Are we doing a disservice to our kids by not teaching them spanish?

Discussion in 'Homeschooling' started by StoneFamily, Jul 29, 2009.

  1. ColoradoMom

    ColoradoMom New Member

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    I have not insulted you or your opinions, I have granted you the freedom to say what you feel. But you continue to say that I am the one with the problem and I am the one who is rude. So, please understand that I will not tolerate childish name calling or allow you to censor my opinions by bullying. If you feel it is necessary to further your viewpoints by calling me names and directing your not-so-subtle or coy innuendo (over and over and over again) at me, then this subject will live on until the thread is closed.

    I expressed a general opinion, directed at NO ONE, and I was personally attacked. You don't have to agree with me, you don't have to like me, but you should allow me to have opinions you do not support or agree with without name calling or being personally judgemental.

    Now, we can try this again and you can leave out your innuendo, you can respond as you have been and keep it going, or you can ignore me. If you choose to again tell me I am rude and have "stereotypcial" opinions, then I will reply to your posts again, and again, and again, and again....
     
  2. Faith3

    Faith3 New Member

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    I think deciding which language to learn all depends on where you live... who lives there and which languages are frequently spoken? Also, who your associates... what languages do your friends speak? What about at work? Lastly, where do you plan on going in your lifetime? If you plan on visiting certain countries, why not learn the language?
     
  3. Faith3

    Faith3 New Member

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    Please quit with the patronizing... it is unneccesary. Obvioulsy, I am trying to agree to disagree, but you just won't let it go, will ya? I never called you a name. I never said you have a problem. You were not personally attacked. I don't dislike you. Why are you forcing the issue? This subject will not live on until the thread is closed as I have no interest in conversing with you in this manner. This is so childish I refuse to participate any further, and thank you, I will ignore. Please do not repond to my posts again, and again, and again, and again. That freaks me out a little.
     
  4. ColoradoMom

    ColoradoMom New Member

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    I get it that you are playing victim here and I won't bother you again for fear of more accusations, but I am very disappointed that you would act in such a way on this board. The Spot isn't about petty bickering, it is about support.
     
  5. seekingmyLord

    seekingmyLord Active Member

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    Hmmm, I suppose our other neigbors, the French Canadians, should be quite offended that they are not considered as important here in the U.S. Having lived in Florida I know first hand we had plenty of "snow birds," some quite well to do and adding a get deal to the tourist ecomony, that spoke French and no signs in French to accommodate them, no French speaking waiters to take their orders, etc.

    I do not mean to offend anyone, but I think in part it is attitude of those who speak foreign languages while here in the U.S. that puts people off the most and also there is how we perceive what we observe that may be a culture difference--I honestly don't know if it is one or the other or both. I believe a similar concern about a prejudice against English was even brought out in the movie "Selena," when she was going to be speaking to the press in Mexico, all who obviously believed she could speak fluently in Spanish because she sang in Spanish.

    I have been around all kinds of different cultures and most individuals are friendly and nice, but I have noticed a certain resistance more common among the Hispanic communities in general to speak English, when they know how to speak it and it should be spoken for the sake of politeness. I am not sure that I am perceiving something that is not there or if that really is the way it is, but from my point of view I have seen it quite often and not so much with other cultures.
     
  6. Faith3

    Faith3 New Member

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    SeekingmyLord, I have not known anyone who has resisted speaking English while living here in the U.S.... I just do not understand that. Why would someone do that? What is the point?
     
  7. seekingmyLord

    seekingmyLord Active Member

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    Have you ever lived in Florida?
     
  8. Faith3

    Faith3 New Member

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    No, I haven't... why?
     
  9. seekingmyLord

    seekingmyLord Active Member

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    I am wondering if the areas of the country where Hispanics tend to settle might have their own micro-cultural differences.

    But, to answer your question, as to why someone would resist speaking English purposely...I cannot answer for them. I can only share one of several experiences: I have had Spanish speaking workers for a home improvement job where we live now and none of them seem to understand me or could speak any English, supposedly, until the owner of the company showed up to check in on them. Amazingly, they not only understood him, but they could speak English well enough to be understood as well. I found that bit annoying considering the circumstances.
     
  10. Faith3

    Faith3 New Member

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    Hmmm, that is kinda strange. Could it be self-esteem issues? Maybe they felt akward or insecure. I don't know, either... just throwing something out there!
     
  11. seekingmyLord

    seekingmyLord Active Member

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    Perhaps, but I did mention this was just one of several experiences, which is suggests to me it is a cultural thing--I may not be correct about that, but I had have a few Hispanic friends, who have said as much.
     
  12. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    I would guess they just didn't WANT to communicate with you. They figured if you weren't able to take the time to learn THEIR language, you weren't part of THEIR community, then you're not worth bothering with. they can effectively ignore you. And that's an attitude I've seen, too. We have a pretty big Hispanic population in central Ohio. And it's just that kind of attitude that makes others stubborn and refuse to learn Spanish. To me, it's different than having a crew that is speaking Spanish among themselves. I don't mind that, since it is the "common language" of the group. But to pretend no one understands/speaks English when spoken to by the person who hired them is grounds to be fired.
     
  13. MamaBear

    MamaBear New Member

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    A friend of ours refrained from speaking to others when he first came here from Mexico because of his embarrassment of what he felt of not being able to speak English well. He studied hard, got his citizenship and has been working for the same employer (dh) for over 30 years now.
     
  14. Ava Rose

    Ava Rose New Member

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    Okay..here's a stupid question but how does someone who does not speak english get a job in America? Or do you think it is like what some others have stated and the person then just refuses to acknowlege english?
     
  15. MamaBear

    MamaBear New Member

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    I think it could be both, it could be anything-IMHO. We stayed at a hotel in Denver and there was a card by the phone that indicated their housekeeping staff did not speak English. I don't remember what else it said. I asked one of the ladies for some shampoo and I think she was a bit confused but was able to hand me the right item I requested.

    I think that sometimes perhaps they have someone translate for them or they know enough English to get by. Also, others are willing to exploit them by paying them lowing wages because they know how desperate that person is for a job.

    I know around here the field workers are mostly not from here, I don't feel they are taking an American's job, they simply are taking a job that the area citizens are unwilling to do.
     
  16. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    When I was in France, I spoke French. It was pretty bad French, but I spoke it anyway. I had always heard how rude Parisians were, but I didn't find it so at all. They laughed at my attempts, but it was a good-natured laugh (at least while I was there; I've no idea what their comments were after I left, lol!) and they were very patient with my efforts.

    My point is that I wouldn't expect most Hispanics who have just come from Mexico to speak perfect, fluent English. But the more they practice what they CAN speak, the better they will get. That's not going to happen if they expect everyone to accomodate them and learn THEIR language.
     
  17. ColoradoMom

    ColoradoMom New Member

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    There are plenty of jobs that don't require English as a condition of employment. When I was doing some equine nutrition studies in college we had a LARGE poster on the wall that explained how to communicate with the barn staff because none of them spoke English. It had like 15 common "barn questions" and how to ask them - it even had pictures to illustrate I felt that was a little over the top - I mean seriously, they can't learn some basic words that pertains to what they do EVERY DAY?

    In my opinion that makes people want to stay away from them - NOT speaking English in America has NO BENEFIT. None. It isolated them from us (the students working in there), it prevented them from learning what we were doing, and thus prevented them from having a deeper understanding of horses (which was obviously a passion for them or they wouldn't have been there in the first place).

    In other words - it kept them ignorant. There is no benefit to ignorance.

    On the other side of things - we also had LOTS of South American students (especialy in the grad program) who spoke perfect English. Grad students are required to take an English proficiency exam - so see the discrepency there?

    I can remember one grad student from China who spoke terrible English - but he didn't know that. He would just keep talking and talking... I always made a speical effort to listen carefully to him because I knew he was making a huge effort to learn and get better, plus he was very smart and I wanted his opinion on stuff.

    Sadly, even some professors harassed him for his language difficulty, but that did not stop him from speaking and I bet he's a great English speaker now.

    If I were working/living in another country - I don't care if the people spoke swahili - I would learn THEIR language.
     
  18. Jackie

    Jackie Active Member

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    I asked Carl. He said that it was NOT a disservice to not teach Spanish; he said it WAS a disservice to not teach a 2nd language of some kind. He feels that learning a second language makes one more well-rounded.
     
  19. MamaBear

    MamaBear New Member

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    i agree! Also makes one more versatile. Of course the example below could have been someone speaking another language other than Spanish, just happened to be Spanish though.

    Example: Some may remember last fall we were in Colorado Springs and our Suburban was broken into, my ds' new camera was taken along with my asthma rx's I had just filled. When we discovered the broken glass on the ground from our Suburban window, my dh spotted two people sitting on the trunk of their car. He approached them and it was obvious they did not speak English, thankfully he speaks Spanish fluently and was able to communicate with them. They told us what they witnessed which was helpful to us because we realized at that point the criminal had followed us from the dealership from the description the witnesses gave us. They didn't want to give their names or get involved beyond what they had already said because they didn't want issues with the cops. They said they were just taking their lunch break and didn't want to get involved. Perhaps they were here illegally, who knows? We appreciated the help they did give us. I did notice that they seemed a little weary of me and very comfortable with my dh. Perhaps a Hispanic male approaching them vs. a blond hair white female approaching them made a difference. Who knows!
     
  20. becky

    becky New Member

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    I had to stop reading after page three, cause the intolerance a crazy comparisons turns my stomach . Jeannie and I are starting Visual Link Spanish this year. I'm doing it because there's a bunch of Mexican families in our neighborhood. I'd like to be able to say more than hello to them. We have a Mexican grocery up the street that I'd like to support as a community business. If I went there for milk, I'd have to point right now. By learning Spanish, I could go there easily. For Jeannie, I see learning Spanish as a way to enrich her life in a lot of ways.
     

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