Why are Americans so against speaking multiple languages?

[Anonymous]

I have traveled to many countries and have always been impressed that the citizens in these countries could speak multiple languages fluently. The US is the only place I have ever been that the people are so stupid and think being fluent in multiple languages is a bad thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have traveled to many countries and have always been impressed that the citizens in these countries could speak multiple languages fluently. The US is the only place I have ever been that the people are so stupid and think being fluent in multiple languages is a bad thing.

as a russian immigrant, i had to learn english from the start, and there were very few things i could even get into that could help me in any way, even today my english is bad

[Anonymous]

My family in Korea were all taught English fluently throughout school years. So they all speak fluent Korean and English. My friends in Europe speak fluent German, French, English and Spanish. Why can't Americans learn one single other language? It seems silly to me.

I speak fluent Spanish, Korean and English. I think it has been 100% a positive thing and helped me immensely in my life.

[Anonymous]

I don't think so. US is going to be largest Spanish speaking nation in the world soon. I think kids these days are all about spending time to learn another language because they see the value in it. We just don't mandate it.

[Anonymous]

“Why do Americans…” makes it sound like a majority of Americans think this. I don’t believe that to be the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have traveled to many countries and have always been impressed that the citizens in these countries could speak multiple languages fluently. The US is the only place I have ever been that the people are so stupid and think being fluent in multiple languages is a bad thing.

The part you wrote in bold is misinformation.

The fact is: every American child is required to attend school through the 12th grade (or equivalent), and that included a minimum of TWO YEARS (2 years) of foreign language instruction.

If that’s not enough proof of our national commitment to multilingual education, the requirement today is now THREE YEARS.

[Anonymous]

Your premise is wrong and demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of Americans, our education system, and geography. There might be Americans who think learning another language is “bad” but that’s not really the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Why do Americans…” makes it sound like a majority of Americans think this. I don’t believe that to be the case.

+100
wtf are you talking about about op

[Anonymous]

OP is probably reacting to the common (not universal l American notion that speaking not-English is offensive, especially in USA.
Thee people feel insecure and threatened by their incompetence in the other language, and desperate to retain the privilege they inherited by being born native to the language of the wealthiest culture in the world.

[Anonymous]

OP is a troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Why do Americans…” makes it sound like a majority of Americans think this. I don’t believe that to be the case.

I think so. Want to get the right riled up? Make them push 1 for English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP is probably reacting to the common (not universal l American notion that speaking not-English is offensive, especially in USA.
Thee people feel insecure and threatened by their incompetence in the other language, and desperate to retain the privilege they inherited by being born native to the language of the wealthiest culture in the world.

How do you explain the French?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have traveled to many countries and have always been impressed that the citizens in these countries could speak multiple languages fluently. The US is the only place I have ever been that the people are so stupid and think being fluent in multiple languages is a bad thing.

It isn't a bad thing but people get annoyed when they have to 'press 1' for English. Just curious in your country do you have press 1 for English?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your premise is wrong and demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of Americans, our education system, and geography. There might be Americans who think learning another language is “bad” but that’s not really the issue.

+1

this is an obvious strawman. I've lived in every kind of community in America, and never once encountered someone who thought speaking another language was a bad thing. Sometimes they thought it was irrelevant to their lives, or a waste of school time, but never a bad thing in itself.

It's not just in DC that elementary schools with a focus on foreign language are among the most sought-after.

Here's a better question: Why do American parents and schools focus on sports to the exclusion of learning, and twist themselves into rhetorical knots to justify the intellectual hamstringing of our kids?

[Anonymous]

What do you call a person who speaks three languages? Trilingual
What do you call a preson who speaks two languages? Bilingual
What do you call a person who only speaks one language? American

It's not really funny, but it holds true. As for PP's comment that kids get a whopping three years of foreign language education, well, that's about how much I have, and my 2nd language shows it. My kids, however, lucked into immersion from K on. The oldest will graduate in a couple years with certificates showing bilingual status and biliteracy.

The people who are "against" this don't want to acknowledge how the feel inferior/unintelligent. So now it's "unamerican" to be smart, and knowing more than one language is one of those things "for elites".

Americans these days have mastered one thing: shooting ourselves in our feet.