Bilingual Florida- Español, English, Spanglish?
Due to the increasing number of Hispanics in Florida, do you think the government should make Spanish the mandatory second language in schools or should they create special programs for Hispanics to improve their English? Could they do both?
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Bi-lingual Florida
In these modern times of globalization its mandatory, not a choice, not only to be bi-lingual but even multilingual.
I not only think that Spanish and English should be mandatory but I think that the choice should be on what other activities or classes we can teach our children.
Mandatory or not?
There are some situations where if there is not an obligation to do something few people will do it. Like to use the seat belt.
I live in Central Florida and although the increase in Hispanic population is not as significant as it is in South Florida, many companies and businesses are realizing the need to be able to comunicate in Spanish.
My kids go to a school where Spanish is a mandatory class since they are in first grade. It is good. It gives them the opportunity to learn a language when it is easier. On the other hand, when Spanisn is a class that can be taken or not and mostly when it is taught in high school in many cases after one or two years the students wont't remember almost anything.
Anyway the responsibility of preserve our language is ours, make the spanish teaching mandatory in our homes.
Bilingual South Florida
As an ESOL (English as a Second Language)Teacher and Spanish Teacher, in my opinion, BOTH languages should be taught in Schools.Since this is the USA, we must speak English because it is "the language" spoken here and English is an international language. But also, we must speak Spanish, since South Florida has a lot of commercial and financial business with Mexico, Central America and South America.On the other hand, Spanish shouldn't be "mandatory" in South F. It should be "the second choice"in Florida schools.Time will tell that Spanish will be,in a very short time, "the most important Second language spoken in the USA and around the world"
Bilingual Florida
As Florida is now a Multi-Cultural environment I believe that the schools should offer Spanish as a skill, not mandatory. After all the people that take concern in educating themselves are those that have an interest in evolving and be more marketable and educated, that's the idea of living in a free country. My opinion is that in general the schools should include a second language starting at an early age so that the people of Florida can be more skill and can realy contribute to the real needs of this wonderful state. As for the adults, it should be a personal task and commitment to be more qualify to take on a job that requires English/spanish. I think schools should teach adults english and offer some community service at public schools on weekends and nights so that working parents and attend.
spanish as the main issue
My thouhtin this issu is that they should have classes for those who do not speak spanish at all. English is as important as spanish. I feel that is something nice about some one that could by all means speak two or more languages. But it is a known that thatm there are 125 spanish spraking countries in the world. In this country of ours if you don't know english mostly likely you will go no where.
Global Society
Due to the proliferation of communication technologies we are quickly moving towards a global society. This is not just about Florida.....the more languages we can master and teach our children the faster this global society will come together.
Assisting newcomers to learn
Assisting newcomers to learn English would be helpful to all.
I don't like the word "mandatory" but the school system should give options for many foreigh languages. Spanish language is a great skill to have if you live in South Florida. I want my kids to know it.
First things first
I believe that being English the national language, the government should put more efforts in helping Hispanics to learn or improve their English that the other way.
English is the National Language
Engilsh should be mandatory not spanish. If the U.S. continues down this path we will completly lose our national and cultural identity. Spanish is a beautiful language, its more expressive and romantic that english, for those of us who are multi-lingual, but so is Italian and French. The point is here that those who chose to emigrate to another country must know that with that immigration must come assimilation of a new culture and its language. To impose a foriegn language upon any nation, especially in our public school system is morally and ethically wrong. Many lives have been lost to create this nation and perserve its freedoms and ideals which part of it in fact is language. Newcomers have ALOT to learn about these things, they are the foundation of this republic for which it stands and it is these principals have created the opportunity for a better life to all who immigrate here. Engilsh should be mandatory, every other language should only be made available at your option.
Mandatory Language ?
I agree that Spanish should NOT be mandatory. But we have to be careful about making English mandatory as well. What happens to the older people who immigrate here due to politcal or family reasons? Should we "REQUIRE" them to learn English? That is simply unrealistic and unfair. Granted, ALL immigrants should a least TRY to learn the langauge. They SHOULD be self motivated.
Although I am very conservative, I believe that the government should do all that is possbile to MOTIVATE immigrants to learn English in order to make their assimilation simpler. We live in a free society; requiring people to learn a language (no matter what language) goes against everything that this Country stands for. IF, we are serious about our own success in this country, we must take advantage of every possible opportunity that comes our way. That includes all immigrants as well as all anglos, regardless of where they come from. Limiting ourselves to one language is simply limiting ourselves economically, and possbily more importantly, intellectually as well as academicily.
EMBRACE DIVERSITY means far more than accepting others way of life...
I agree, this is still the U.
I agree, this is still the U.S.of A. and the language spoken is English. To teach newcomers our language, yes, but to make spanish a mandatory language, it does not make sence. I am Latin and I had to learn English.