It’s interesting that this topic is coming up left and right in the political realm right now due to the amount of immigrants that have migrated to the United States. While the current topic seems to surround the Latino community and Pajamas Media has a great article on why supporting bilingualism could hurt more than help, it is interesting to take this topic to our own community to see where it stands.
Myself, I know where I stand. But let me put my perspective into context. What’s interesting is that in growing up in a very Asian-rich environment, I never did see Home Depot write anything in Chinese. Ever. ESL students had to struggle by themselves in classes since there was no help from people that spoke Mandarin or the like unless there happened to be students of the same cultural backgrounds. Heck, one of my good friends growing up moved here from Taiwan in fifth grade and spoke practically perfect English in high school.
However, there is a lot of argument for actually having multiple language translations and teaching people in their native language. It is easier to learn, for those that are actually trying to learn. But then if you give them a way out of learning the language by offering it to them in their native tongue, then what incentive is there to actually learn the language itself?
From my personal experiences, I remember that my Spanish teacher in high school for second year Spanish told us that he would be teaching us in full Spanish and no English at all. Talk about total immersion. If that didn’t force you to pay attention, you would never get anywhere. I also have found that those of us (Asian Americans) that emigrated usually fought, bit, clawed our way through learning the language of the land of the free and home of the brave. They didn’t get any break, so no really sure why anyone else should be. It only made all of us stronger, learn English better, and assimilate into the Western culture easier.
Yet, is this how we should move forward? Perhaps not.
Photo Credit (Korean Resource Center 민족학교)
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jp 吉平 wrote:
Why is it that white kids learn a second language to get ahead, and brown kids learn English to keep up? Aren’t kids language learning machines? Why aren’t they all seen as potential bilinguals? What extra resources does it take to make someone well-spoken and literate in two languages… teachers and books?
Growing up bilingual is a perfectly normal human state; being able to speak, read, and write in more than one language is not harmful. There are plenty of places in the world where bilingual education is the healthy norm.
Why can’t we get it right in the US? A) Because it’s politicized. B) Because education is underfunded. C) Because monolinguals don’t understand bilingualism.
Listen to me: “new immigrants have to work hard and learn English just like the rest of us” is NOT NOT NOT NOT NOT about bilingual education, it’s about ESL. If your school’s “bilingual program” is an ESL program in disguise, yes, the kids are getting the shaft. But that doesn’t mean you have to eliminate REAL bilingual programs, or go to an English-Only policy! Come on, children!
“Having multiple translations and teaching people in their own language” is not bilingual education, either, son. It’s monolingual. Think about it. If you’re not teaching kids to speak, read, and write in two languages, IT’S NOT BILINGUAL.
Bilingual ed is not about giving immigrants a break; it’s about giving kids an edge. And bilingual services (voting, DMV, etc.) are not meant to pamper the immigrants, they are meant to allow people to participate in society. Speaking English is NOT a prerequisite to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. There is no language requirement to “all men are created equal.” Sure, not being able to speak English well can limit your achievement in this society, but it cannot limit your civil rights!
Which brings me to my final point, before I unsubscribe to this website and stop reading 8 Asians forever. And that is this: don’t you for a second think that English-only is some kind of real ISSUE, that poor, decent people are being victimized by the specter of Foreign Language taking our American identity away and giving our precious tax dollars to skinny brown thieves who refuse to speak English. And don’t you tell me we have to argue over a fistful of dollars for educational funding for bilingual education and services when this country is involved in two wars overseas and trying to build a rocket to Mars. No, kids, no.
English-only is about discrimination and xenophobia. They’ll make it sound reasonable, they’ll even make it sound like it’s deadly important. But it’s not. It’s about scaring white people into voting conservative. And I’m not buying it.
I won’t be back to this website, I’m too disgusted with this post. I wish you well, I respect your right to disagree with me. I’ve dedicated my career to learning and teaching foreign languages, and it’s brought me success, but I would give it all back if I could go back to the 70s and punch my pediatrician in the face for telling my parents to speak only English to me. I would give it all back if I could communicate with my family.
Posted on 03-Dec-07 at 3:55 am | Permalink
Bo wrote:
It’s hard to have a reasonable and rationale discourse about ESL, immigration, or anything that has to do with race and diversity in the country due to how politicized the topic has become recently. Immigration is no longer a discussion about the measured in-flow of much needed human resources, it is a debate about whether the US should erect a 8 ft wall along the Mexican border. ESL is not longer about providing children who are not native English speakers with additional support as they transition to a more English-centric environment, it is about isolationistic fear about the US being overrun by illiterate foreigners.
Here are my general thoughts on the topic of bilingualism and English as the official language of the US.
1) Bilingualism, while necessary for people outside the US (as English is becoming, or already has become, THE language of commerce and business) is not an absolute necessity for Americans (or Brits or Australians for that matter.) Bilingualism should be a goal for Americans because it usually fosters a more global mindset and appreciation for the interconnectedness and interdependence of the world. But here’s the big $100 question - What language should Americans learn? Non-English speakers have it easy - all they have to do is learn English. But what about us Americans? Do we learn Spanish, French, Chinese? There was a time in the 80s and early 90s when everyone was convinced that Japanese was the way to go. So much for that projection. American kids should be encouraged to learn another language but if they don’t, it really won’t hurt them all that much.
2) Seeking to make English the official language of the US is silly and meaningless. The only reason a politician pursues such legislation is to please his/her xenophobic constituency. For all practical matters, English is the official language of the US. I don’t think you’ll ever walk into a US court house and see a case being tried in Spanish or Chinese nor will you walk into the post office and be greeted by a Spanish-only speaking clerk. Making English the official language won’t have a profound impact on the amount of resources spent on ESL classes or providing translation services. As long as America continues its heritage of immigration (which it must if it wants to maintain replacement level population growth) there will ALWAYS be a sector of the population that will require special language services. Making English the official language is nothing more than a sorry, sad attempt to isolate and bully non-English speakers.
The overwhleming trend in the global sphere is towards English as the universal common language. English-only advocates should find comfort in this and those proponents of bilinguial education should take note and realize that mastery of English must be a necessity (regardless if it poses a short term challenge for students.)
Posted on 03-Dec-07 at 7:32 am | Permalink
Bertie wrote:
ESL classes - I think the total immersion method is the best.
With that being said, native English speakers should be encouraged to learn a second language. The lawyers who are fluent a second language have such a leg up. Even the ones who didn’t graduate with a job can do something called “doc review” (translation: legal temping) and doc review attorneys who are fluent in Mandarin or German command $60 an hour plus overtime as opposed to $35 an hour plus overtime. It boggles my mind that someone can rake in over $200k TEMPING just by being fluent in a second language. Man, I should have taken something other than Latin… LOL.
Posted on 03-Dec-07 at 8:06 am | Permalink
Xxxtine wrote:
Perhaps a shift in point of view not of ‘me’ but them would give you a better perspective. I remember in my French Immersion classes, there were people who certainly had a greater proficiency with French because their parents were from Quebec. Quebec has a distinct culture separate from the rest of Canada that the government acknowledges - but the French taught in schools isn’t Quebecois (Quebec French) - it’s French spoken in France. Much like Spanish from Spain is different from Mexican Spanish. On a whim, I ended up learning how to read Korean - which lead to an improvement in my French, Mandarin and Hokkien. That in turn lead to a better understanding of the world around me - not just the bubble of the world I live in.
When I was at one of the Asian Mega malls in Toronto - I was trying to get information out of the sales clerk whose English comprehension wasn’t the greatest and eventually apologized for her lack of English skills. I told her, it’s ok, and I that I couldn’t really speak Mandarin or Cantonese either, and that she should just try her best. We still conversed in English, but she was much more comfortable because she knew I wasn’t judging her.
The way I see it, immigrants are never given a free ride - it takes time, but they adapt eventually and I don’t think enforcing a language that is one of the main languages of commerce is necessary - it’s a given.
Posted on 03-Dec-07 at 9:18 am | Permalink
akrypti wrote:
America needs one and only one official language to give the country a sense of solidarity. Speaking English is our heritage. It should remain the only official language and public schools should educate in English only.
Cereal boxes and items manufactured and sold exclusively in the U.S. should not feel obligated to write their labels in any other language but English. If a company or institution wants to write in other languages, that’s their prerogative. The government should never force them to.
Non-white kids don’t “struggle” to learn English while white kids consider it a privilege to learn a new language..it’s a class issue, not a race one. There were affluent non-white children I grew up with who spoke five or more languages while most of the white kids ran around speaking English and nothing else. What are the folks above talking about? Stop making it sound like white people are privileged to the point we ought to handicap them and stop making it sound like all non-white people are special ed kids who need special treatment.
Of course the ability to speak multiple languages fluently enhances our view of the world around us and also gives us an edge. However, that’s for each individual to decide, not for the government to decide for us how many languages we ought to know. Stick with one official language and if U.S. citizens want to learn Chinese, Spanish, Swahili, French– that’s their private concern, not a public one.
Posted on 03-Dec-07 at 11:31 am | Permalink
Bo wrote:
I just want to point out that a lot of things that were historically considered “private concerns” have since become widely accepted public programs. Some of these programs include:
- government funded public education
- hot lunch programs for lower income children
- Medicare for the elderly
Just because something exists in the private realm currently doesnt’ mean that it should remain there.
Secondly, making English the official language of the US would be a step backward and a scary indication of a radical shift in the country’s identify. Take France for example - it is a country where language plays a very central and symbolic role in portraying the ideological leanings of the culture and its relationship with the external world. The Academie Francise provides guidance for the proper usage of french and also serves as an approval body for any propsed changes to the language. In recent years, the Academie has been working fervently to stymie the “Americanization” of French. In many ways, France’s language policy reflects it’s largerly social problems of isolationism and non-inclusion. If people want to understand the roots of the race & immirgration riots that have been taking place in france, all they have to understand is the stodgy mechanics of the Academie.
My greatest fear about making English the official language of the US is that it will serve as an indication of a greater social shift away from inclusion of multi-ethnic/racial indivduals to a more protectionistic cultural mindset. Contrary to what Pat Buchanan has consistently said, there was never a singular, homogenous “we” in this country and multi-culturalism is not diminishing that homogeneity…it’s just that the “others” never had the power to have their voices heard until now.
Posted on 03-Dec-07 at 2:01 pm | Permalink
Bertie wrote:
Ugh, Pat Buchanan. Blech.
Anyway, I think English should be the official language of the United States, because it would make commerce more efficient and effective - and it will open up commerce and channels of communication to everyone in this country. In short, it would help bridge gaps within a multicultural society - no matter what background you’re from, you know you can speak to someone with an entirely different background with this one language. English as the official language will help unite, not divide - if presented properly, that is. People like Pat Buchanan certainly don’t help. What a gasbag.
Posted on 03-Dec-07 at 3:32 pm | Permalink
Xxxtine wrote:
Can someone please explain to the Canadian (me) why English isn’t the official language of the US already? I thought it was - like how English and French are the official languages of Canada.
Is this the reason why everyone is so up in arms because policy hasn’t officially passed it? Cuz whether or not, English will still be mainly used and whatever languages in whatever communities will still be spoken.
Posted on 03-Dec-07 at 4:22 pm | Permalink
darkmoon wrote:
Man…. I love stirring up the pot. lol.
Posted on 03-Dec-07 at 8:41 pm | Permalink
John wrote:
Without giving this issue too much thought, I do think English should be the official language of the United States. All of our founding documents (The Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc…) were written in English.
If English becomes a secondary language in the long-term in the United States (let’s say to Spanish), then we could add additional languages as “official” languages. But I think changing the nature of a country’s language is probably a bad thing - i.e. like China creating Simplified Chinese!
Bo - very interesting thoughts on French and France. The French language will always survive (for better or for worse) because the French people are dedicated to the preservation of their language - no matter how useful it is beyond its borders (though French is one of the official languages of the modern day Olympics due to its revival by a Frenchman)
Posted on 03-Dec-07 at 11:08 pm | Permalink
jozjozjoz wrote:
Going off of what John said, I am chiming in to give a big ol’ WTF to Simplied Chinese!
Posted on 03-Dec-07 at 11:57 pm | Permalink
Chook wrote:
“In many ways, France’s language policy reflects it’s largerly social problems of isolationism and non-inclusion. If people want to understand the roots of the race & immirgration riots that have been taking place in france, all they have to understand is the stodgy mechanics of the Academie.”
Bo
This seems to be something of a circular argument - you combat marginalization by NOT learning the native tongue of the host nation therefore allowing yourself to remain on the margins of society?
Immigrants are excluded and isolated partly because their inability to speak the “native” language inhibits their opportunities in society.
Posted on 04-Dec-07 at 12:02 am | Permalink
Bo wrote:
I’m not saying that immigrants shouldn’t learn English. I fully realize that English is the predominant and unofficial-official language of the US. I also present that English is THE common language of international business and commerce. I’m just saying that I’m opposed to actual federal legislation that would make English the official language of the US (akin to French and English in Canada).
There is a long and deliberate history behind the US’ lack of an official language. It’s not by accident that the founding white dudes didn’t dictate one. During the era pre and post-dating the Revolutionary War, the founders were loathe to align themselves with anything that reeked of the brits. Hence, although English was the common language of the US even back then, Washington and the clan refused to identify English as the official language.
Basically what I’m saying is that not having an official language affords the US a certain ideological and cultural fluency and adaptability that would not otherwise be available. We ARE a country of immigrants and our entire history is shaped by the impact of those immigrants. To study US history is to study a country that has been continually enlivened, emboldened, and refreshed by the waves of immigrants that have saturated it with hunger, vitality, and a desire for success. I don’t see the need for an official language because I don’t want to begin to pigeon hole the countries identity into a rigid mold of certanties. I’m not advocating that immigrants shouldn’t learn English or that teaching subjects like Math or History in Spanish is the way to go - I’m just saying that people truly seem to underestimate the motivations of immigrants and their desire to adapt. The things being said about the Mexican and Asian immigrants of today are the same things said of the Italian and Irish immigrants during the last turn of the century.
Posted on 04-Dec-07 at 1:56 pm | Permalink
darkmoon wrote:
Heh. A traditionalist when it comes to history of the founding fathers, eh? lol. Amusing.
Posted on 05-Dec-07 at 12:17 am | Permalink
Xxxtine wrote:
Bo, I think I sort of get what you’re saying - but I still don’t think that making it all official would change anything drastically. There would still be an influx of immigrants, people will still be learning foreign languages in school. In Canada, eventhough the official languages are English and French - the government still publishes information in other languages.
BTW - there is NOTHING simple about Simplified Chinese.
Posted on 05-Dec-07 at 10:37 am | Permalink
darkmoon wrote:
Xxxtine - Sure there is! It’s less strokes! And everyone knows that less strokes = more simple! uhh…. *cough* *glances at the clock*
Posted on 05-Dec-07 at 10:49 am | Permalink