Bilingual education enslaves everyone…jacks of all trade and a master of neither. We must change this attitude if we are to make significant strides in our lives. Our children deserve better.
The power and influence of Spanish-language media is undeniable.
In El Paso, Spanish is the language of preference for many people. It is also widely spoken as a courtesy to Mexican nationals who often live, work and do business along the border. Nothing wrong with that.
Really? Ask anyone who has been transplanted to the southern border if they are able to apply for work without knowing Spanish.
Unfortunately, too many immigrants find neither the need nor the desire to become fluent in the English language. Many simply find it completely unnecessary to do so, confident in the fact that the bank teller, the store clerk and the police officer will always speak to them in their own language.
But English is the dominant language of the U.S. and should be spoken by all of its citizens, even those living along the border with Mexico.
What is worrisome is that far too many adult immigrants and legal foreign residents living in the U.S. have failed to master the English language despite some having lived in this country for decades. Many simply don’t recognize fluency in English as an important part of their personal development.
I always argued with my former students about why it was so important to master English. I felt that they would never be able to break any ceiling as long as they could not communicate well in English. Some were absolutely brilliant however, they were held back by their poor language skills.
Let’s review, what language is the ACT and the SAT written in? You want to move forward, master the language? No one says that you should let go of your first language, but mastery of English will ensure freedom.
via Roy’s Media Matters: Spanish language media have obligation.
July 22, 2012 at 7:44 pm
For yesrs I’v heard the argument from blacks that black children don’t do well on standardized tests because said tests are written in standard English. Gee, US tests are in standard English–there’s a shocker.
Hispanics are in the same trap. Blame everyone and evrything else for individual failure to mastwer the language of the country to which they’ve chosen to move. The key word in the pfevious sentence is “chosen.”
Just let them try it in China , Japan, Nigera Saudi Arabia. Once again, it’s pc run amok. And who suffers? The children, of course.
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July 23, 2012 at 6:25 am
Always the children.
July 23, 2012 at 3:14 am
Law enforcement is facing a problem as well. The key indicator that someone is an illegal alien is that they don’t speak English. Groups have called that reasoning racist, but it’s logic. To become a citizen, you need some working knowledge of English. Plus, any household in the US will have a second generation that knows English. This isn’t preference, it’s laziness. It means that people are willing to live in a Spanish-speaking ghetto all their lives.
July 23, 2012 at 6:26 am
Yet, they are the first to moan about not having access. This is how Mexico has achieved its supreme reign over the Mexican people. Keep them from having access.
July 23, 2012 at 5:41 am
true McN…unless you work in south FL where bi-lingual only need apply. the emphasis is on expert level Spanish, and from my experience some pretty scrappy English. this is the future coming soon to a channel near you.
isn’t Ebonics an officially recognized language?
July 23, 2012 at 6:27 am
I’m sick of it. I learned English as a second language. It’s not difficult. It’s called desire.