French or Spanish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why must anyone learn Spanish simply because so much of the blue collar population in the U.S. speak Spanish? What if they are not blue collar and they prefer their children to avoid such jobs? We live in a competitive area where children are competing to get into difficult schools. Clearly parents are very concerned and involved in grooming their children's education. For what? So they can acquire blue collar jobs or be in regular contact with blue collar job holders?

It sounds harsh, but the reality is that parents in the DC metro area who send their children to competetive schools would like their children to hold well paying jobs, many of which do not require the ability to speak Spanish.

I've hired nannies and spanish speaking workers but, frankly, if the person does not speak enough English and can't bring someone along to translate but I need them to speak English for the job, I don't hire them, period.

Being a classist bigot is so ugly. I surely hope our children are not attending the same school.


But back to the topic, my DD's first foreign language was French. It was mandatory at her school. She did dual French and Latin for a couple of years (again required), but when scheduling required her to drop one language she kept Latin. Funny enough, between her French and her Latin she can often communicate with Spanish speaking as well as Italian speaking individuals. And she does hope to eventually become an Italian student.

[Anonymous]

Well, 10:11, not necessarily funny, but completely understandable as they are all Romance languages. Unfortunately, the bigoted poster who doesn't want her DC to learn blue-collar Spanish may not be able to prevent them from doing so if they study French, Italian or Latin and have an aptitude for it.

[Anonymous]

Okay, I knew I would get a lashing for writing what I did. But I really don't think it's bigoted. We don't attend Spanish theatre or read books by Spanish authors. Similar we aren't going to Russian theatre or reading books written by Russian authors either. We're looking for DC to learn a language so he can live in a country that speaks that language.

I didn't say ALL of the Spanish speaking population were blue collar workers. But statistically, in the U.S., look it up yourself and see what the percentage is. It's quite a large percentage. This is fact. So don't go bringing up the doctors and lawyers in South America or the Nicaraguan poets, or the nanny that cooed your child who ended up going to a Big 3 school because of all that cooing. We are discussing the value of Spanish for jobs. And I am thinking of where DC may want to live when he grows up or where we may want to move. But if you are grooming your child for certain occupations and Spanish is not required for those occupations, why teach him it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, I knew I would get a lashing for writing what I did. But I really don't think it's bigoted. We don't attend Spanish theatre or read books by Spanish authors. Similar we aren't going to Russian theatre or reading books written by Russian authors either. We're looking for DC to learn a language so he can live in a country that speaks that language.

I didn't say ALL of the Spanish speaking population were blue collar workers. But statistically, in the U.S., look it up yourself and see what the percentage is. It's quite a large percentage. This is fact. So don't go bringing up the doctors and lawyers in South America or the Nicaraguan poets, or the nanny that cooed your child who ended up going to a Big 3 school because of all that cooing. We are discussing the value of Spanish for jobs. And I am thinking of where DC may want to live when he grows up or where we may want to move. But if you are grooming your child for certain occupations and Spanish is not required for those occupations, why teach him it?

I am not grooming my child for a "certain occupation". Learning a foreign language enriches ones life and like all education has a value all it's own. It's worth is not solely measured by earning potential.

[Anonymous]

if we are talking a language for business then you should look at the estimated GDP of each language group in 20 or 30 years' time. By this measure Spanish wins, hands down.

[Anonymous]

That doesn't make sense. China has oneof the world's largest GDP but that doesn't mean I'll want DC to seek job prospects or live there permanently. And the only reason the sum of all the Spanish speaking countries GDP is the largest is because there are so many Spanish speaking countries (primarily in South America). Of those countries where Spanish is predominantly spoken that accounted for the largest GDP, how many countries offer the most lucrative/rewarding jobs as compared to other countries as well as a safe place to raise a family? Nicaragua? Columbia? Argentina? Guyana? How does the GDP of all Spanish speaking countries translate to one fantastically rewarding, lucrative job for one person? It doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That doesn't make sense. China has oneof the world's largest GDP but that doesn't mean I'll want DC to seek job prospects or live there permanently. And the only reason the sum of all the Spanish speaking countries GDP is the largest is because there are so many Spanish speaking countries (primarily in South America). Of those countries where Spanish is predominantly spoken that accounted for the largest GDP, how many countries offer the most lucrative/rewarding jobs as compared to other countries as well as a safe place to raise a family? Nicaragua? Columbia? Argentina? Guyana? How does the GDP of all Spanish speaking countries translate to one fantastically rewarding, lucrative job for one person? It doesn't.

you are truly something else...... I pity your children.

[Anonymous]

I pity you because you clearly need to resort to insults because you are unable to argue my point on the merits. And I pity your children because perhaps you will teach them to insult when they are not intelligent enough to argue on the merits either. That I do not wish for my children to move to Nicaragua, Columbia, or similar unsafe countries for dismal job prospects does not translate to me being a bigot. It is what it is and I think you need to admit the reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I pity you because you clearly need to resort to insults because you are unable to argue my point on the merits. And I pity your children because perhaps you will teach them to insult when they are not intelligent enough to argue on the merits either. That I do not wish for my children to move to Nicaragua, Columbia, or similar unsafe countries for dismal job prospects does not translate to me being a bigot. It is what it is and I think you need to admit the reality.

I apologize. I should not have insulted you. Your negative labeling, assumptions and judgement of others due to their economic status, geography of where they live, as well as their culture and the language they speak is hurtful and offensive. However, insults solve nothing and I sincerely apologize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That doesn't make sense. China has oneof the world's largest GDP but that doesn't mean I'll want DC to seek job prospects or live there permanently. And the only reason the sum of all the Spanish speaking countries GDP is the largest is because there are so many Spanish speaking countries (primarily in South America). Of those countries where Spanish is predominantly spoken that accounted for the largest GDP, how many countries offer the most lucrative/rewarding jobs as compared to other countries as well as a safe place to raise a family? Nicaragua? Columbia? Argentina? Guyana? How does the GDP of all Spanish speaking countries translate to one fantastically rewarding, lucrative job for one person? It doesn't.

This is becoming ridiculous. What language will translate into "one fantastically rewarding, lucrative job for one person"? Who knows?
In the case of Leonard Nimoy for example, it turned out to be Vulcan.

BTW, Guyana is Anglophone. And Argentina, Chile, Uruguay etc are in many ways great places to raise a family (if that is your criterion?!). Certainly safer, richer and more pleasant than most Francophone countries (DR Congo, anyone?).

And in terms of places in Europe, Spain is certainly up there with France. Almost as wealthy, and while the salads aren't as good, the cured meat products are better. Do you anticipate your DC will be more into the former or the latter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: And in terms of places in Europe, Spain is certainly up there with France. Almost as wealthy, and while the salads aren't as good, the cured meat products are better. Do you anticipate your DC will be more into the former or the latter?

LOL! Personally, I find that Spanish helps me communicate with the housecleaners, and while they do their thing I use my French as I lie back on the "chaise longue" and read Moliere in the original.

But seriously, why would anybody think that choosing a language now will determine where DC ends up living and working?

[Anonymous]

The languages a child learns are likely to be used by him in his occupation or a deciding factor in where he might choose to live in his future.

To the PP, save your humor for when you finally get your stage job. Would like to see the stats and figures on the various crime rates as well as the wealth of the country as well as the salaries for various jobs in the countries you mentioned. I'm sure you have them ready to share with us.

[Anonymous]

My five-year-old is already uent-flay in ig-pay atin-lay.

Uckit-say, adies-lay!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How does the GDP of all Spanish speaking countries translate to one fantastically rewarding, lucrative job for one person? It doesn't.

I know two lawyers (one telecom, one energy) and one interpreter whose Spanish-language skills have given them rewarding and lucrative jobs. And I don't get out much, LOL!

Short answer is to your question is that GDP translates into potential markets that corporations in the US want access to. So they have to make deals, advertise, do market research, meet with government officials, etc. and such encounters will often require at least someone in the room to have fluency in both English and Spanish. And it's always a plus when the people actually making the deals/doing the work are bilingual.

Also, a wide variety of professionals and other highly compensated folks (doctors, lawyers, academics, architects, lobbyists, developers, real estate agents, media executives) have (or would like to have) Spanish-speaking clients, both here and abroad even when large corporations aren't in the mix.

[Anonymous]

Based on your post OP, it seems you've already decided that French is more sophisticated and Spanish, well, blue collar.

I think you can stick with your decision and move now to France, Switzerland, or Belgium and know that you've done your job as a parent to ensure your child a lucrative and rewarding career.