English Only Legislation (neighborhood, living, military)

[CBaillo]

exactly...and many of my relatives have HORRIBLE accents. Some of them had to learn english at 40-50 years old,but at least they speak the language, at least they try, at least they conform to the culture instead of forcing everybody into theirs.

I'm the only one in my family w/out an accent. But whenever an american is around we always speak in English. Anything else would be rude.

People do not understand their rights to want to speak their language does not supercede my right to understand what they are saying. You want to keep speaking your language? FINE, keep doing so, nothing is stopping you...but LEARN ENGLISH TOO.

If i went to live in mexico and refused to learn spanish...i would be deemed crazy, rude, lazy, and i'm sure a bunch of other things.

[Vicman]

You wouldn't want to go to Mexico's public schools anyway.

Also, U.S. public schools are required to teach EVERYONE, not just people who know English. That means that the boy who doesn't know English but knows Tamil MUST be taught in Tamil by the school district. The school district's job is to teach the boy English and instruct the boy in Tamil until he knows enough English.

[CBaillo]

why learn english if the schools are catering to you anyway? like i said it fosters laziness. Nothing better than immersion learning for children, trust me they pick it up fast.

Though i was born here in america for financial reasons my mother sent me to live w/ relatives in the philippines my first 4 years of life. When I came back in the first week of August I spoke no English, absolutely none! My mother had already enrolled me into kindergarten which started in September.

Mind you, even HER AND I didn't understand each other, because my father's family spoke a different dialect than her. She sat down with me every night for that month from when she came home from work, to when it was time to bed and taught me English and her dialect so we could understand each other.. Nonstop. 20 days. Guess what? started my first day of kindergarten in september, teacher had no idea i just got in from a foreign country. Just because its hard doesnt mean it cant be done.

that's part of this country's problem, is people arent even willing to try anymore. I ABHOR this lazy attitude.

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by CBaillo

Just because its hard doesnt mean it cant be done.

that's part of this country's problem, is people arent even willing to try anymore. I ABHOR this lazy attitude.

This is a broad generalization that fails to deal with reality. Some people may be more or less willing than others "to try," but it's wholly unfair and short-minded to slam every new immigrant as lazy or otherwise unwilling to learn. What's LAZY is jumping to broad conclusions instead of dealing with the complexities of language and immigration issues on the ground.

Besides, there are few things more UN-AMERICAN than collective punishment. That's NOT what this country is about.

[CBaillo]

and i think the time for excuses is done. The time for catering is done.

[snb3]

Originally Posted by cre8

This is a broad generalization that fails to deal with reality. Some people may be more or less willing than others "to try," but it's wholly unfair and short-minded to slam every new immigrant as lazy or otherwise unwilling to learn. What's LAZY is jumping to broad conclusions instead of dealing with the complexities of language and immigration issues on the ground.

Besides, there are few things more UN-AMERICAN than collective punishment. That's NOT what this country is about.

So you call it a "broad generalization" for those who can't deal with reality regarding those that can't speak English? My reality as an immigrant was that I learned whatever necessary to become part of this culture.

How about this: How many other languages does an average person from Mexico/Central America speak other than Spanish in their native country? And yet, they feel the entitlement that USA accomodate them in their own speak?

Lazy is not jumping to conclusions, lazy is not trying. And since when did education become "collective punishment"?

So until those same countries with persons that demand English not be the official language of the US, put out ballots or any other legal documents and schools in 5 languages other than Spanish, they can pound sand.

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by snb3

So you call it a "broad generalization" for those who can't deal with reality regarding those that can't speak English? My reality as an immigrant was that I learned whatever necessary to become part of this culture.

How about this: How many other languages does an average person from Mexico/Central America speak other than Spanish in their native country? And yet, they feel the entitlement that USA accomodate them in their own speak?

Lazy is not jumping to conclusions, lazy is not trying. And since when did education become "collective punishment"?

So until those same countries with persons that demand English not be the official language of the US, put out ballots or any other legal documents and schools in 5 languages other than Spanish, they can pound sand.

I'm glad you brought this up. It's lazy to jump to conclusions and smack millions of people with the same assumption, is what I wrote. I stand by that.

I'm an immigrant, too. But I came from a rich country in northern Europe that requires English instruction starting in the second grade -- and STILL the language transition was tough when I first arrived here. The economies of Mexico and Latin America hardly have the money to teach their populations proper Spanish. How can we expect them to be fluent in a second? This is what we're dealing with when they show up here!

What do we gain by collectively lambasting these people because they come from circumstances less fortunate than ours?

[Vicman]

In TX, the schools HAVE to make the kids learn English - the state requires all high school seniors to graduate with passing grades from TAKS, including an English essay portion. The TAKS tests are always given in English after the 6th grade.

This should be the optimal solution, then

Originally Posted by CBaillo

why learn english if the schools are catering to you anyway? like i said it fosters laziness. Nothing better than immersion learning for children, trust me they pick it up fast.

Though i was born here in america for financial reasons my mother sent me to live w/ relatives in the philippines my first 4 years of life. When I came back in the first week of August I spoke no English, absolutely none! My mother had already enrolled me into kindergarten which started in September.

Mind you, even HER AND I didn't understand each other, because my father's family spoke a different dialect than her. She sat down with me every night for that month from when she came home from work, to when it was time to bed and taught me English and her dialect so we could understand each other.. Nonstop. 20 days. Guess what? started my first day of kindergarten in september, teacher had no idea i just got in from a foreign country. Just because its hard doesnt mean it cant be done.

that's part of this country's problem, is people arent even willing to try anymore. I ABHOR this lazy attitude.

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by Vicman

In TX, the schools HAVE to make the kids learn English - the state requires all high school seniors to graduate with passing grades from TAKS, including an English essay portion. The TAKS tests are always given in English after the 6th grade.

This should be the optimal solution, then

Yes, and a good reason for not denying "them" education.

[snb3]

Originally Posted by cre8

I'm glad you brought this up. It's lazy to jump to conclusions and smack millions of people with the same assumption, is what I wrote. I stand by that.

I'm an immigrant, too. But I came from a rich country in northern Europe that requires English instruction starting in the second grade -- and STILL the language transition was tough when I first arrived here. The economies of Mexico and Latin America hardly have the money to teach their populations proper Spanish. How can we expect them to be fluent in a second? This is what we're dealing with when they show up here!

What do we gain by collectively lambasting these people because they come from circumstances less fortunate than ours?

I, too come from a country (South Asia) that used to be poor like Latin America. Similar to where you're from, English is taught as a requirement. But the "Poor country" excuse doesn't work. If it is their excuse, those countries will be poor forever and have no future. Don't ruin ours. My country was poor, no longer. Stronger case in point: all those so called poor 3rd world countries with English call centers serving us.

It was tough. But as they say, the tough get going, tough don't quit. The tough at least give effort. I suppose we've had somewhat similar experiences growing up.

By reading your 2nd paragraph, you suggest in practical terms, that the US subsidize Latin America's educational & social system. In effect, thats the end result of what your supporting, either pay for their citizen's education or as you suggest, don't and as a result, the dumbing down of our country to where language skills are not needed.
The problem is, many refuse to learn. There's all kinds of schools, online courses, books, etc. They simply choose to watch Univision and listen to Cucuy.
what country do you want to live in?