Why don't we force learning a 2nd language here?

I'm other countries, most people learn their native language plus english.
Why don't our schools force us to learn another one? Why do employees from other countries get to be the ones with the bilingual competitive edge?
In the meantime I have learned Spanish (in prep for when we become untitled states of me-hi-co).
Why? Why do they not force this in the curriculum? Also, why no self defense classes either? Everyone should know some basic self defense.

Instead they are worried about what gender pronoun kinds wanna be referred to as.

Sad!

 

We cannot force a great many to even learn proper ENGLISH, let alone any other language.

 

Damn, that is so racist...<Sarcasm>

 

Other countries learn English because English is the second most widely spoken language in the world, with estimates of over one billion English speakers, either as their first or second language.
It is the global language of communication. Not only economically, either; English is the dominant language of the Internet as well.
Academically, the leading institutions of higher learning are in the West, and most academic publications across a range of fields are in English. Most English speaking countries require students to pass a basic English test before they can receive student visas.

 

No, don't force another language on me. I only use English. I can't learn another language, and it isn't from lack of trying.

 

Pig Latin doesn't count?

 

I have to agree with you on that one.
It's not the teaching side of education that is falling down- it's the learning side.

 

Damn, ANOTHER veiled racist/bigoted posting. Have you no shame <SARCASM>.

 

That's racist.

 

Here again is a left winger trying to "force" or dictate to everyone what he thinks we should do. This is the kind of BS that makes people disgusted with the left.

 

Who is the left winger you’re referring to?

 

Worse would be to have government forcing anything. Freedom is the key.

 

Why learn Spanish? That is the language of corrupt 3rd world nations that have never been stable

So sure we might benefit from another language and that would be mandarin. Especially if we continue to enrich them as our elites get richer from our managed decline . And are dependent upon china for what we buy including our antibiotics! You need to speak their language when we depend upon them for most things we buy.

Our founders didnt want such dependence out of pure wisdom.

If we go to war with the economic power that is china they will turn off our essential supplies including medical supplies and whip our stupid asses

 

There is nothing "left wing" about not wanting foreigners to have the competitive edge in the job market. Although I could see how the concept of "forcing" something would feel like its "left wing". You know what I think is left wing? Importing workers from China and India like its going out of style so they can take over all of our I.T. jobs.

 

I was mandated to take 2 years of foreign language in HS and two more in college.

I took Spanish for both, still can't speak or understand it (I can almost muddle through reading it, sometimes).

 

Right! Because 2 years of a language isn't really gonna do anything

 

Apparently 4 years doesn't either.

If I ever move to a country that doesn't speak English, I'll bother to learn what they speak. No point doing so here. I consider that time and energy I (was required to) spent trying to learn a 2nd language a total waste.

 

My post has nothing to do with learning the language of a country you are moving to. My post has to do with:

It's you and some guy named Habib from India with the same exact degrees and experience, except habib comes a little cheaper AND knows 2 languages (and can deal quicker with all of the other Habibs they recently hired). Who do you think is gonna get the job?

 

Me. Habib is gonna either be a doctor or a gas station attendant. Habib doesn't come to America to work in the sewer.

I do get your point though.

Why is that we can't simply expect people who move here to learn English?

 

Anyone moving anywhere SHOULD make an effort to learn the language. We agree on that

 

Learning a language is really a great experience. It's a lot of work and efforts, but definitely worth it. Now that I have only a few troubles in English, I would like to become fluent in my third language, then maybe learn a fourth language (third if you remove my mother language).

You're speaking of something extremly important. I think the greatness of a nation depend of the greatness of the education it provide to their children, with all the broken homes, the mediocrity of most teenagers today, I doubt the future would be very bright for western nations.

 

I don't think it should be compulsory, but it's for sure a good idea to learn a second language.

 

Perhaps it depends upon the area you live. Where our kids grew up you can take foreign language in HS, but it is not mandated, its an elective. One of our daughters took French during her 4 years of High School, and did not take any foreign language classed in College and our oldest daughter did not take any foreign language in High School or College (although she did take it in middle school).

 

Where do you get the idea that in 'other countries' people learn mulitiple languages. By other countries do you mean European countries and conveniently forgot about the rest of the world? I am an American in Mexico and also have traveled Latin America a lot. Mexico and Spanish speaking countries generally speak very little English.

The same goes for Spain. The same goes for the UK, Australia, English speaking Canadians.

It has nothing to do with America. Its simple, if you speak a language that is spoken all over the world, like English, Spanish, Russian, Arabic etc, there is way less motivation to learn a foreign language.

If your native language is Dutch, well what are you going to do? Only speak with Dutch people your whole life?

The idea that only Americans don't speak a second language is false. America has more multi-lingual people than other English speaking countries.

 

What are you talking about? Mexico and Spain (and Costa Rica and Chile and Argentina) are nowhere close to the third world. Live in Mexico for a bit then go live in Ughanda or El Salvador and you'll see the difference.