Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbors speak Spanish. Not French...

All our neighbors in Montgomery County speak Spanish. It is like Mexico around here

Please expand your geographical knowledge of Latin America.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I studied Spanish and loved it. But I learned French while working abroad as an adult. I wish I'd learned French first. French is so much harder. My adult brain could only get so far. In comparison you could pick up Spanish in your sleep.

Spanish is an easy language to learn badly -- like English, which is also an easy language to learn badly. Learning Spanish well is not easy.

Absolutely true! My point is Spanish -- in my opinion -- is easier to learn than French. I would suggest having a child start with French and learn Spanish afterwards. And why are we discussing learning French OR Spanish. I truly hope my child learns French AND Spanish AND something else. Outside of the U.S. people are multilingual not just bilingual.

Then how come every immigrant from Central America can't speak English? Why do we have ESOL. Why do we have "For English, press 1" in our own country? Give me a break on most people are multilingual. Maybe in a few rich areas of the world but it is not the norm.

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbors speak Spanish. Not French...

All our neighbors in Montgomery County speak Spanish. It is like Mexico around here

Anonymous wrote:I would choose the one that my middle school child preferred. Learning a foreign language is wonderful and rewarding but could be a tough road if you're not interested.

I agree with this 100%. Intrinsic motivate is a critical factor. Here's why -- a kid that WANTS to learn a language because they LOVE it will find opportunities to do and will enjoy it and therefore more likely to stick with it and be successful. I studied Spanish because it's practical NOT because I love the language. My cousin loved the way French sounded and wanted to learn it. Everyone told her it was a waste of time. She did it anyway. She went to McGill University in Montreal and got a job where French is required. I barely speak Spanish now outside of necessity and I am not fluent by any stretch-- and I took Spanish in college too. My cousin has like-native fluency in French and uses it daily at work and in daily life (she's lives in Montreal). Motivation was the difference.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I studied Spanish and loved it. But I learned French while working abroad as an adult. I wish I'd learned French first. French is so much harder. My adult brain could only get so far. In comparison you could pick up Spanish in your sleep.

Spanish is an easy language to learn badly -- like English, which is also an easy language to learn badly. Learning Spanish well is not easy.

Absolutely true! My point is Spanish -- in my opinion -- is easier to learn than French. I would suggest having a child start with French and learn Spanish afterwards. And why are we discussing learning French OR Spanish. I truly hope my child learns French AND Spanish AND something else. Outside of the U.S. people are multilingual not just bilingual.

Anonymous wrote:

Umm--then why were we one vote away from speaking German???

We weren't.

http://www.snopes.com/language/apocryph/german.asp

In any case, bilingual French-English woman here (an accident of birth). While I would want my kids to go to a French immersion school (because I'd like to know that part of their heritage), I use my Spanish (the one I learned in school) every day at restaurants, the grocery store, on the bus, you name it. I would say, if you're living here in the US, make it Spanish first. If they end up interested in the Francophone world, it will be easier with a Spanish leg up.

Oh and to those who say you shouldn't have to speak Spanish: grow up! It's reality not dreamland. Sheesh.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our neighbors speak Spanish. Not French...

THIS.

The most common foreign language used by native speakers in this area, and most of the United States, is Spanish. I don't just choose to use it - I HAVE to use it regularly. I had to speak Spanish on Friday and on Sunday. I cannot imagine a sitiuation requiring use of French to get by anywhere in the US except a resturant.

You shouldn't ever HAVE to speak Spanish in this country. While we don't have an official language, we have a dominant one, one that has been used overwhelmingly since our settlement.

Umm--then why were we one vote away from speaking German???

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You mean in London, where many high-class and entrepreneurial Parisians have been migrating to in order to escape high taxes.

French is the new Latin. Pretty dead other than for specialized purposes.

Number of people who are native French speakers: 75 million
Number of people who are native Latin speakesr: 0

Number of people who are native Spanish speakers: 405 million.

French is indeed closer to Latin than to Spanish. Sorry.

If you want to say that there are more native Spanish speakers than native French speakers, all you have to do is say that there are more native Spanish speakers than native French speakers. I don't think that French will become a dead language any time soon. 75 million is still a lot more than zero.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You mean in London, where many high-class and entrepreneurial Parisians have been migrating to in order to escape high taxes.

French is the new Latin. Pretty dead other than for specialized purposes.

Number of people who are native French speakers: 75 million
Number of people who are native Latin speakesr: 0

Number of people who are native Spanish speakers: 405 million.

French is indeed closer to Latin than to Spanish. Sorry.

Anonymous wrote:I'd rather be the new Latin than the old pig-Latin. #Spanish

That doesn't even make sense.

Anonymous wrote:

You mean in London, where many high-class and entrepreneurial Parisians have been migrating to in order to escape high taxes.

French is the new Latin. Pretty dead other than for specialized purposes.

Number of people who are native French speakers: 75 million
Number of people who are native Latin speakesr: 0

Anonymous wrote:I'd rather be the new Latin than the old pig-Latin. #Spanish

If anyone is a pig here, it is you.

I'd rather be the new Latin than the old pig-Latin. #Spanish

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:French.

In Spain and other areas, Spanish is a lovely language. In the US, Spanish is low-class: the language of people who don't respect our immigration laws and expect to be catered to. And are, sadly.

OK, so your kids can be "high class" and underemployed when all the job openings require being bilingual in spanish. i guess they can utilize their bilingual skills in their canadian jobs. in 20 years, if young adults are not somewhat fluent in spanish, THEY will be considered "stupid" and presumed low class.

Or maybe they'll get great jobs and vacation in Paris and Mont-Tremblant

You mean in London, where many high-class and entrepreneurial Parisians have been migrating to in order to escape high taxes.

French is the new Latin. Pretty dead other than for specialized purposes.