<p>grammar does suck
but you cant fail my english class
my teachers probably the easiest teacher ever</p>
<p>it takes us half a year to read one novel.....</p>
<p>Yeah Im one of the only 2 kids my lit teacher didn't keep off the high honor roll this semester.</p>
<p>I think I have a good statement which can end this whole discussion.</p>
<p>Now, while it would be easier if everyone spoke the same language, with six billion people on this earth it IS impossible. With Spanish becoming more and more useful in America, it would benefit us socially at least a little bit, and it certainly wouldn't hurt to know a little Spanish, or French, or whatever they speak close to where you live. I do find it more of a problem that a large portion of our adult community can't even read or write English anyways, so maybe we should focus on getting them speaking English more than those who can effectively communicate in Spanish.</p>
<p>I always chuckle when I hear of a school district incorporating a new language in elementary school. It is quite scary when a fifth grader can count to 100 in spanish, yet can hardly read. Oh wait! I guess we should spend all of our time in first grade learning how to speak spanish because the Mexican immigrants can't speak a word of English. We must learn for them!</p>
<p>I live in California, but I don't take Spanish... I take French. Useful? No. Fun? Yes.</p>
<p>By the way, I completely agree with the point that most Americans don't even know proper grammar in English. One of the only reasons I know grammar points is because we had to know them in my foreign language class in order to learn the language. Even my English teacher says that the only real grammar you learn is in foreign language classes.</p>
<p>I don't think we should incorporate a foreign language in elementary school to communicate with Mexicans. It would be a good opportunity to learn another language anyway, especially if you are young and are able to learn so quickly. It makes no sense to teach a language in high school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I always chuckle when I hear of a school district incorporating a new language in elementary school. It is quite scary when a fifth grader can count to 100 in spanish, yet can hardly read. Oh wait! I guess we should spend all of our time in first grade learning how to speak spanish because the Mexican immigrants can't speak a word of English. We must learn for them!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Or how about we learn Spanish because we have a huge interest (strategic and economic) in Latin America?</p>
<p>well it looks better in ur college apps
and its way better to be bilingual or trilingual
plus living in socal, i can eavedrop on the people who speak spanish cuz they think i dont understand it lol</p>
<p>UCLA, yes, but should not the solid groundwork of reading, grammar, and arithmetic be emphasized over a foreign language. Indeed, a mastery of the english language is imperative to success in any foreign language. To me, spending an hour a day on spanish in fourth grade is a bit excessive, yes?</p>
<p>Well, technically you're supposed to be building on a language from when you're little, so you master it quickly. The system fails in America because once 2nd grade comes, you relearn what you learn in 1st grade, when 3rd grade comes, you relearn what you learn in 2nd grade, and so on until maybe 8-9th grade.</p>
<p>And you shouldn't have to learn English if you don't really need to. There are many cultural neighborhoods that share a common language other than English. As long as you can communicate in your community, that should suffice. </p>
<p>Spanish/French/German/etc. is very useful to know later in life when you need to communicate with other people. It provides an extra channel of communication. Besides, it doesn't hurt to learn a new language.</p>
<p>Well, at the primary level, it doesn't have to be daily per se. Still, there are countries where people receive an excellent bilingual education without a problem.</p>
<p>And they don't do it daily?</p>
<p>
[quote]
And you shouldn't have to learn English if you don't really need to. There are many cultural neighborhoods that share a common language other than English. As long as you can communicate in your community, that should suffice.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>This is an awful idea. Simply awful. This will do nothing but cantonize the US into those with power (English speakers) and those without (non-English speakers.) What if one of these non-speakers is hospitalized outside of her ghetto? How can they be expected to be safe drivers if they can't read signs?</p>
<p>At least a functional understanding of the de facto language of any nation should be seen as a prerequisite for living in that country. I'm not saying that they should be poet laureates (I am by no means one in Japanese), but they should at least be able to ask how to find the restroom.</p>
<p>stupak,</p>
<p>A TA of mine from Belgium said that English wasn't a daily taught class at the lower primary level. It was a couple times a week or so.</p>
<p>I guess you have a point. Actually, if I recall, when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade, we only had Spanish maybe 2x a week. </p>
<p>Let me clarify my definition of "learn English." I meant to say no immigrant should be required to undergo schooling of any sort to be proficient in English. And common phrases can be easily picked up here and there after a long period of time of living in a different country. Still, I do say the community can have a support system. I know in my borough, there is a Jewish volunteer ambulance who understand Hebrew and act as a middle-ground between the only-Hebrew-speaking man to the English-speaking doctor. There are ways around the system. I'm not saying it's the perfect system- I'm just saying it shouldn't be required.</p>
<p>Anyone in school should be required to take English. None of this namby pamby "let them choose to learn in English" crap. My buddies from Russia came here at like 12 or 13 and now speak English like natives. It should be that way.</p>
<p>If you're 55 and retiring, fine, you can make a choice. But by not enforcing English learning on minority groups, we are actually doing a lot of them a disservice in a way.</p>
<p>Why do we need spanish?</p>
<p>Well I guess you dont NEED it... but
A. It looks good to have a foreign language for college
B. It will help you to get a job... I dont care if you say all hispanics in America should learn English, thats not how it is, so knowing Spanish would help you.
C. Finally, Spain is basically the coolest country ever, I highly recommend visiting... not only is the "touristy" stuff fun, but they have lovely clubs where the drinking age is 16, but nobody cares how old you are anyway.</p>