1 million hispanics in Colorado now according to the Census 2010 (Boulder: middle school, college)

[Wonderful Jellal]

Impressive for a non-border state of 5 million inhabitants !

[Bideshi]

Originally Posted by Wonderful Jellal

Impressive for a non-border state of 5 million inhabitants !

The demographcs are undeniable. The US will inexorably, and not-so-gradually, become a majority hispanic Spanish speaking country.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by Bideshi

The demographcs are undeniable. The US will inexorably, and not-so-gradually, become a majority hispanic Spanish speaking country.

More likely a bi-lingual Spanish/English speaking country since much of the rest of the world uses English for business. Since we're more wired together via the internet I anticipate English will remain the common language we use in the workplace. However, they should probably start requiring kids to take both languages in school.

[bovinedivine]

My daughter was in an immersion, bilingual public school program in Boulder from K-5. Half of the students in the "Escuela" were native English speakers; half native Spanish speakers. She continued a similar track through middle school, continued with her Spanish in high school, and just declared Spanish as her minor in college. She's not totally fluent yet, still struggles with verb conjugations (!) but she learned from native Spanish-speaking teachers and has a wonderful accent that will open doors for her for the rest of her life. Hands down, one of the best aspects of her education.

[CosmicWizard]

I had 3 years of Spanish during my high school days in the 60s. Wish I'd have taken it more seriously. Having a second language ( any language ) is a good skill to possess. I'm tossing around the idea of spending at least part of the year living in a Spansih speaking country like Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, or even Ecuador. Knowing how to speak Spanish would come in handy. Except for Ecuador, there are well established expat communities in those countries, but hanging out exclusively with other expats would defeat the purpose of living in a different culture...but ya gotta know Spanish to get out and mingle with the locals.

[CTownNative]

I personally know alot of Hispanics who are very Americanized, and you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them and your average working American White man or woman. When I was in high school there was other people my age i could tell were either from another country or first generation American, and they would speak Spanish with their other Hispanic(mostly Mexican though) friends. But if I ever talked to them they knew how to speak English. Some had a heavy accent from where they came from, but I could still clearly understand them. The only thing they wouldn't know is some of the American slang words, and I would tell them what it meant. One of the priests at my church is also from Mexico, he has a heavy accent, but knows how to speak English very well. Thats my 2 cents.

[pyrotech]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

I had 3 years of Spanish during my high school days in the 60s. Wish I'd have taken it more seriously.

Same here. I took 2 years of it in middle school, and 2 years in high school. I didn't have any Spanish-speaking friends (still don't), and moved to Vermont, where the common languages are English and French. I don't care for French, but love Spanish. I wish I'd have stuck with it. Many of my neighbors now speak Spanish, and it'd be nice to be able to have a conversation with them, even if it's mostly small-talk.

[CosmicWizard]

My best buddy in the Air Force was a second generation Mexican kid from California. I loved that guy. He was a great friend. We had some really good times together at Keesler AFB in MS, but then we both got restationed to different bases and we lost contact with each other. I often wonder if he is still alive, and if so, what is he up to.

[Katarina Witt]

When I was in school in Pennsylvania, I took French. We were not *that* far from Canada (the port of Erie, PA flies the Canadian flag), and Jackie Kennedy made speaking French very "chic".

My kids rebelled against the idea that all Coloradans should speak Spansh, and took French and German, respectively. Now they'd like to learn Spanish.

DH took Spanish in high school in Nebraska, but he can't reall converse with someone in Spanish.

[Isitmeorarethingsnuts?]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

I had 3 years of Spanish during my high school days in the 60s. Wish I'd have taken it more seriously. Having a second language ( any language ) is a good skill to possess. I'm tossing around the idea of spending at least part of the year living in a Spansih speaking country like Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, or even Ecuador. Knowing how to speak Spanish would come in handy. Except for Ecuador, there are well established expat communities in those countries, but hanging out exclusively with other expats would defeat the purpose of living in a different culture...but ya gotta know Spanish to get out and mingle with the locals.

Interesting that you think it wise to learn the language of the country you are going to. What an original thought.