Should all be Bi-Lingle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZprtPat1Vk

hey,i have sex with women, and only women

I'm mixed feelings on what he said. Yes, I think learning a foreign language is good, broadens your vocabulary and great for those dealing in foreign issues, but he really came off sounding elitist. Like how dare you not learn a foreign language and yet expect others to speak in English in America.

It's talking down to blue-collar John Doe, who has no reason to learn a language for it will be of incredibly little to no use, but he'll go on one cruise or trip to Europe and Obama is criticizing him because he's too rude to have not learned French or German first before going there?

Huh.

Hey, I am MR. Blue Collar, and I speak 3 languages. And no, my parents didn't teach me, because they were both born here. I'm not for US needing to speak another language, but for me, at least, it helps.

I would love to learn a new language, but only because I want to, not because it's required. JMO

Okay, I'm talking average here. A blue-collar worker speaking three languages I strongly believe I can say, is not even close to average...lol. I believe I can strongly support saying a blue-collar worker speaking one language (besides English) is very unusual. I know many, deal with many and I know a very few who can speak Spanish and Pennsylvania German (which is a big butchery of the German language...lol).

Same here, I just really suck at it, or it might be that German is an extreme pain to learn. I always wanted to learn Japanese, but I heard it is really hard, harder than German so I think I'm out of luck.

I'm Bilingual . helps a lot

I agree, with you.. It should be for our pleasure, not a requirement. If we have to learn Spanish, then they should have to learn English..

It is nice to learn more languages but to make them compulsory is not my cup of tea .
People should have choices in their own lives .

disregard this one.

"But, understand this, instead of worrying if immigrants can learn english, they'll learn english, you need to make sure your child can speak spanish"

Just watch the video. No wonder Obama doesn't want to do townhall forums with Mccain. This was obviously one, and he stuttered so badly, and after he finished that quote you could hear him saying "Oh S!*&" in his head. He then went on to try and cover up what he had just said. Look at the people in the back when he finished that quote, count how many people are clapping.

There are about 40 people back there. I saw 3 people clapping enthusiastically, one clapping sorta, and one guy in front barely opening his hands to clap and never raises them. However, when he tells the joke at the end they are all back with him and laughing and clapping. What zombies, did they forget what he said 30 seconds ago?

First of all, I have dial up internet, so can't watch youtube videos, which should probably be discussed on youtube. I digress though, and will add a real opinion (just that).

Why do American's have this notion that if we were to learn to speak more than one language in this country we'd be "foriegning" the place up. It's actually an embarassment to our education system that we only speak one language. Most people from Europe that I've met, speak more than three languages. Sure, it can be argued that they have more opportunity to use them, but they also have discussions about in which language they will speak.

They arguement that we Americans would never use a second language is also false. Heck, I'd like to learn spanish just so I could ease drop on some conversations stealthily, and I live in a rural area, I imagine in the cities you people hear different dilects and speech all the time.

No, it appears we are a people that do not wish to use our brains much anymore, or at least any more than we have too. My parents took french in high school, my grandparents latin (actually latin is the base of enough languages it should be taught). We were only offered one language course, english. So it would appear that over the last hundred years, we have just stopped teaching any language that isn't ours. If you teach these kids while they are young enough, they can absorb it too.

The point is that his wording came off as one should be FORCED to have their kid learn a second language, and if not, how dare you, you are surely not a fit parent. And, how dare you for not learning a language you will likely never use. It's the elitist, I'm better than you and look, I can speak French, you can't cause you suck attitude.

I had a buddy that I met back in 1993. When I met him, I would have bet my car that he was either Aussie, a Kiwi, or from Tasmania, becasue of his accent. Nope to all three. Jouni (his name) was born and raised in Helsinki, Finland, and spoke with that accent because of working the previous 5 years in Oz.

He told me that in addition to learning Finnish, it is mandatory to learn another language. He chose English. When he went in the army to do his mandatory stint, they also taught him Swedish, and Russian, because those are the countries that border Finland.

He was by no means proficient enough in either Swedish, or Russian, having learned only enough to stop foreign soldiers without having to kill them, but his English was better than mine.

I took Spanish for three years in High School, but I speak it better now than anyone that I was in school with. Why? Because I use it everyday at work, here in BFE Illinois.

I learned alot of German while I was stationed there for almost three years. I did this by listening, and asking for it to be translated for me, and then having it repeated. Can I pass a comprehension test in either? Probably not. But, anyone that was stationed there can testify, Germans aren't usually warm to American GIs. I had so many German friends just because I took the time to learn their language.

Not to sound like a zenophobe, because I am NOT one, Pedro from Mexico, and Abdul from the Middle East, and George from Greece, and Wolfgang from Germany, and Erik from Denmark SHOULD learn to speak English if they want to live in America. Just as I should learn French if I moved to Paris, or Arabic if I moved to Jordan.

I would have liked to have had the opportunity to learn a second language in school. It is so much easier to learn when you are very young. I don't think people should be forced, but I think it is a good idea to have it available in schools if possible.

Opportunities abound for bilingual people as far as jobs go.

JB

Disregard what ?.

Most people from Europe have to speak more than one language. Their countries are only as big as one US State. Even so its not that common although most are required to learn a little English!

Many do speak a few languages, but how has it helped? They communicate so well that the time period from the end of WWII until now is the longest period of peace they have ever known!

I think the variety of languages is one of the major reasons.
Could you imagine if SC and NC, or Ohio and Pennsylvania had different languages?

I dont think looking toward Europe as an example for the usefulness of different languages is a very good example!
And yes I spent 2 1/2 years over there!

So your saying blue-collar John Doe is incapable oflearning a foreign language?? That sounds elitist

as a Ukraine immigrite. i speak three different languages. German Russian, and english. not bagging just a fact.