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And if I have two applicants for a job -- any job -- and one of them speaks both English and Spanish and one of them speaks only English, the bilingual applicant has a significant advantage. And since multilingual people are usually smarter, it's an easy choice to make. Win-win.
It was once good enough to enter the workforce speaking one language and armed with a high-school diploma. Those days are gone. What's next, throwing wooden shoes at fiber-optic cable to try to make all this multicultural stuff go away?
Hum...seems the goal post is shifting somewhat in this thread.
Seemed the consensus was "no" Americans will not have to learn Spanish for domestic communication. Active Spanish langue use will remain only small niche market concentrated among the 1st generation.
The growth in the Hispanic population going forward will be English-dominant native born individuals. They will in many/most cases know Spanish, but will prefer to use English. Language trends won't change, Spanish use might not shrink, but it won't really growth either. Spanish usage will basically just mirror the size of the foreign born Hispanic population.
Now many of those same people seem to be arguing the opposite. Leaning Spanish is just good business sense in the US. Knowing just English isn't enough anymore in the US. Times changes, populations, change, etc. Better get with it. Knowing Spanish is becoming a more essential skill over time.
On it's face, this seems somewhat at odds. Could someone please explain how these two ideas fit together?
Now many of those same people seem to be arguing the opposite. Leaning Spanish is just good business sense in the US. Knowing just English isn't enough anymore in the US.
On it's face, this seems somewhat at odds. Could someone please explain how these two ideas fit together?
Nobody is required to learn additional languages to be successful. Nobody is required to attend college, either. And it also isn't a requirement to know how to use a computer, or core programs like Office. Let's really ruin this straw man's chances by making him a high school drop out.
But let's face it, the person who applies for a job, monolingual, computer illiterate, no diploma isn't going to get the plum jobs.
And I think that's what is being lamented by the "speak English" crowd -- the fact that our workforce has changed to adapt to a global marketplace. Just wait until learning Chinese is considered de rigueur in the business world. They'll be HOWLING over that.
Nobody is required to learn additional languages to be successful. Nobody is required to attend college, either. And it also isn't a requirement to know how to use a computer, or core programs like Office. Let's really ruin this straw man's chances by making him a high school drop out.
But let's face it, the person who applies for a job, monolingual, computer illiterate, no diploma isn't going to get the plum jobs.
And I think that's what is being lamented by the "speak English" crowd -- the fact that our workforce has changed to adapt to a global marketplace. Just wait until learning Chinese is considered de rigueur in the business world. They'll be HOWLING over that.
Yeah...but I would say college (or significant training) is more or less "essential" today for a middle class lifestyle.
I guess we can argue about how to define "essential." But, in years past, knowing Spanish was never an essential general job market skill.
But, you seem to be implying that knowing Spanish is now on par with having a college education? Realistically, few jobs involve significant international contact. Yeah, those jobs will grow somewhat as the world economy becomes more globalized.
But, I'm not talking about knowledge of Spanish because you work in international business or tourism. That's maybe more like knowing a certain programing language or how to weld. A relativity niche skill for a small share of the workforce.
Do you think Spanish will become a general job market skill necessary for doing business INSIDE the US (retail, healthcare, professional services, teaching, supervising workers, customer service, etc) or remain basically a niche skill for international specialists and some immigrant focused industries?
Do you think Spanish will become a general job market skill necessary for doing business in the US (retail, healthcare, professional services, teaching, supervising workers, etc) or remain basically a niche skill for international specialists and some immigrant focused industries?
It depends.
Here in Las Vegas, having English/Spanish-speaking employees is a huge asset. Same thing in Miami. I have a feeling that along our southern border, bilingual English/Spanish will be a desirable skill set for many years to come.
And in other regions, knowing Polish or Russian or even French (Quebec) is good for business. Back at the turn of the 20th century, being able to conduct business in Italian opened up another market. (Bank of America, as an example started out in San Francisco as the Bank of Italy -- and catered to the immigrant community of the era.)
And I'll bet that if there was an Internet at the turn of the 20th century, there would be people screeching and hooting about all those Italians and their failure to assimilate, just like today.
And in other regions, knowing Polish or Russian or even French (Quebec) is good for business.
I understand in Quebec knowledge of French is essential. But, where is knowing Polish or Russian good for business outside a few small ethnic enclaves?
Nobody would tell someone aspiring to be an elementary teacher they should learn Polish.
Ok, fair enough. The one thing that I find a little bit odd about this thread is that it seems people are having it both ways.
1) Spanish speaking immigrants are just like every other immigrant group. They will adopt English by the 2nd generation. Fears about having to learn Spanish are just tea party/ right wing hysteria. Knowing Spanish is no different than Russia and Chinese today or Italian 100 years ago. Small niche markets for specialists. No need for Americans in Phoenix to know Spanish anymore than they did 20 years ago.
and yet also arguing:
2) Knowing Spanish will become an essential general job market skill in many southern parts of the US in a way that was not the case 20 years ago. This is unlike the past, but so what. Times and demographics change. If you want to work in a general public facing job you better learn Spanish. It's importance will only increase.
They WILL eventually assimilate. And it will continue to be important to know Spanish, particularly along our southern border, for many years to come.
Why? I'm a realist. They're here. We're not going to round them all up and deport them, en masse. Our constitution says that anyone who was born in America is an American. Our constitution does NOT require them to speak any particular language. So we have several million people who are on the first rung of the assimilation ladder. We're a basically decent country -- we're not going to split up families and deport everyone who can't prove they were born here or entered legally. That isn't us. (And I hope it never is.)
If people want to argue whether to close the gates, lock them and throw away the key -- that's a different debate. But where I live, knowing Spanish as well as English makes a person a more desirable hire. Full stop.
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