Why should Americans learn Spanish ?

sister_godzilla

There's nothing wrong with learning a language. But, in the USA, you shouldn't have to know Spanish to get a job. And yet, employers want bilingual employees especially in Texas. Many classified ads say "bilingual preferred" which means they only hire bilingual, which isn't right. We shouldn't be pandering to people who can't speak English. It's the responsibility of everyone living in the USA to learn English. Americans can't be expected to learn the language of every immigrant (German, Italian, Chinese, Thai, etc.) who moves here.

Annette R

In all civilized nations, students learn to speak English. It is necessary for them to compete in a global economy.

It is ridiculous that we must learn Spanish in America just to communicate with our neighbors. English should be the official language of planet Earth. Besides, I'm too lazy to learn to speak anything else.

Nic

English is not the official language of this country. The forefathers didn't establish one for a reason. They wanted people to be free and to keep a diversity. I think they teach children Spanish in schools to help them get ahead in our changing world the same way other countries make their students take English. It's an important language to be able to speak. Not only that, it opens up the minds of these kids. Also, you live in the United States, America is way bigger than that.

Francisco S

They should not. But in order to compete for the future our children need to be better educated. Since commercial blocks will dictate the economic strength of regions in the future, and our continent, the four most spoken languages are spanish, french, portuguese and english, an emphasis should be made for us to learn those languages, so we can act more efficiently as an economic block.

ralfinader

So they can ask where the bathroom is, when they visit Mexico.

Hold em Rox.

So we can order food in a restaurant!! LOL I'm serious it seems like we always get people at the register that can't speak English....it really is frustrating. I mean honestly at least try to learn some English to at least be able to get by.

I've been reading alot of the answers here and what gets me is that alot of you seem to think that it is ok the way things are going, you should take a look at the Philippines they have over 170 languages (for such a small country) depending on where you live. Alot of people don't speak English or Tagalog (official languages) as a matter of fact Tagalog is pretty much only spoken around the capital. This all leads to alot of strife within this country.....so many languages and the 2 official languages are hardly used in the provinces. So communication breaks down, which leads to alot of discourse. I can't help but wonder if America is headed down that road?? This is an English speaking country, if you come here you should at least try to learn English. And as for having to know Spanish to get a job that is discrimination in my book and those employers should be turned in.

Sara A

We shouldn't have too. the immigrants who come over here and steal jobs from us should at least have to learn our language. I am so tired of them getting treated like Queens and Kings by our government. Its ridiculous & really starting to piss me off!!!

justicejkchambers

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the U.S. Why not learn it!! Plus... if someone is speaking spanish in public... you can make sure they aren't talking about you!

cool.panamania

Learning any other language would help narrow-minded Americans out a great deal. Spanish is easy compared to the Chinese we all will have to learn pretty soon. I can't wait to see this.

davidhz71

I agree this IS OUR COUNTRY!! If the mexicans what to come into OUR country they should be forced to learn english. NOT Vice versa!

â–’Ð¯enÃ©eâ–’

I'm not going to learn it. If you come to this country no matter where you are from. You should learn English!
All the others had too what's suddenly different now?
The Italians came over here they started speaking English.....Other cultures also did. So I think they should learn it. Plus a lot of country's speak English so we can say the same about Spanish being the 2nd used language.
I can't only speak English and southern........lol
oh thought that was funnny
â˜º

o2ba_caboprincess

I used to be like you, until I moved to Mexico. I no longer live there but I also don't live in the US either.

Mexico starts teaching their children English in first grade so that the children have a better chance at more opportunities in life. Why shouldn't we do the same thing? The reason that I think Spanish is the '2nd language of choice' is that it is the most universal language that make other languages easier to learn.

I took 5 years of French in high school...that was over 30 years ago and I've never needed it. Spanish...I could have used a million times and not just in Mexico.

Also, it is a proven fact that children that know more than one language are smarter in all other subjects. The more languages a person knows the better opportunities they have as well.

Its not for those that speak Spanish in the US that our children should learn Spanish - its for the betterment of each child - your child and my child - that we should encourage them to learn Spanish.

And, Spanish is the easiest language to learn.

Mendi8a

You should learn it only if you want to understand it. No one is telling you that you have to. I get paid more money by being bilingual, you are less competition if you dont, so I would prefer if you didnt.

darag100

It's a need ..see how many hispanics in amerika...and see how they keep increasing , am afraid one day spanish will be the nr 1 spoken language in the us

Mr. Boof

ENGLISH!! PERIOD!!!!

StarGazer â™¥

You can choose whatever language you want in school. As long as its a foreing language. It's called cultural studies. With your spelling and grammer, we all know you need to study up on your english as it is. So no Spanish for you. Not till you learn ENGLISH!

Oh and by the way, English isn't the native language of America. That is the native language of England. It's just universal now, so we learn it to communicate with everybody. But it's nice to learn a new language. That would mean I'm smarter than you. I speak English and Spanish...FLUENTLY. AND I was born and raised in California. My family is Mexican/American from generations back...You narrow minded LOSER!

socal_dude_2828

I believe this...if you are going to live in another country, you should learn their language enough where you can communicate well with others. But why should I have to learn another language if all I'm going to speak is one. It's like having an American car with German spare parts or having a Bachelors degree and working at McDonald's flipping burgers. It's wasted knowledge and it don't make sense. There are many languages, English being the most known, but that's because it is easy to learn your own language first then another major one. Why do they know ours, they want to be here, blend here, and possibly make a life here. But how are we going to learn English, then hundreds of other languages to accommodate the world? I do not plan on moving to another country anytime soon.

Mommymonster

We shouldn't have to, it should be elective. I hate having to decide English or Spanish on the phone, at the ATM, etc.

hayleylov

nope i am angry too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yars232c

One answer on all, and most other accounts, so get ready for this:

Civil Rights.

That's gonna take a constitutional amendment.

Keep working...

elvee13

the treaty of Guadalupe de Hildalgo. after the Mexican American war, that's right war with Mexico, the people that were on the USA side of the boarder, after the US boarder was increased to include California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, would not have to learn English.

It's MEEEE!!!!

why not learn 2 it wouldn't hurt anyone to know more

DAR

elvee13, the people that were on the USA side of the boarder, after the US boarder was increased to include California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada are all dead.

blacck77

to get a lilttle culture...right??

truthteller

i agree, the most we should have to know is taco, mas cervasa and adios......

venus11224

because if don't, you won't get a job, not in New York City anyway, where it seems that official language is Spanish.

cassicad75

For me, I don't really follow the issue on the political aspect. I have always wanted to at least be bilingual, because of interests in other cultures and wanting to travel. I'm not sure how long colleges have required at least 2 high school years or 2 college semesters of a foreign language for admissions.

Not to say you don't have interest in other cultures or travel. You might have those interests, too. I just mean that it's an interesting thing to learn various aspects of other cultures.

I do hope though, that the US doesn't eventually become, for example 95% Spanish-speaking or other language & nationality. I hope that doesn't sound racist or anything. I just mean that nobody ever wants to see their country have a new majority language and nationality-wise, because it loses it's culture.

It would be the same in Ireland or the rest of the UK. They have their own rich cultures, and would not want to lose them because their population eventually became something completely different. Could you imagine Ireland no longer being Irish, and the main language & culture suddenly being something else?

So hopefully what I said before doesn't come out in a bad way. I don't have a problem with foreigners who are here legally. But, also there will eventually be an overall population if we let everyone into the US forever.

27ridgeline

Grow up and get over your racism. America is a culturally diverse country, and Hispanics make up a large majority of it. Don't forget that much of the territory that comprises the USA as we know it today once was Mexican territory. Americans don't have to learn Spanish. It's something that's nice to have, but not necessary. You said "Why do we have to learn Spanish while we all live in America" - but we don't. Those of us who do, CHOOSE to learn Spanish. I for one am a Chinese American, but took Spanish all four years of high school and appreciate the language.

Something tells me this isn't so much about learning Spanish as it is a vent for your racism.

Lorinda

I learned Spanish because that was a life-long dream of mine. The man from whome I learned this beautiful language is now my husband who came from Mexico. I prefer Spanish to English.
Besides, isn't it necessary now for high-schoolers to learn a second language to graduate? I'm pretty sure it is in some schools.
I'm not stopping there, either, I am also trying to learn Chinese (Cantonese mostly, but some Manderin if I can keep them straight) because I work at a Chinese reataurant and I love to obsurve other cultures. And what better way to understand a country than to be able to talk to them in their native lingo? Every language has it's own history and some things cannot be translated to mean the same thing.
I don't understand why don't appreciate diversity. Different skin tones, accents, eye color, hair color, even Barney appreciates those things. He he! Another thing is diversity in beliefs and thoughts (many being expressed on Yahoo!answers).
Ok, and as to why we have to choose English and Spanish on lots of stuff, these companies/businesses are able to reach many more people that way and that makes them more money. We don't have to learn Spanish, I don't know of anything American that there is no option to have in English. Do you? As long as English is the official language and everything is in English, I don't really have a problem with it. I find it all fascinating. But, that's just me and I don't matter to anybody, do I?

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