06 April 2009
Bilingualism (Wednesday warm-up)
Share your thoughts on the poll that states 83% of Americans disagree with the need to become a bilingual country. Give some suggestions as to how the educational system might improve second language learning.
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I think that we should have a more bilingual public because it would help us diversify our nation and help us. If in fact we would become more bilingual we would be highering our standards for our schools and helping us out nationally. I think that in our education system we over look the importance or significance of a second language. Some ways we could help with this problem is to introduce some different languages at at an early age. We could do a week dedicated to a different language. Or we could make a class just for speaking a different language for childeren from 4th grade and up.
-Kia Medina Period 1
The fact that only 17% of Americans believe that we as a country should become bilingual disappoints me. I understand that the English language is our heiritage, and is part of what holds us together as a country but becoming bilingual is also essential. Unfortunatly it will be very difficult to increase the support for this cause. If people don't want to do something they will not do it. But you could attempt to create new classes of ask students what languages they want to learn and then teach them about it for a nine weeks peirod.
- Brandon Carter
Period - 1
I totally disagree with the American belief that we should not be bilingual!!! I believe that we should be bilingual along with them being bilingual!!! If america was bilingual then the American society would be more advanced in the global economy!!!
I feel that if we were a bilingual country, it would be easier for people from other countries (especially Mexico) to communicate with us when they come to our country. I think the country can use some tolerance of other religions/beliefs/nations. An educational system could improve learning a second language by making students learn another language as a core class. It will be more likely for students to like the language if they are learning with their friends.
I'm not surprised that 83% of Americans disagree with the fact that we should be a bilingual country because we live in a very nationalist and patriotic country. I think we should be a multi-ligual country because our country is so diverse and we trade and communicate with almost every country in the world. What I think the education system should do is to create more opportunities for kids at a younger age to learn a different language because I think it really does help with grammar.
I feel that bilingualism is very important to learn in todays world. yes i feel that if immigrants that do not know english and come to america should learn english to function in today's world. however if i was to go to a different country i would try to learn the basis of their language. bilingualism is important because we could all learn how to get along and become a diverse nation.
-Andrew Period 2
They should just start teaching kids at a young age when there mind is still fresh. If you wait to long like if you wait until after elemantery school I would think most kids wont care. Just make it more of a priority. Take out teaching cursive and teach spanish. Cursive is dead.
-Jake Becerra period 2
I Believe that if we teach kids ata ayoung age to learn languages the n it wouldn't be a problem. After kids get to a certain age they don't want to learn anything.
Walker Stanley
Period 3
I believe that we should incorporate a second language in our school curriculum. it will help the students become more diverse. but i feel that it should be incorporated in preschool or kindergarten because it will become a second nature to the children. Knowing a second language can help a child standout later on in life.
Malcolm 4th period
I suppose you could say I agree with the fact that 83% of Americans disagree with the NEED to become a bilingual country. I think that a bilingual public would bring many benefits to the country as a whole. However, I do not think that bilingualism be required in the educational system. It should be up to the children and whether the see the benefits in being bilingual, as to whether they want to learn a second language. I believe that if school systems would teach a second language from the early years of the child's education, they would see improvement in the child's understanding of that second language.
Daniel F, 4
I think it is a very good idea for the US to become bilingual. I mean, what could it hurt? If you ask me our country has some catching up to do when it comes to the education field. I think that second languages should be introduced in schools in grades like Pre-K. After they learn the English alphabet, they should start on the Spanish or french. I think the parents should be able to decide what language they want their children to learn and classes should be available accordingly.
I guess I sort of play the 'devils advocate' in this situation; I believe Americans should learn other languages or at least make an effort to know that basics of lanuage and cultural do's and don'ts when TRAVELING to other countries. But when people come to LIVE here they should learn our language. All immigrants did their best in the past to learn English and work hard to get here and all that stuff but it seems like these waves of Hispanic immigrants are not only coming over illegaly alot but they also expect us to become a Spanish speaking country to suit them. Hello yall, this is AMERICA. NOT MEXICO, NOT HONDURAS, NOT CUBA or any other Spanish speaking country, learn some English!!
Ooh. Sorry. I bet everything I just said is politically incorrect....
~Kelsey 1st Period
I'm definitly not surprised that 83% of Americans don't think its necessary to become a bilingual country. I mean its America, as a whole were pretty selfish and full of ourselves (which does relate) but I mean we couldn't really make it if we only knew English. If you ever plan on leaving our country or attempting to communicating with someone who speaks a different language which is going to happen at some point in your life unless your a hermit, you need to know at least the basis of an extra language or two. Teaching the kids starting in elementary school could help improve second language learning. Also teaching not only the language but also about the culture of the countries/areas of the language their learning.
*Becca Stamm
Period - 1
if they really didnt want us to become a bilingual country then why is it required that we take another language in high school and college? Also this is America we are the "melting pot" of the world, we have so many cultures wrapped into one that it makes it wonderful to live in this country and say that your an American. Well i think that the educational system is already trying to improve on learning a second language because of the different requirements.
-LOGAN MARIA.
I think that one language is enough. Immigrants that are coming here should be able to speak the English language. I don't want to have to learn Spanish to speak to an immigrant when I live in an English speaking country. I think that if an immigrant is to come to America they should know how to speak English. I think that the educational system is fine with just English.
Brooke E. Period # 2
i believe that we should be a bilingual country because it will help with our education and i think that the 83% of america that think we shouldnt be bilingual are absurd. Many countries speak our language and their language and they benefit from this so i dont get why we cant be like other countries and speak anpother language. There is a belief that america is one of the not so bright countries and i believe this because we only speak english. Other languages could help us with our language and with other education. I met a german girl over the summer and she could speak seven languages and she was only fifteen. I honestly dont know why most of america disagree with this in our country because it would educate our country so much more and i highly disagree with being nonbilingual.
Britton Scott E.
Period 2
I think it's stupid that 83% of americans are so opposed to people getting smarter! If america became bilingual, we'd become more powerful(I know it sounds like a weird comment)! Not only that, but students could read a lot more books, not all books are availabe in english. I think that kids should be learing a different language as soon as they have english down. I also think that parents should help the kids if the parents are already bilingual.
-Cole A. p.2
I think that if a person is to come to another country to live, then it should be their responsibility to learn that country's language. And the thing is, most of American SHOULD be bilingual. You must take two whole semesters of a foreign language to graduate high school. I don't think the educational system could do anything else to provide learning a second language. I like it the way it is.
It is not surprising to me that america would feel this way. I personally think we should know the concepts of another language but maybe not dedicate our lives to learning it. I know if you start out young that it wouldnt be hard to do, but if you are in high school it would take alot of time and effort to become bilungual. I think the United States should start kids out learning another language at an early age like when they start kindergarden. That would make the next generation a more bilingual group of people.
Katherine, Period 2.
83% of Americans not agreeing with the idea of the need of becoming bilingual suprises me! I always thought learning a new language would be fun but now looking at the world, I think its very important to become bilingual. Learning new languages opens up the eyes of people and allows them to understand more things such as grammar, cultures, and other countrys' traditions. This makes not only Americans but the entire world a better and wiser place!
<3A'ngelia F<3
I see both sides of it. For immigration pruposes, no. The people that come over here should have to learn our language. Not the other way around. Although, if we were doing it for educational and diversity purposes, I definitly agree. Not only would we be smarter, we would be more fit to travel and more cultural. I think that a second language should be optional at young ages but should be mandatory from middle school up. I think that parents should be able to choose wheter their kids enroll in a second language and what language it is, very early in elementary. Then in middle school and higher education, the kids can pick the languages they want to learn.
Sorry about reposting but I forgot to put my name in my first post! The comment above is mine!
-Brooke Knopp pd 3
i understand where the people that say we don't need to learn any languages are coming from. They do not plan on stepping out of there comfort zone, or little box. See most people at least try once in there life to learn another language. Even if they forget at least they tried.I think that it is our responsibility to learn other languages to that we become more knowledgeable and able to communicate with the world not just you, yourself, and i. I also VERY STRONGLY think it is the responsibility and duty of any immigrant going into another country for at least a month to learn the basics of the language. One country should not have to start labeling there McDonald's cup with another language because the immigrants do not feel the need to learn that countries language.When i was in elementary i remember kids that would learn English because they only spoke Spanish.that gives a 30 year old grown up no excuse for not knowing what that sign says when the cop pulls him over.
Aaron Nix
I think it’s very sad that 83% of Americans don’t think we should be bilingual. I have often thought that it would be a good idea if America was bilingual. I used to wonder what it would be like to think in another language, to be able to process things using something other than English. I don’t think I’ll ever know unless if I can learn a second language very well, but if I had started learning a second language from the start, then I would probably be fluent by now. Although the English language is very descriptive and now is most common in the scientific community, it cannot possibly hurt us to learn a second language. I think it would be great if it was mandatory for schools from elementary up to teach a second language. It would probably take a lot of money and resources, but it would definitley pay off in the long run. ~HT Period 2
I believe bilingualism in America would be a great idea. Since American's look down upon other countries and believe (According to Mr.Jone's class) we must deal with the "White Man's Burden", it is highly unlikely American's will learn another language. I personally think learning another language strengthens ones knowledge of their own language. Notice I did not say have a multilingual country though. When more than one language is spoken in a given country, this usually creates divides between people, which can increase the risk of clashing beliefs and ideals. Sad isn't it? That's just human instinct. Kill the person who thinks different than you (usually). But in general, Bilingualism benefits people. Bilingualism enables a person to use their brain more efficiently, understand grammatical structure better, and many more things. So how can the education system increase bilingualism? TEACH IT AT A YOUNG AGE. Learning to use two languages at a young age may seem hard, but it will benefit a person in the long run. And it IS possible. If everyone in the US were to learn two languages at a young age, we all would be thinking on a three dimensional scale instead of whats just presented to us (flat, two dimensional). Americans would be able to analyze material faster, comprehend ideas easier, and gather knowledge faster. In the end its up to an individual person to determine if they want to be bilingual or not.
~Bryan F. Pd.1
I believe that bilingualism is the ability to be able to speak two or more languages frequently. The government actually suggested that we all should be bilingual.
Bria pd.4
i dont think we should have to be a bilingual country complety, but i do think it is good to know a 2nd language. it helps to communicate with other people in different places and makes us more competitive in different aspects of life. our educational system could make learning a new language more interesting. in most schools you show up and just learn how to speak/read in a different language. if they did something like fun activities or something, it would make people more encouraged to learn the second language.
~becca m p1
Well I honestly thing being bilingal should be a personal choice and not forced upon someone with law. The school systems could offer more languages and combine it with the language's country culture for interest.
-Maxx
I think that it is stoopid that that many people disagree with the need to be bilingual. Our country is considered a "melting pot" we're all made up of different things, so we should be able to speak many languages. The educational system might improve if they require students to learn a second language. I know that I was required to learn spanish since kindergarden and all throughout elementry school, after that it became an option. I know that some Americans might not want their children learning spanish (sad, but true), so maybe there could be different schools that require a different language. Kind of how we have elementries that are more for science and math or art.
CHELSEA JANE
PRD 3
I think that it is important to be bilingual in the world today. it is more important also because of the job competition in todays world. I agree that the school system should support this and most certainly help the situation.
Blake Pereira
Period 1
I think that we should be a bilingual country. Being bilingual will help us to understand others and some of their beliefs. Speaking of a different language helps to make a person different. Being bilingual will also make it easier when we travel to foriegn countries. ~Krystal period 2
I think that the fact that americans want mexicans to learn english but we shouldn't learn other languages is stupid and hypocritical. If someone wants to have an international business they would have to learn other languages. I think that in order to attend a public/private school it should be a requirment to speak 2 languages.
I think that Americans should be encouraged to become bilingual. It should not be forced upon anyone because America is a free country. However, bilingualism allows people to grasp a better understanding of different cultures. It also helps when dealing with international affairs and when moving to other countries. Many Americans are arrogant because they feel a great amount of jingoism, or concietedness. They feel like because we fought for our freedom and were victorious, we should be honored above the rest
i believe that it should not be required that we learn another language, however i do believe that it shloud be offered and it should also be reccomended. Requiring people to learn another language would benefit the US because being bilingual Americcans tend to be more successfull than non-bilingual Americans, but it would just cause too much contraversy.
Brandon Meeks Period 2
I don't think that anyone shold be forced to be bilingual. The choice to learn a new language should be just that: a choice. The benefits of being bilingual far out weigh the cons. As a matter of a fact, there are no cons. Being able to speak more than 1 language:
1) Makes you more competitve in the job market
2) Allows you to communicate in other countries
3) Understant roots of other languages
4) Lets you s*** talk people while you're in the room with them
Learning a new language is a significant skill that most don't have, but all wish they did. The only apprehension that people have in learning a new language is the time they must devote to doing so, and the fear that they won't be able to.
Nike, just do it.
.:. Joey .:.
i think that the need to become bilingual is imperative because we have to be able to converse with other people in the world. If children here learned more languages early, it would help us in other school studies.
Share your thoughts on the poll that states 83% of Americans disagree with the need to become a bilingual country. Give some suggestions as to how the educational system might improve second language learning.
You would need to start early in education have it introduced early, and present it in earlier grades. I think these people are ignorant and learning another lanuguage can only help us
In my opinion, it is highly important to become a bilingual country. But i have mixed beliefs. I think English should be the only spoken language in the united states. Its hard to explain. People would know other languages and speak them on particular occasions. However, the only spoken language would be English. So what would be the purpose in knowing other languages? Well it would allow us to experience other cultures and the ablilty to speak two languages is just more attractive in all ways. So essentially we would be a bilingual society with one spoken language. When I say it like that, the idea sounds stupid. But I think what i have said is justified. Although i am torn on this subject. I also think we should have many spoken language, but then again everything would get jumbled up. So, I dont know. I really lean toward a streamlined single language; the English language.
-Michael Spicka
i believe that we should be bilingual b/c with out knowing other laguages we will never get a head in the world market. i like the 2nd lagauge system right now but they could start teaching it in 1st grade instead of 9th.
I think that people should be encouraged to learn another language but right now I don’t think we should be forced to learn another language. I think that public schools are doing a good job of teaching foreign language for people who take it.
-Jake Hassell Period 3
Biligualism is something that I beleive the United States could use but does not need. It is true that imigrants are coming over to America expecting us to know more languages that just english but english has been our main language for several years and I don't think we need to change now. Being Bilingual can be helpful for when citizens travel and it could help improve our government status. Still, when imigrants and other country citizens come to America we expect them to know english so it would be curtious if we show that we are learning their language as well. Having schools encourage and in some case force students to learn another language would be a major way to helping America become bilingual.
Ashley R. 3rd period
I don't think we should be a manditory bilingual country or even an official bilingual country. It is our country, America, if people come to America they should speak American. American TOURISTS who go to another country usually learn to speak the language there, or at least a few words, so foreigners coming to LIVE here should learn to speak english. I think Americans shouldn't have to learn another language, but instead have the choice to. Some people may want to learn science or math or computer programming in school rather than being forced to learn another language.
People always complain that we force immigrants who come to America to abandon their traditions, so is it any different if the immigrants try to change American culture? America is a democracy, so if the majority of the people want to speak english, we should speak english. ~dr P3
i think that bilingualism is overlooked on our school systems since they stopped teaching Spanish in primary school. Bilingualism would improve our nation because....uhm....it would improve college applications i guess....
alyssa l. period 3
I believe that becoming a bilingual nation is up to the people which they seemed to have chosen not to be. But you also must remember that some are immigrants that are bilingual. Personally I believe that if you want to learn another language it is up to you. Many people may choose to learn another language but that is a choice they have made.
I think we should be a bilingual country because we need to keep up with the rest of the world. Americans seem to have the misconception that they are better than everyone else, and that if someone wants to talk to them they ought to be able to speak English. And if people don't know English, then they're out of luck. Everything is becoming more global now, and Americans need to let go of these preconceptions if they want to remain competitive in today's world.
If we start teaching second languages early, the hesitation to and difficulty of learning could be avoided entirely. Gogo school system?
-Lauren S 3rd
A way to help the problem is by making each grade level require some form of foreign language education to move on to the next grade level. Most likely spanish, that way each year you can build upon what you know. And because you have it yearly, you wont ever get out of touch with it. ~JTREXLERRRRRRRR
I think learning another language should be completely up to each person individually, rather than everyone as a nation.
83% of Americans disagree that we don't need a bilingual public. Personally I am one of the 83%. What does having a bilingual public do for us as a whole? The theory that America is based off of is the fact that we would accept other cultures but we would speak a common language. In my opinion if you are coming to America as an immigrant it is not our role to learn your language... You should learn our language. If, however, I was to decide to move to a different country I would learn their language so I expect others to do the same. Yes learning another language can teach you alot and help to expand your vocabulary of the English language but it is not necessarily what everybody needs to do.
Jake West
3rd Period
It helps people in the long run ot know another language. Not only would it help if you went to another country but it exposes people to different cultures. Kids should be taught other languages at a young age.
Walker Stanley
period 3
I think that Americans should be able to speak a language other than English. It would make the American people more competitive in the world. I think that people should also know the customs of countries before traveling. Last summer I went to Israel and while I was there me and my cousins went to a movie theater. We watched an American movie, Meet Dave, and all the Hebrew speaking Israelis could understand the movie. If I was watching a Hebrew movie I wouldn't be able to understand it. I also think that Americans (the 83% ,at least) think that they are superior because alot of countries around the world speak English in addition to their native language. I guess I know the importance of speaking another language because I am bilingual. I think that the education system can imporove this situation by teaching kids a foreign language when they first start school in kindergarten.
Deana Period #3
I believe that America needs to be bilingual. It opens up doors for those who wouldnt have otherwise spoken to one another. It's truly an American tragedy that we havent pushed forward for more language classes in schools. The world wasnt created so that people would be seperated by something so simple as a language.
I believe that the poll is bias because it asks for the country to change forever into two defined languages, not if we think that we as a country should become more diverse in a lanuage stand point. I believe that school should start teaching second languages when the kids start 1st grade because it would be more successful if the kids grow up with it.
Mickey
I think it would be a positive thing for our country to become bilingual. However, I don't think it should be necessary. More and more immigrants are coming to America every year, and for us to reject them because they can't speak english is ridiculous. Personally, I would like to be bilingual. I think in schools they should teach another language as a main class. I was taught Spanish from 1st grade to 5th grade. I wish I had kept up with it so that I could speak it fluently.
-Chelsea J. period 3
I think that people should be bilingual and that blatantly saying "no" to it is rather close-minded. We live in a global economy, or whatever you want to call it. Regardless, we interact. A lot. We NEED to be able to understand each other, and making everyone learn English is selfish. Also, learning another language goes hand-in-hand with learning about a culture, and so you become more knowledgable. I think that the education system needs to consitently teach us a new language when we start school. We soak up information when we're kids. My niece is six and can speak a lot of basic stuff in Spanish and French because he school teaches them that along with English. I think that's a very smart idea.
In my own opinion, I do think that we should have a bilingual country.If we have a bilingual country, we would be more globally well rounded. If we dont't start now, we will be behind the eight ball. People who come to America to become citizens, they will learn English, but one thing that we have to think is when we communicate with them and when we go off to different countries, will we be able to speak other languages?
In my opinion, I believe that we as a country should be bilingual, if not multilingual. The language barrier causes stress, problems, and prejudice. Imagine how much easier it would be to actually understand what someone is saying! A top-notch idea, I say.
I think that the 83% of America that disagrees with a bilingual society is diaplaying ignorance. In my opinion, the US has some catching up to do in the education field. In order to make our country more bilingual, the languages should be introduced to pre-schoool classes. The parents should be able to choose what language they want their child to take and after learning the English alphabet they should start on the same languages'.
-Shaniqua Graham
I think that we should be bilingual if anything because we can be intolerant of other countries and people/ethnic groups. Plus it is fun to learn different languages.
Lauren Wilson
Period 4
I agree with the fact that we should become more bilingual. By offering a chance for our community to learn a second language, it can help prepare them in the future. This could prove useful for children as they are still growing up and have a greater chance at remembering something they grew up learning, thus encouraging the fact that bilingual should be incorporated into our schools.
I think Americans are so stubborn and aren't willing to change. I think it would be a big plus if most of us were bilingual. In order for our educational system to promote second language learning they could start teaching us when we're in elementary school so it won't seem as hard as we get older.
I think that the poll shows that 83% of Americans are ignorant. They act as if bilingualism is going to hurt America, when in fact biligualism can only help Americans grow and become more successful. People complain about how a lot of our jobs are going oversees, maybe if more people were bilingual, they would be more competition to the people that are taking their jobs. I also think that learning more than one language can advance people's academics.
I think that we should be more bilingual because we would be able to communicate with other people and it would just be easier. If you start teching something to a child early, it will be easier for them later in life. I think we should start language classes in 3rd grade. I don't know why people don't think we should be a bilingual country because it wouldn't hurt to learn something new:)
Mary W. Period 4
I think that biligualism would be a good thing for our country. When immigrants come over i think that they should learn english but I think that we could at least meet them halfway. There are a bunch of good jobs that could be offered to people if they learned different languages. It's just that people are lazy and don't feel it's their responsibility to learn another language. But I believe that America would be better if we were bilingual.
~Bryan Lee 4th period
i think we can be a bilingual country because it helps us understand other languages making us have a bigger advantage in life.
~shaunte' shaunte'[1st period]
I guess i would be part of the 83% of america that disagrees with becoming bilingual. I dont have a problem with people that are i think that its a really cool ability. However i dont think that it needs to be a standard for you to learn another language. The only reason most european countries are bilingual is because they are so close together and need to learn it because of the constant interaction they have. Maybe if each state here spoke a different language then it would be perfectly acceptable to but currently the only language that i even maybe have a weekly interaction with (besides latin) would be spanish and even then i dont feel the need to conform in order to make it easier for them.
Well personally I dont think It would be a bad idea. I think that it could also look good when going to college. Knowing more the one language could also be good in your future when having a job that deals with different ethnics of people. I also think that it could be bad also though because if you know more languages it may actually encourage immigrants to want to come over here. I think if they do decide to add that to education it should be done in elementary school and by option.
- Jalisa McAllister
Share your thoughts on the poll that states 83% of Americans disagree with the need to become a bilingual country. Give some suggestions as to how the educational system might improve second language learning.
I think it would be good in the intrest of global relations to learn more than one language. By learning more it would make people more tolarant towards other countries. I think it could help people understand language because they could see it from more than one side. In addition you can go to other countries and learn there which is also helpful. This is why learning to speak two or more languages could be helping.
Billy Workman
Period 4
I think that America does not need to become bilingual. However, I do think that schools should have classes where you can take other languages, and require them. I know, a lot of people don’t like the fact that it is required, but I think it is a good thing. Granted, I don’t always want to do the work, but in the end I think it really helps the mind.
I think that the educational system could improve learning other languages by making games, and having field trips. When things are made interactive, I personally are more interested, and want to learn and understand more.
-ABby S. Block 1
So 83% of the country disagrees with the fact that we should know how to speak more than just English, which leaves just 17%. In my opinion, I think that I agree more with the other 17%. In today's world, there is so much more competition out there and so many people coming into the United States who are bilingual that it posses a threat to some of us who can only speak one language. There are more and more immigrants coming into the US who speak just spanish, that they have to learn English to be successful here. My opinion is that we too should learn their language as well. If you were applying for a job with another person who knew how to speak both English and Spanish, he would more than likly get the job.
V.S - 1st period
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