Previous 1 3
Topic: Obama speech on Spanish issue.
no photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:37 PM
Edited by smiless on Mon 07/14/08 12:37 PM
Hello wise politicians of the future,

Obama gave a speech that every parent should be teaching their children to learn Spanish.

Why do you think he said this? Is it because he thinks he cannot fix the immigration problem. Is it because he believes Americans should be trying to learn more languages. Is it because of the votes he will need.

Do you believe it to be true or false about the subject of learning Spanish? Why do you believe this?


Fanta46's photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:41 PM
He didnt say Spanish did he?

I thought he said Americans should learn a second language. With no emphasis on any particular one!
Considering where we live though Spanish would be a popular choice Id think!

franshade's photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:42 PM

Hello wise politicians of the future,

Obama gave a speech that every parent should be teaching their children to learn Spanish.

Why do you think he said this? Is it because he thinks he cannot fix the immigration problem. Is it because he believes Americans should be trying to learn more languages. Is it because of the votes he will need.

Do you believe it to be true or false about the subject of learning Spanish? Why do you believe this?




could it be because English is the #1 language spoken in the USA and spanish is the #2nd language spoken most frequently in the US.

Has nothing to do with immigration, the US has no official language.


no photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:44 PM

He didnt say Spanish did he?

I thought he said Americans should learn a second language. With no emphasis on any particular one!
Considering where we live though Spanish would be a popular choice Id think!


I watched it on CNN and how the reporter was baffled by the notion and had a huge debate with other strategist about the issue. So yes Obama said Spanish when I watched it.

It was very interesting. I am not sure if he hurted his campaign by this or improved it.

Fanta46's photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:46 PM
On a roll, Obama then said they’d be much more employable if they know a foreign language, and said we should be emphasizing foreign language study in classrooms. “It’s embarrassing when Europeans come over here, they all speak English, they speak French, they speak German. And then we go over to Europe and all we can say is merci beaucoup.”

????
Still looking!
Wait!!

no photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:46 PM
Everyone should learn English in the US and that be that. Yes, learning another language will broaden your vocabulary and allow you to travel to a country WHERE IT IS THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE AND THE MAJORITY SPOKEN and use it there.

However, to suggest that parents SHOULD make sure their children learn a second language is ridiculous. Why not make the monopoly public education system do it better? They are doing a marvelous job with all other forms of education they should be able to do such a great job teaching languages as well.

Obama said something like:

"Immigrants will learn English, but parents SUOULD make sure their children speaks a second language."

Immigrants will? Yeah, the smart ones.

English is the national language, even if it doesn't have the formal title of being so.

no photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:46 PM


Hello wise politicians of the future,

Obama gave a speech that every parent should be teaching their children to learn Spanish.

Why do you think he said this? Is it because he thinks he cannot fix the immigration problem. Is it because he believes Americans should be trying to learn more languages. Is it because of the votes he will need.

Do you believe it to be true or false about the subject of learning Spanish? Why do you believe this?




could it be because English is the #1 language spoken in the USA and spanish is the #2nd language spoken most frequently in the US.

Has nothing to do with immigration, the US has no official language.




I didn't know that. I thought English was the official language and was voted also for it?? I could be wrong but I remember they had a vote if English or German would be the official language of the country and German lost by one vote. This was in the late 1700s or early 1800s when Germans were one of the biggest immigrations at the time.

Of course I don't have links or anything to prove it as it was always told to me when growing up.

but thank you for your insight. I didn't know this country doesnt' have a official language.

no photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:50 PM

On a roll, Obama then said they’d be much more employable if they know a foreign language, and said we should be emphasizing foreign language study in classrooms. “It’s embarrassing when Europeans come over here, they all speak English, they speak French, they speak German. And then we go over to Europe and all we can say is merci beaucoup.”

????
Still looking!
Wait!!


Yes I am German and speak many languages, but we have free options to learn a language in our country. Some learn it easy as others have truly difficulty learning a new language. I guess it makes sense to learn at a young age to learn a language.

If it would benefit this country, I don't see why not, yet the whole world speaks English most of the time anyway. So I can imagine for an American who wants to learn a new language is hard because most will want to learn English from him or her instead.

Sassier2u's photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:50 PM
Edited by Sassier2u on Mon 07/14/08 12:51 PM
Sorry you are in America speak English when Everyone else does and why are we being so accomodating to speak spanish? When we go to another country do we not have to learn there language????? SPEAK ENGLISH PLEASE

no photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:52 PM



Hello wise politicians of the future,

Obama gave a speech that every parent should be teaching their children to learn Spanish.

Why do you think he said this? Is it because he thinks he cannot fix the immigration problem. Is it because he believes Americans should be trying to learn more languages. Is it because of the votes he will need.

Do you believe it to be true or false about the subject of learning Spanish? Why do you believe this?




could it be because English is the #1 language spoken in the USA and spanish is the #2nd language spoken most frequently in the US.

Has nothing to do with immigration, the US has no official language.




I didn't know that. I thought English was the official language and was voted also for it?? I could be wrong but I remember they had a vote if English or German would be the official language of the country and German lost by one vote. This was in the late 1700s or early 1800s when Germans were one of the biggest immigrations at the time.

Of course I don't have links or anything to prove it as it was always told to me when growing up.

but thank you for your insight. I didn't know this country doesnt' have a official language.


Yeah, I read that somewhere as well. I studied German-American history extensively because I have a German-American heritage. My family came here from Germany in 1748. And, I live in Pennsylvania, a state where many people in my area can speak Pennsylvanian German as well. Everything in this area was done in German until English became the official language of the governments and markets. Everyone converted to English to adapt and flourish, schools were the first to do so.

no photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:52 PM

Everyone should learn English in the US and that be that. Yes, learning another language will broaden your vocabulary and allow you to travel to a country WHERE IT IS THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE AND THE MAJORITY SPOKEN and use it there.

However, to suggest that parents SHOULD make sure their children learn a second language is ridiculous. Why not make the monopoly public education system do it better? They are doing a marvelous job with all other forms of education they should be able to do such a great job teaching languages as well.

Obama said something like:

"Immigrants will learn English, but parents SUOULD make sure their children speaks a second language."

Immigrants will? Yeah, the smart ones.

English is the national language, even if it doesn't have the formal title of being so.


I wish I could find it on that issue. The reporter from CNN was Lou Dobbs I think. Not sure if I got his name right, but I was laughing the whole time because he was so bedaffled at the notion that American parents SHOULD teach their children a language.

I personally think that the schools should emphasize more studies in financial literacy and how the government works. Well that is my 2 cents of thought anyway. lol

BobbyJ's photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:54 PM
Obama may be looking ahead to the future. I believe I read that by the year 2020, the Hispanic population will be the majority ethnic group in the United States.

Given that fact, it's only common sense for everyone to learn Spanish.

It would also provide relief for businesses if everyone knows both languages. How often do we hear/see "Press 1 for English" on the phone or at an ATM machine. How about the bilingual signs you see in all the stores now. With everyone knowing both languages, companies could save money by messaging in either/or language and know that every customer will always understand.

no photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:54 PM
Edited by smiless on Mon 07/14/08 12:56 PM
Okay here you go. I found something.

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



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP_vvSKD-Zk

franshade's photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:54 PM



Hello wise politicians of the future,

Obama gave a speech that every parent should be teaching their children to learn Spanish.

Why do you think he said this? Is it because he thinks he cannot fix the immigration problem. Is it because he believes Americans should be trying to learn more languages. Is it because of the votes he will need.

Do you believe it to be true or false about the subject of learning Spanish? Why do you believe this?




could it be because English is the #1 language spoken in the USA and spanish is the #2nd language spoken most frequently in the US.

Has nothing to do with immigration, the US has no official language.




I didn't know that. I thought English was the official language and was voted also for it?? I could be wrong but I remember they had a vote if English or German would be the official language of the country and German lost by one vote. This was in the late 1700s or early 1800s when Germans were one of the biggest immigrations at the time.

Of course I don't have links or anything to prove it as it was always told to me when growing up.

but thank you for your insight. I didn't know this country doesnt' have a official language.


"Many people are surprised to learn that the United States has no official language. As one of the major centers of commerce and trade, and a major English-speaking country, many assume that English is the country's official language. But despite efforts over the years, the United States has no official language."

http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_lang.html

http://www.nvtc.gov/lotw/months/november/USlanguages.html

among other sites

Fanta46's photo
Mon 07/14/08 12:56 PM
OK, he did say this, but it was contained in the speech with a broader theme of Americans should learn any language not just spanish.

The Republicans twist it to sound that way, but they grasp on one word or one sentence and make a mountain out of it all the time.


Instead of worrying about immigrants learning English, he told an audience, America should be teaching its children Spanish. Every child should be bilingual, Obama said, they’d be much more employable if they know a foreign language, and said we should be emphasizing foreign language study in classrooms. “It’s embarrassing when Europeans come over here, they all speak English, they speak French, they speak German. And then we go over to Europe and all we can say is merci beaucoup.”

no photo
Mon 07/14/08 01:02 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP_vvSKD-Zk

franshade's photo
Mon 07/14/08 01:10 PM

OK, he did say this, but it was contained in the speech with a broader theme of Americans should learn any language not just spanish.

The Republicans twist it to sound that way, but they grasp on one word or one sentence and make a mountain out of it all the time.


Instead of worrying about immigrants learning English, he told an audience, America should be teaching its children Spanish. Every child should be bilingual, Obama said, they’d be much more employable if they know a foreign language, and said we should be emphasizing foreign language study in classrooms. “It’s embarrassing when Europeans come over here, they all speak English, they speak French, they speak German. And then we go over to Europe and all we can say is merci beaucoup.”


I see nothing wrong with speaking more than one language. It does make you more marketable and employable. But when I went to school foreign language was mandatory, studied French for over 7 years starting in Public School. Daughter had to take a foreign language class in High School for 2 years as well otherwise she wouldnt graduate.


Fanta46's photo
Mon 07/14/08 01:12 PM
Edited by Fanta46 on Mon 07/14/08 01:14 PM
If we had to learn the language of every tourist or immigrant that came to America we would be some multi-lingual people.
laugh laugh laugh

That would be an interesting experiment for any education system!

Impossible!!noway noway

no photo
Mon 07/14/08 01:13 PM
Edited by smiless on Mon 07/14/08 01:16 PM




Hello wise politicians of the future,

Obama gave a speech that every parent should be teaching their children to learn Spanish.

Why do you think he said this? Is it because he thinks he cannot fix the immigration problem. Is it because he believes Americans should be trying to learn more languages. Is it because of the votes he will need.

Do you believe it to be true or false about the subject of learning Spanish? Why do you believe this?




could it be because English is the #1 language spoken in the USA and spanish is the #2nd language spoken most frequently in the US.

Has nothing to do with immigration, the US has no official language.




I didn't know that. I thought English was the official language and was voted also for it?? I could be wrong but I remember they had a vote if English or German would be the official language of the country and German lost by one vote. This was in the late 1700s or early 1800s when Germans were one of the biggest immigrations at the time.

Of course I don't have links or anything to prove it as it was always told to me when growing up.

but thank you for your insight. I didn't know this country doesnt' have a official language.


Yeah, I read that somewhere as well. I studied German-American history extensively because I have a German-American heritage. My family came here from Germany in 1748. And, I live in Pennsylvania, a state where many people in my area can speak Pennsylvanian German as well. Everything in this area was done in German until English became the official language of the governments and markets. Everyone converted to English to adapt and flourish, schools were the first to do so.


I am German who is living in Miami where most speak Spanish! Actually it is hard to find any who speak English here!laugh laugh

I thought okay when I go to this great country everyone will speak primarily English so I need to learn English. I now know that I should have studies Spanish instead.laugh: laugh

It is only online I have the chance to write English!laugh

It is like a friend I knew. He was studying Spanish for a good 6 months intensively and then finally takes his vacation to only realize that the country speaks portugese. Boy was he embarrassed. I laughed so hard I couldn't stop.

He thought with his accent he would get some nice Brazilien ladies to talk to him. Little did he know they speak Portugese. lol

Now my friend laughs at me for learning English and should have learned Spanish when moving to Miami. lol

Fanta46's photo
Mon 07/14/08 01:15 PM





Hello wise politicians of the future,

Obama gave a speech that every parent should be teaching their children to learn Spanish.

Why do you think he said this? Is it because he thinks he cannot fix the immigration problem. Is it because he believes Americans should be trying to learn more languages. Is it because of the votes he will need.

Do you believe it to be true or false about the subject of learning Spanish? Why do you believe this?




could it be because English is the #1 language spoken in the USA and spanish is the #2nd language spoken most frequently in the US.

Has nothing to do with immigration, the US has no official language.




I didn't know that. I thought English was the official language and was voted also for it?? I could be wrong but I remember they had a vote if English or German would be the official language of the country and German lost by one vote. This was in the late 1700s or early 1800s when Germans were one of the biggest immigrations at the time.

Of course I don't have links or anything to prove it as it was always told to me when growing up.

but thank you for your insight. I didn't know this country doesnt' have a official language.


Yeah, I read that somewhere as well. I studied German-American history extensively because I have a German-American heritage. My family came here from Germany in 1748. And, I live in Pennsylvania, a state where many people in my area can speak Pennsylvanian German as well. Everything in this area was done in German until English became the official language of the governments and markets. Everyone converted to English to adapt and flourish, schools were the first to do so.


I am German who is living in Miami where most speak Spanish! Actually it is hard to find any who speak English here!laugh laugh

I thought okay going to this great country everyone speaks off I need to learn English. End up I should have learned Spanish instead!laugh laugh

Only online I have the chance to write English!laugh

It is like a friend I knew. He was studying Spanish for a good 6 months intensively and then finally takes his vacation to only realize that the country speaks portugese. Boy was he embarrassed. I laughed so hard I couldn't stop.

He thought with his accent he would get some nice ladies to talk to him. Little did he know they speak Portugese. lol

Now my friend laughs at me for learning English and should have learned Spanish when moving to Miami. lol


laugh laugh laugh
That's funny!!

Im still having a hard time learning Yankee!!laugh laugh

Previous 1 3