Why are Americans so against speaking multiple languages?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Meh. 3 years is peanuts.

What are you going on about? There's no requirement for foreign language.

[Anonymous]

I think it's time for an Esperanto resurgence.

[Anonymous]

The problem is in elementary schools and lack of preschool quality. In the US most kids aren’t exposed to a foreign language until middle school which is the worst time to learn. The quality of language teachers in MS and HS is scary.

Americans think it’s too hard to learn a foreign language.

[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.

I’ve thought and said this for years. By the time most schools offer foreign languages, it’s too late to become very fluent.

It’s not just learning a language from another country, probably the people and culture, but languages are great for the brain. Europeans manage to learn up to 3-4 additional languages and are comfortable in so many situations that I struggled with when traveling. It’s obnoxious to expect everyone else to speak English.

[Anonymous]

Because it makes us white people Superior to others if we don't allow more than one language. Immigrants speak more than one language and we can't have them knowing more than us

[Anonymous]

Many states across the country do require a foreign language to graduate college. It is best if you take it in high school because it typically can count towards college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:English is the language of business so other countries learn it.

Beyond that, there are many cultures in close proximity so of course people will learn more languages. Someone in Belgium or Switzerland will learn French and German. Someone near Montreal will learn French and English, bit maybe not someone in Vancouver.

Everyone in Canada learns and is exposed to French. Literally everything is written in both languages. Staring at the cereal box while eating breakfast? We learn French. Using your skincare products? We learn French. Maybe not enough to become fluent but the entire massive country is exposed to French all day every day.

?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I have immigrant parents, grew up bilingual (English and my family’s Indian language), studied three different languages in high school and college (minored in one) and as an adult still listen to podcasts in French daily and take every opportunity I get to use it. I think learning languages is a great thing and I absolutely agree that all American children should study a foreign language in school.

That said, I agree that English should be the default and official language of the US. I get somewhat annoyed when I have to push 1 for English too.

I spend a lot of time in France and am generally with them on this - you come to another country, it’s on you to make an effort in that country’s language. There shouldn't have to be official efforts to accommodate you (outside of obvious places like airports, etc.). And honestly, I think our society has gotten more fractured over the years in part because of all these efforts to pander to various linguistic, racial, and other identity-based groups. I’m okay with establishing an official language.

I agree. The official language of USA should be Mandarin, the most popular native language in the world.
You agree, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most Americans never leave the United States.. And, as the pp pointed out, are sports obsessed and for some reason don't prioritize learning at all, it's not just languages.

Yes, Europeans are so refined and don't waste their time watching football.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think anyone thinks being able to speak multiple languages is a bad thing. I would love to be able to do this but I am bad at languages.

My only issue adjacent to this is that it is annoying af to go to a store and have the person helping you have no idea what you are trying to say.

So learn a second language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Two or three years is barely anything at all. Most American kids emerging from schools having had 2 or 3 years of Spanish or French or German can barely speak it just a few years later.

[Anonymous]

I have never heard anyone be against speaking multiple languages.

[Anonymous]

I think this is common in the UK too. It’s an English supremacy thing. When you’re in a smaller country like Belgium or Switzerland, you learn another language because you need it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I have immigrant parents, grew up bilingual (English and my family’s Indian language), studied three different languages in high school and college (minored in one) and as an adult still listen to podcasts in French daily and take every opportunity I get to use it. I think learning languages is a great thing and I absolutely agree that all American children should study a foreign language in school.

That said, I agree that English should be the default and official language of the US. I get somewhat annoyed when I have to push 1 for English too.

I spend a lot of time in France and am generally with them on this - you come to another country, it’s on you to make an effort in that country’s language. There shouldn't have to be official efforts to accommodate you (outside of obvious places like airports, etc.). And honestly, I think our society has gotten more fractured over the years in part because of all these efforts to pander to various linguistic, racial, and other identity-based groups. I’m okay with establishing an official language.

You poor thing.

Evidently there are a lot of us poor things out there. I didn’t vote for him, but it’s one of the reasons why Trump is in office.

That's not the flex you think it is.

I don’t think it’s a flex at all. I do think accusing “Americans” generally of being opposed to foreign language instruction (with the undertone that Americans are xenophobic and racist), when there are reasonable and valid (IMO) social reasons to encourage use of English as the official language in the US is a good example of why people are fed up with Democrats. Which is unfortunate because Democratic policies are better for the country, and I would rather have Democrats in office. But it’s not going to happen with this sort of condescending attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

I have immigrant parents, grew up bilingual (English and my family’s Indian language), studied three different languages in high school and college (minored in one) and as an adult still listen to podcasts in French daily and take every opportunity I get to use it. I think learning languages is a great thing and I absolutely agree that all American children should study a foreign language in school.

That said, I agree that English should be the default and official language of the US. I get somewhat annoyed when I have to push 1 for English too.

I spend a lot of time in France and am generally with them on this - you come to another country, it’s on you to make an effort in that country’s language. There shouldn't have to be official efforts to accommodate you (outside of obvious places like airports, etc.). And honestly, I think our society has gotten more fractured over the years in part because of all these efforts to pander to various linguistic, racial, and other identity-based groups. I’m okay with establishing an official language.

I agree. The official language of USA should be Mandarin, the most popular native language in the world.
You agree, right?

No, I don’t. I am not seeing how you logically arrived this conclusion from my post. Please try harder.