Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the benefit of learning other languages. Just not one that *a* is only so big in this country right now because so many people are breaking laws and we gave up, and *b* that will allow my kids to either mow lawns or clean houses.

Bring on Mandarin, German, French, or any number of other useful languages.

Do you really live in DC yet have never met any of the thousands of Spanish-speaking professionals in universities, embassies, multilateral agencies, government? Well, your loss. And your kids', unless you wake up.

Signed,

Parent of perfectly bilingual English-Spanish DC who's also learning Mandarin.

There's a world of difference between "DC" and the suburbs in Virginia. Thankfully I'm in the suburbs in VA. Although here all the landscapers and housecleaners can't speak a lick of English. But keep on keepin' on!

Anonymous wrote:I see the benefit of learning other languages. Just not one that *a* is only so big in this country right now because so many people are breaking laws and we gave up, and *b* that will allow my kids to either mow lawns or clean houses.

Bring on Mandarin, German, French, or any number of other useful languages.

Do you really live in DC yet have never met any of the thousands of Spanish-speaking professionals in universities, embassies, multilateral agencies, government? Well, your loss. And your kids', unless you wake up.

Signed,

Parent of perfectly bilingual English-Spanish DC who's also learning Mandarin.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the benefit of learning other languages. Just not one that *a* is only so big in this country right now because so many people are breaking laws and we gave up, and *b* that will allow my kids to either mow lawns or clean houses.

Bring on Mandarin, German, French, or any number of other useful languages.

This is one very thoughtless view (in other words stupid).
Your children would be in advantage if they know another language even if they are raised by an ignorant bigot like you or others out there.

Name-calling is BAD. Unless it's done by liberals; then it's acceptable.

What words would you use, then, to describe someone who dismisses the entire value of a language because he/she has categorized everyone who speaks it as useless except for hard labor? "Thoughtless" "stupid" "ignorant bigot" sound pretty accurate to me. Please - what words would you use?

How about "perceptive"?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the benefit of learning other languages. Just not one that *a* is only so big in this country right now because so many people are breaking laws and we gave up, and *b* that will allow my kids to either mow lawns or clean houses.

Bring on Mandarin, German, French, or any number of other useful languages.

This is one very thoughtless view (in other words stupid).
Your children would be in advantage if they know another language even if they are raised by an ignorant bigot like you or others out there.

Name-calling is BAD. Unless it's done by liberals; then it's acceptable.

What words would you use, then, to describe someone who dismisses the entire value of a language because he/she has categorized everyone who speaks it as useless except for hard labor? "Thoughtless" "stupid" "ignorant bigot" sound pretty accurate to me. Please - what words would you use?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the benefit of learning other languages. Just not one that *a* is only so big in this country right now because so many people are breaking laws and we gave up, and *b* that will allow my kids to either mow lawns or clean houses.

Bring on Mandarin, German, French, or any number of other useful languages.

That is a very narrow view of what you can do with Spanish. I agree that the majority of Spanish speaking people in this country come as immigrants in low paying jobs (yes, there is not enough room in Latin America for our poor) but that is a small population of Spanish speaking people. I do not mind because i won't be here for more than a couple of years but you will and let me tell you that spanish will be the second language in this country and want it or not it will benefit you if you learn it.
German is only spoken in Germany, French is like spanish, spoken in one main European country and then in a bunch of developing countries (Africa). Although, let me tell you that Latin America is the fastest growing economy in the world after China or India.

Guess you've never been to Canada.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the benefit of learning other languages. Just not one that *a* is only so big in this country right now because so many people are breaking laws and we gave up, and *b* that will allow my kids to either mow lawns or clean houses.

Bring on Mandarin, German, French, or any number of other useful languages.

That is a very narrow view of what you can do with Spanish. I agree that the majority of Spanish speaking people in this country come as immigrants in low paying jobs (yes, there is not enough room in Latin America for our poor) but that is a small population of Spanish speaking people. I do not mind because i won't be here for more than a couple of years but you will and let me tell you that spanish will be the second language in this country and want it or not it will benefit you if you learn it.
German is only spoken in Germany, French is like spanish, spoken in one main European country and then in a bunch of developing countries (Africa). Although, let me tell you that Latin America is the fastest growing economy in the world after China or India.

German is spoken only in Germany?? Um, what about Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Belgium, Namibia, areas of Poland (Silesia/Schlesien), Romania, and Russia... Don't get me started on how many countries speak besides France speak French. Not sure where you got your information. The fastest growing economy is: China! So pp is correct by stating that MANDARIN should be our focus in foreign language acquisition. Would help if more people spoke Hindi too, since I'm sure that India's economy is not doing too poorly either...

And Turkmenistan! I got stuck in the old Ashgabat airport because I was on what was considered an internal flight from Tashkent, Uzbekistan. I didn’t speak Russian but an ethnic German was working one of the desks and we spoke in German to get my problem resolved. I also found a lot of German speakers in Turkey. In fact, they were far more likely to speak German there than they were English. And, finally, there are still German speaking enclaves in South America. Used it a few times there as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the benefit of learning other languages. Just not one that *a* is only so big in this country right now because so many people are breaking laws and we gave up, and *b* that will allow my kids to either mow lawns or clean houses.

Bring on Mandarin, German, French, or any number of other useful languages.

That is a very narrow view of what you can do with Spanish. I agree that the majority of Spanish speaking people in this country come as immigrants in low paying jobs (yes, there is not enough room in Latin America for our poor) but that is a small population of Spanish speaking people. I do not mind because i won't be here for more than a couple of years but you will and let me tell you that spanish will be the second language in this country and want it or not it will benefit you if you learn it.
German is only spoken in Germany, French is like spanish, spoken in one main European country and then in a bunch of developing countries (Africa). Although, let me tell you that Latin America is the fastest growing economy in the world after China or India.

German is spoken only in Germany?? Um, what about Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Belgium, Namibia, areas of Poland (Silesia/Schlesien), Romania, and Russia... Don't get me started on how many countries speak besides France speak French. Not sure where you got your information. The fastest growing economy is: China! So pp is correct by stating that MANDARIN should be our focus in foreign language acquisition. Would help if more people spoke Hindi too, since I'm sure that India's economy is not doing too poorly either...

Not if you want to speak with your cleaning lady.

But instead we are going to pay for ESOL instructors and Spanish instructors in the same school for the same kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the benefit of learning other languages. Just not one that *a* is only so big in this country right now because so many people are breaking laws and we gave up, and *b* that will allow my kids to either mow lawns or clean houses.

Bring on Mandarin, German, French, or any number of other useful languages.

That is a very narrow view of what you can do with Spanish. I agree that the majority of Spanish speaking people in this country come as immigrants in low paying jobs (yes, there is not enough room in Latin America for our poor) but that is a small population of Spanish speaking people. I do not mind because i won't be here for more than a couple of years but you will and let me tell you that spanish will be the second language in this country and want it or not it will benefit you if you learn it.
German is only spoken in Germany, French is like spanish, spoken in one main European country and then in a bunch of developing countries (Africa). Although, let me tell you that Latin America is the fastest growing economy in the world after China or India.

German is spoken only in Germany?? Um, what about Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Belgium, Namibia, areas of Poland (Silesia/Schlesien), Romania, and Russia... Don't get me started on how many countries speak besides France speak French. Not sure where you got your information. The fastest growing economy is: China! So pp is correct by stating that MANDARIN should be our focus in foreign language acquisition. Would help if more people spoke Hindi too, since I'm sure that India's economy is not doing too poorly either...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see the benefit of learning other languages. Just not one that *a* is only so big in this country right now because so many people are breaking laws and we gave up, and *b* that will allow my kids to either mow lawns or clean houses.

Bring on Mandarin, German, French, or any number of other useful languages.

This is one very thoughtless view (in other words stupid).
Your children would be in advantage if they know another language even if they are raised by an ignorant bigot like you or others out there.

Name-calling is BAD. Unless it's done by liberals; then it's acceptable.

Anonymous wrote:I see the benefit of learning other languages. Just not one that *a* is only so big in this country right now because so many people are breaking laws and we gave up, and *b* that will allow my kids to either mow lawns or clean houses.

Bring on Mandarin, German, French, or any number of other useful languages.

This is one very thoughtless view (in other words stupid).
Your children would be in advantage if they know another language even if they are raised by an ignorant bigot like you or others out there. Not only will they have an insiders perspective about other cultures but they will be able leaders in many areas. Your thinking is stupid because you are assuming your kids will have low paying jobs because they know another language. If they do it will be for the example you are setting and the loww expectations you have. What about a management position where he/she will be able to communicate effectively with employees. That applies to any other field. Think big when it comes to your kids. The world is not a box and we need to start thinking responsibly about the future where the fluidity of populations will grow and globalization will prevailed. I said.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there a large population of immigrants from Germany in West Springfield (Orange Hunt Elementary School)?

jajaja

Jajaja? do I know you? you laugh like me!!!

Anonymous wrote:Is there a large population of immigrants from Germany in West Springfield (Orange Hunt Elementary School)?

jajaja

Anonymous wrote:I see the benefit of learning other languages. Just not one that *a* is only so big in this country right now because so many people are breaking laws and we gave up, and *b* that will allow my kids to either mow lawns or clean houses.

Bring on Mandarin, German, French, or any number of other useful languages.

That is a very narrow view of what you can do with Spanish. I agree that the majority of Spanish speaking people in this country come as immigrants in low paying jobs (yes, there is not enough room in Latin America for our poor) but that is a small population of Spanish speaking people. I do not mind because i won't be here for more than a couple of years but you will and let me tell you that spanish will be the second language in this country and want it or not it will benefit you if you learn it.
German is only spoken in Germany, French is like spanish, spoken in one main European country and then in a bunch of developing countries (Africa). Although, let me tell you that Latin America is the fastest growing economy in the world after China or India.

I see the benefit of learning other languages. Just not one that *a* is only so big in this country right now because so many people are breaking laws and we gave up, and *b* that will allow my kids to either mow lawns or clean houses.

Bring on Mandarin, German, French, or any number of other useful languages.

I would have loved to enroll our DC in an immersion Spanish-English program but we do not live near any school like that so she will go to a monolingual school. We are an international family and 2 other languages are spoken at home other than English. I guess there is still people who do not see the benefit of learning other languages. In Europe is far more common to create positive environments to promote multilingualism.
About the little choices around, I liked Oyster in DC even better than the only International private WIS.