Immersion and other language classes in schools. Which language and why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read several of the comments regarding Chinese as a language specifically used in Asian business dealings. Obviously, posters have limited their vision to Asian/American dealings.

My African-American child has been studying Chinese for 8 years with the goal towards somewhat fluency by the time graduating from college in four years. There are many avenues where a Chinese speaking African-American can have a tremendous advantage.

Looking at the bigger picture, I have directed my AA child towards China's increasing financial role and building of physical structures in Africa. There is absolutely no doubt that the knowledge of the language and culture (Africa and Chinese) will be a strong advantage should my AA child decide to work with American or any company who, along with China, are working with Africa.

It's the bigger global picture!!

I'm during the same thing for the exact same reason. I've lived in China, tons of Africans there, especially Nigerians and Ghanians learning to speak mandarin, fairly quickly too. I don't know how they do it.

+1

[Anonymous]

We picked Spanish because the school is convenient, we have family who speak it, and it will be useful. Feel very lucky to have a public school immersion option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree that Spanish is the only language in America that is used widely other than English. I see huge numbers of Indians, Arabs, French, and Chinese people around here and other areas of the US.

No one said that Spanish is the only foreign language that is used in this country. However, it is the most widely used foreign language in the US. This is not merely my opinion, it is simply a fact. If you don't like Spanish, for whatever reason, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. You can teach your child Mandarin, Arabic, Urdu or whatever strikes your fancy. However, you will not find a more useful, everyday foreign language (in this country at least) than Spanish--sorry if that offends you.And the service industries where speaking Spanish is helpful include: medicine/healthcare, law (as a lawyer, I know this first hand), international development work, social services, education (all levels), construction, etc. And your English fluency will take care of the rest.

useful for what? Talking to the help.? Never used it, never needed it. The cleaning ladies all speak it but I can get them to understand me by using a little Spanglish and sign language.

[Anonymous]

My DD is taking Mandarin b/c it's part of her background and culture, and we all find it an amazing culture that is really fascinating, definitely worth learning more about. I don't give two figs whether it'll help her in business or to make $$ later as an adult. This seems like a cold, machiavellian outlook to me. Similarly, when I was in school, I took Spanish b/c I really loved it, not b/c I thought it was going to make me the next Richie Rich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree that Spanish is the only language in America that is used widely other than English. I see huge numbers of Indians, Arabs, French, and Chinese people around here and other areas of the US.

No one said that Spanish is the only foreign language that is used in this country. However, it is the most widely used foreign language in the US. This is not merely my opinion, it is simply a fact. If you don't like Spanish, for whatever reason, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. You can teach your child Mandarin, Arabic, Urdu or whatever strikes your fancy. However, you will not find a more useful, everyday foreign language (in this country at least) than Spanish--sorry if that offends you.And the service industries where speaking Spanish is helpful include: medicine/healthcare, law (as a lawyer, I know this first hand), international development work, social services, education (all levels), construction, etc. And your English fluency will take care of the rest.

useful for what? Talking to the help.? Never used it, never needed it. The cleaning ladies all speak it but I can get them to understand me by using a little Spanglish and sign language.

Or transacting business i.e if you are a doctor or a lawyer. Or your child can just become the help and then I guess it would be a moot point.

[Anonymous]

Transacting business? Most doctors and lawyers and everyone else here speak English. The only time a doctor/lawyer needs to speak Spanish is when they have are helping Spanish speaking illegal immigrants who don't know English.

[Anonymous]

I'm a lawyer. Never needed Spanish but I am not an immigration lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree that Spanish is the only language in America that is used widely other than English. I see huge numbers of Indians, Arabs, French, and Chinese people around here and other areas of the US.

No one said that Spanish is the only foreign language that is used in this country. However, it is the most widely used foreign language in the US. This is not merely my opinion, it is simply a fact. If you don't like Spanish, for whatever reason, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. You can teach your child Mandarin, Arabic, Urdu or whatever strikes your fancy. However, you will not find a more useful, everyday foreign language (in this country at least) than Spanish--sorry if that offends you.And the service industries where speaking Spanish is helpful include: medicine/healthcare, law (as a lawyer, I know this first hand), international development work, social services, education (all levels), construction, etc. And your English fluency will take care of the rest.

useful for what? Talking to the help.? Never used it, never needed it. The cleaning ladies all speak it but I can get them to understand me by using a little Spanglish and sign language.

Well, ignoring your racism, Spanish language fluency is useful in everyday life. I just took my daughter to the pediatrician, and the medical student shadowing the doc is ethnically Chinese (and a fluent Mandarin speaker to boot). During our discussion, it was revealed that my 4 year old DC speaks Spanish fluently (non native). The medical student said that she wishes that she spoke Spanish because she has never had an opportunity to speak Mandarin with patients. She also said that she often has to get a Spanish-speaking colleague to translate conversations. So, once again, it's helpful to speak Spanish in the USA if you're a doctor/nurse/physical therapist/psychologist/pharmacist/etc; a lawyer (I'm a labor/employment lawyer and Spanish has come in handy many times); a teacher; work in the construction or hospitality industry; own a business (any business with customers in a city of any size); and are a politician who wishes to pander to Hispanic voters; or if you're just a racist and think that only cleaning people Spanish. I could go on, but I think that you get the gist. I really hope that you choose another language for your children to learn (or if you post above is any indication, they'll only speak English). There will just be more opportunities and less competition for my well-educated, bilingual and biliterate (and open minded) children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I disagree that Spanish is the only language in America that is used widely other than English. I see huge numbers of Indians, Arabs, French, and Chinese people around here and other areas of the US.

No one said that Spanish is the only foreign language that is used in this country. However, it is the most widely used foreign language in the US. This is not merely my opinion, it is simply a fact. If you don't like Spanish, for whatever reason, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. You can teach your child Mandarin, Arabic, Urdu or whatever strikes your fancy. However, you will not find a more useful, everyday foreign language (in this country at least) than Spanish--sorry if that offends you.And the service industries where speaking Spanish is helpful include: medicine/healthcare, law (as a lawyer, I know this first hand), international development work, social services, education (all levels), construction, etc. And your English fluency will take care of the rest.

useful for what? Talking to the help.? Never used it, never needed it. The cleaning ladies all speak it but I can get them to understand me by using a little Spanglish and sign language.

Well, ignoring your racism, Spanish language fluency is useful in everyday life. I just took my daughter to the pediatrician, and the medical student shadowing the doc is ethnically Chinese (and a fluent Mandarin speaker to boot). During our discussion, it was revealed that my 4 year old DC speaks Spanish fluently (non native). The medical student said that she wishes that she spoke Spanish because she has never had an opportunity to speak Mandarin with patients. She also said that she often has to get a Spanish-speaking colleague to translate conversations. So, once again, it's helpful to speak Spanish in the USA if you're a doctor/nurse/physical therapist/psychologist/pharmacist/etc; a lawyer (I'm a labor/employment lawyer and Spanish has come in handy many times); a teacher; work in the construction or hospitality industry; own a business (any business with customers in a city of any size); and are a politician who wishes to pander to Hispanic voters; or if you're just a racist and think that only cleaning people Spanish. I could go on, but I think that you get the gist. I really hope that you choose another language for your children to learn (or if you post above is any indication, they'll only speak English). There will just be more opportunities and less competition for my well-educated, bilingual and biliterate (and open minded) children.

+1. And may I also add that being an English/Spanish bilingual is also helpful if you're a principal, school guidance counselor, school psychologist, college professor and/or administrator. It's also super helpful if you're a firefighter or police officer. Basically, speaking Spanish will be helpful in any career where you come into contact with people (whether they are here illegally or not . And there's also a nice economic bonus. Besides all of the cognitive and cultural benefits being bilingual confers, many jobs in this country also pay Spanish speaking professionals more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, ignoring your racism, Spanish language fluency is useful in everyday life. I just took my daughter to the pediatrician, and the medical student shadowing the doc is ethnically Chinese (and a fluent Mandarin speaker to boot). During our discussion, it was revealed that my 4 year old DC speaks Spanish fluently (non native). The medical student said that she wishes that she spoke Spanish because she has never had an opportunity to speak Mandarin with patients. She also said that she often has to get a Spanish-speaking colleague to translate conversations. So, once again, it's helpful to speak Spanish in the USA if you're a doctor/nurse/physical therapist/psychologist/pharmacist/etc; a lawyer (I'm a labor/employment lawyer and Spanish has come in handy many times); a teacher; work in the construction or hospitality industry; own a business (any business with customers in a city of any size); and are a politician who wishes to pander to Hispanic voters; or if you're just a racist and think that only cleaning people Spanish. I could go on, but I think that you get the gist. I really hope that you choose another language for your children to learn (or if you post above is any indication, they'll only speak English). There will just be more opportunities and less competition for my well-educated, bilingual and biliterate (and open minded) children.

Mandarin=useless!

[Anonymous]

Spanish.

Most schools inside the beltway in VA are 25 - 60% Hispanic.
Probably <1% French and Chinese combined (useless!).

I don't know any Chinese people or anyone from a French speaking country either except for my PCP in Chinatown (which had less than 1,000 Chinese people 10+ years ago, and likely fewer now).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I disagree that Spanish is the only language in America that is used widely other than English. I see huge numbers of Indians, Arabs, French, and Chinese people around here and other areas of the US.

B.S.! There's barely any Chinese people around here. The east asians are almost entirely Korean in this area. And I don't know any people from France in this area and I've lived here all my life - wait, I just met 1 person with a mother from France, so that's 1. (I'm part french actually). I have known a few left wing loons who send their kids to french school because they are obsessed with vacationing in France though.

[Anonymous]

Spanish is probably the easiest language to learn and I don't think it impresses the college admissions people that much.
French a little harder but also don't think it is viewed as all that impressive on the college app. either.
Try Russian, Arabic or Mandarin. Those are harder and relate to important areas of the world.

[Anonymous]

Our child is in a Spanish immersion program and we like that there are real opportunities in our neighborhood (Mount Pleasant, DC) for her to practice at many businesses on Mount Pleasant Street.

But beyond the immediate opportunities in the DC region, we thought it would be helpful if she ever lived in South Florida, Texas or Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico where the percentage of Spanish speakers is even higher. And any look at demographic predictions makes it seem like an even more useful language for her to know when she is my age.

That said, we'd have taken immersion in a different language if that was all that we could access for the cognitive and cultural benefits. Like the law school grad who doesn't end up practicing law, I think there are benefits to their brain even if they don't use the language that much later on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spanish is probably the easiest language to learn and I don't think it impresses the college admissions people that much.
French a little harder but also don't think it is viewed as all that impressive on the college app. either.
Try Russian, Arabic or Mandarin. Those are harder and relate to important areas of the world.

I'm so tired of people who know little to nothing about bilingualism acting as if they're experts. As someone who knows a great deal about second language acquisition and bilingualism, I assure you that no language can be acquired and retained with a high level of fluency (i.e., becoming bilingual and biliterate at a college level) without a great deal of effort. It is true that Romance languages, including Spanish and French, typically take less time for a native-English speaker to become proficient, as opposed to a tonal language like Mandarin (it
also takes less time for Japanese, Koreans, Ghanaians, and speakers of other tonal languages to learn Mandarin). However, please don't confuse time with easy. You will find many Americans who have lived in Spanish speaking countries for years who do not speak Spanish above a very basic level (and Spanish speakers who have lived in this country for many years who do not speak English well). That is because you must make a consistent and concerted effort to learn the language and only communicate with speakers of the target language (as much as possible). There are many people who claim to speak Spanish well, but they are only fooling themselves (and apparently you).

And I assure you, college admissions professionals are very impressed with a candidate who comes from a monolingual family, but has studied Spanish (or any language) for 10+ years and is both bilingual and biliterate at a college level. If that student also has top grades in Spanish (including a 5 on the Spanish AP exam), and has studied abroad in a Spanish speaking country during high school, that student will only be helped during the admissions process. How much? Who knows--that will vary from college to college, and the strength of the rest of the applicant's file. But it will always be a bonus--never a negative, plus that student has the satisfaction of speaking two languages.