/one language, or if we had two languages, then everyone in the country should learn both languages, like in Canada where I'm pretty sure everyone is proficient in both English and French. I think learning multiple languages is a great thing, and I wish I was proficient in a few other languages, but it makes things too complicated when people who live in the same area can't understand each other.

pjfanatic4

Kenny Olav wrote:

like in Canada where I'm pretty sure everyone is proficient in both English and French.

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.

kenny olav

pjfanatic4 wrote:

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.

keeponrockin

Kenny Olav wrote:

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.

Collin

josevolution wrote:

it is to get the essentials of communicating with the majority of the public ,i wen't thru this my self .........

There's a big difference between 'the essentials' and 'a lot of the language'.

shmap

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.

OutOfBreath

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

thankyougrandma

Kenny Olav wrote:

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.

thankyougrandma

keeponrockin wrote:

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.