French or Spanish?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Have you ever been to Francophone Switzerland? I have, and aside from the fact that it is a distinct linguistic minority, they're still speaking German - they're just using French words to do it.

I lived in Francophone Switzerland, and actually the French is sort of sing-songy, sort of like the southern accent here. Other french-speaking people make fun of them. I doubt you'd find a Swiss-accented person in the DC area who is willing to prep your DC.

Geneva has a few UN organizations, if your DC wants to work for the International Labor Organization. The UN High Commission on Refugees is also there, but it's practically impossible to get a job there.

My only serious comment -- I speak both French and Spanish. From my own experience and that of friends and relations, it's (very) marginally easier to start with French and then go to Spanish, rather than the other way around.

I was teasing of course, but that's sort of what I was getting at. I.e., that is some bizarre sounding french. It basically sounds like a different language that just happens to have a lot of french words. Culturally I thought they seemed more German as well - the houses, the breakfasts, the food. I lived in both France and Germany found french-speaking Switzerland to be more similar to Germany than to France. My opinion only though, of course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:23:46 Spanish is also spoken in Spain. Spanish versus French: Double the speakers worldwide, 400 m. versus 200 m. Much more Spanish spoken in the U.S. in large cities. Not clear why you'd study a language only if you though you wanted to live someplace where it's spoken. It's hard to live in Ancient Rome these days but Latin instruction is resurgent in the U.S.

Right on!

I say let your child choose. If he/she is excited about French, great! With any of the Romance languages it is easier to learn one after having studied another at an earlier so it doesn't matter if you do Spanish or French first if you are interested in having them be multilingual.

[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.

Your ignorance reminds me of why I chose to stop reading this blog. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Have you ever been to Francophone Switzerland? I have, and aside from the fact that it is a distinct linguistic minority, they're still speaking German - they're just using French words to do it.

I lived in Francophone Switzerland, and actually the French is sort of sing-songy, sort of like the southern accent here. Other french-speaking people make fun of them. I doubt you'd find a Swiss-accented person in the DC area who is willing to prep your DC.

I have heard that the French are particularly snobby about their language. Is that true? I remember years ago the Quebecois feeling quite insulted because a French-Canadian film was shown in France with subtitles. They felt the French were looking down on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I was teasing of course, but that's sort of what I was getting at. I.e., that is some bizarre sounding french. It basically sounds like a different language that just happens to have a lot of french words. Culturally I thought they seemed more German as well - the houses, the breakfasts, the food. I lived in both France and Germany found french-speaking Switzerland to be more similar to Germany than to France. My opinion only though, of course.

I agree, even french-speaking Switzerland seems to have a very German culture. Speaking of which, why isn't German on the list of possible languages for OP's DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I have heard that the French are particularly snobby about their language. Is that true? I remember years ago the Quebecois feeling quite insulted because a French-Canadian film was shown in France with subtitles. They felt the French were looking down on them.

Quebec French, another ghastly accent! Think the Bronx.

A while ago France had a minister, if I remember correctly his name was Jack Lang (seriously), who had clear issues about other languages (and accents) sullying the pure French language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I agree, even french-speaking Switzerland seems to have a very German culture. Speaking of which, why isn't German on the list of possible languages for OP's DC?

I've been wondering that too, but them I'm biased.

It seems to me a pointless question to ask whether learning Spanish or French will lead to more fulfilling or more lucrative jobs in the future. There are fulfilling and lucrative jobs that can be found using almost any language that you can name, certainly any major language like Spanish or French. GDP statistics, whether past, current, or projected, are totally irrelevant. You don't find a job based on GDP, you find a job based on the interests and skills you bring to the table.

[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.

You're kidding, right?

I learned French in school, and went to college in Quebec almost 20 years ago. I am also close to fluent in Spanish, and began learning the language 10 years ago. It was much easier because of my background in French.

I am a physician (far from blue collar), and use my Spanish to communicate with patients all the time. I also use it to communicate with my children's daycare providers, as well as with my spouse, who is from Latin America and works at the World Bank. We are not blue collar.

You need to educate yourself, truthfully.

[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.

I am a partner in BigLaw and speak Spanish fluently as I lived in Spain for years. I draft and negotiate contracts in Spanish, a language I I use daily in my work.

Your ignorance is mind-boggling.

[Anonymous]

c'mon. French is a much classier language than Spanish. Spanish is un lenguaje basura. I've even heard intelligent Hispanic immigrants say that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:c'mon. French is a much classier language than Spanish. Spanish is un lenguaje basura. I've even heard intelligent Hispanic immigrants say that.

Can you explain with specificity what you mean when you say "classier" in regard to French?

[Anonymous]

I took Spanish in kindergarten-fifth grade and seventh grade.

I took French in sixth grade and then chose it as my high school language in eighth grade.

I took Latin in 7th-10th grade.

I don't think there is a disservice in learning French. If you want your child to learn Spanish (because it is useful), then have them take it on the side. Many schools will allow students to study two languages... and if not, I'm sure that your child could take it from some other source. The importance is learning the language... not receiving a grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:23:46 Spanish is also spoken in Spain. Spanish versus French: Double the speakers worldwide, 400 m. versus 200 m. Much more Spanish spoken in the U.S. in large cities. Not clear why you'd study a language only if you though you wanted to live someplace where it's spoken. It's hard to live in Ancient Rome these days but Latin instruction is resurgent in the U.S.

Because we want DC to have the option of living elsewhere, in another country when he grows up. And because it's not out of the realm of possibility for us to move to a different country. And I'm fairly certain we are not likely to live in latin america.

What if we/he choose to live in Europe? What is the most commonly spoken language in Europe? I was told that the Spanish spoken in Spain is different than the Spanish spoken in Latin American countries. No? French is spoken in France as well as in Switzerland btw.

Yes, I can see that the ability to speak spanish is very valuable for those jobs where the applicant must come in contact with the spanish-speaking population. Don't want to reveal my job, but I have zero contact with the spanish-speaking population. But I am thinking also of other occupations where I question whether it's ever going to be necessray for them to speak spanish - neurologists, plastic surgeons, CEO's, university professor, patent or corporate lawyer, physicist, aernonautical engineer, etc..too many to list. How likely is it that spanish will be a real requirement for these type of occupations?

German. Good luck with that one, far more difficult than either French or Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Have you ever been to Francophone Switzerland? I have, and aside from the fact that it is a distinct linguistic minority, they're still speaking German - they're just using French words to do it.

I lived in Francophone Switzerland, and actually the French is sort of sing-songy, sort of like the southern accent here. Other french-speaking people make fun of them. I doubt you'd find a Swiss-accented person in the DC area who is willing to prep your DC.

Geneva has a few UN organizations, if your DC wants to work for the International Labor Organization. The UN High Commission on Refugees is also there, but it's practically impossible to get a job there.

My only serious comment -- I speak both French and Spanish. From my own experience and that of friends and relations, it's (very) marginally easier to start with French and then go to Spanish, rather than the other way around.

I was teasing of course, but that's sort of what I was getting at. I.e., that is some bizarre sounding french. It basically sounds like a different language that just happens to have a lot of french words. Culturally I thought they seemed more German as well - the houses, the breakfasts, the food. I lived in both France and Germany found french-speaking Switzerland to be more similar to Germany than to France. My opinion only though, of course.

Aack. As a German, (northern German), i"m inclined to disagree. But then, the cultural disparity between north and south of Germany is strong enough that there is more commonality between Hamburg and Stockholm than between Hamburg and Munich......but I think we're digressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:c'mon. French is a much classier language than Spanish. Spanish is un lenguaje basura. I've even heard intelligent Hispanic immigrants say that.

Can you explain with specificity what you mean when you say "classier" in regard to French?

Somebody is just trying to stir the pot--ignore.