Ah-Nold says "Turn off Spanish TV"

[Jughead P. Jones]

I'm not sure what kind of an opinion I have on the subject. Being from a country with two official languages (English and French here in Canada), I guess I just don't see the big deal regarding why people should be forced to speak English and only English. I understand that English is the official language of the USA, and know that it is important for people to make an attempt to learn it so that they can make life easier for them...but I don't think that they should necessarily turn their backs on their own language either.

Personally, I'm always in awe of people who can speak three or more languages!

But, that's just me.

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Jughead P. Jones

Being from a country with two official languages (English and French here in Canada), I guess I just don't see the big deal regarding why people should be forced to speak English and only English.

Or French and only French.

Fetchez la vache!

[Alex]

I don't think it was said in a stupid way. I think it was said very bluntly.

If you want to excel academically in a foreign country you need to master the language in which academics are taught. The fastest way to master foreign languages is as close to total immersion as possible. If the only English you're speaking is for a few hours a day at school and then you never hear it, never practice it, never use it in real life situations you aren't going to really learn it.

He didn't say not to speak Spanish with your family and friends (though it would probably be good if they all did set aside some time where they tried to communicate that way).

It's honest and good advice. Whether it is a Spanish speaker in the United States. An English speaker in Bulgaria (my friend currently there with the Peace Corps very specifically does not watch CNN or other English language channels since if she lets herself that would be all she watches since it is easier). An Arabic speaker in Tibet.

[Jughead P. Jones]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

Or French and only French.

Fetchez la vache!

I'm sorry...you want me to do WHAT to the cow?

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Jughead P. Jones

Personally, I'm always in awe of people who can speak three or more languages!

You reminded me of a [sad] joke:

What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual
What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Trilingual
What do you call someone who speaks one language? American

We really should be pushing for additional languages taught in school. 2 years of foriegn language in high school really isn't enough. Heck, I took 4 years of Hebrew - forgot most of it. 2 years of Spanish in high school - forgot most of it. 2 years of ASL in college - forgot most of it (though I can get by if I need it).

But that's really another topic.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

We really should be pushing for additional languages taught in school. 2 years of foriegn language in high school really isn't enough. Heck, I took 4 years of Hebrew - forgot most of it. 2 years of Spanish in high school - forgot most of it. 2 years of ASL in college - forgot most of it (though I can get by if I need it).

I took 5 years of Spanish and lived with 2 parents that are fluent in Spanish. I got a 5 on the AP exam and was probably well on my way to becoming fluent.

Forgot most of it. At this point I'm lucky if I'd test at first year levels. I moved from Los Angeles to Irvine, and of course didn't take any classes in college, so my opportunities to use it went quickly to zero.

I guess my point is that the number of years you take classes isn't really at issue. It's all about use. Europeans, as a generality, have more contact with people speaking languages other than their native language. At the very least, they hear English on a regular basis from sources that interest them (English language movies, TV, etc. is common world-wide). Much greater opportunity for them to actually use it, not just study it.

[Morrigoon]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I took 5 years of Spanish and lived with 2 parents that are fluent in Spanish. I got a 5 on the AP exam and was probably well on my way to becoming fluent.

Forgot most of it. At this point I'm lucky if I'd test at first year levels. I moved from Los Angeles to Irvine, and of course didn't take any classes in college, so my opportunities to use it went quickly to zero.

I guess my point is that the number of years you take classes isn't really at issue. It's all about use. Europeans, as a generality, have more contact with people speaking languages other than their native language. At the very least, they hear English on a regular basis from sources that interest them (English language movies, TV, etc. is common world-wide). Much greater opportunity for them to actually use it, not just study it.

That's the truth. For a European, let's say a Frenchman like our very own DLRPBopazot, a trip to an entirely different language and culture, such as Spain, Italy, Switzerland, etc. is only as far away as many of us would travel to reach Vegas, or perhaps the Bay Area.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Morrigoon

That's the truth. For a European, let's say a Frenchman like our very own DLRPBopazot, a trip to an entirely different language and culture, such as Spain, Italy, Switzerland, etc. is only as far away as many of us would travel to reach Vegas, or perhaps the Bay Area.

Or Tijuana.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

I guess my point is that the number of years you take classes isn't really at issue. It's all about use.

I agree. That was my point too. People can take ESL classes and speak English in school but that is the extent of it. If you don't use it, you lose it.

[Alex]

And apparently "Mexican" since the issue aren't the millions of English-Spanish bilingual people but the millions of essentially monolingual Spanish speakers.

Interestingly I ran into a version of that joke in some old book recently where "American" was not the punchline. But now I can't remember where.