2 Languages Better Than 1, Kids Say

Sacramento Bee ^ | February 19, 2004 | Erika Chavez

[Scenic Sounds]

As an English-speaking kindergarten student enrolled at Fruit Ridge Elementary's two-way Spanish immersion program, Clare Murphy remembers being scared. "People were talking in another language, and I was all confused," said the strawberry blond with a dusting of freckles on her nose. "Then, it started making sense."

[Scenic Sounds]

"If you know Spanish and English, you can get better jobs when you grow up," said 10-year-old Fabiola Galindo.

[Scenic Sounds]

On its Opinion Page, the Sacramento Bee made the following correction to one of its prior editorials:

Setting It Straight

In the Feb. 16 editorial "An immigrant president?" The Bee incorrectly stated that one of every six Californians is ineligible to serve as president of the United States due to his or her foreign birth. In fact, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, 26.2 percent of Californians are foreign born.

[zarf]

A nice attitude to have. Learning a new languge helps one to understand their own native tongue better.

The more languages a person knows, the better.

[July 4th]

"Deshidratado," they chanted in unison, the Spanish word for dehydrated.

Teaching the children Spanish so they can help illegals cross the border?

[LibertyThug]

Once again, we are trying to have the public education system do more than it can ever do. Classes like that are fine in private schools, they can (the private schools) and their parents can afford such experiments. We have a whole generation of kids who are now inept in math because of the 'new math' experiment.
Also, learning another language is fine...but, why is it always Spanish?

[Blue Screen of Death]

There is an element of supply and demand in the labor market. There is no shortage of Spanish speakers in Calfiornia. Understanding Calculus will probably get you a better job.

[visualops]

I think learning another language is always a plus.
However, schooling should be in English, and then people can apply whatever they've learned in a language class into job prospects, I don't care.
However, I'm sick of seeing everything in 2 languages. The other day, I saw/heard a TV commercial, on a regular English channel, that was 95% in Spanish. I DON'T LIVE IN MEXICO DEMMIT. IF YOU LIVE IN AMERICA, LEARN TO SPEAK ENGLISH STEENKING LAZY BASTAGES.

[dfwgator]

I agree. And the earlier, the better. Fortunately since my wife speaks Spanish, our kids are already bilingual. If you wait until high school to start learning another language, it is much more difficult.

[COEXERJ145]

It's actually good for kids to learn a second language when they're young. Not only is it easier but then when they get into high school and college, they won't have as much trouble with foreign language requirements. It also helps to be fluent in more than one language when job hunting.

[love n hate tattoo]

english, speak english, damnit! this is already a problem. why do we feel the need to perpetuate it? if a child is born into a family that is only spanish speaking, the family can teach him/her to speak spanish, but in this country we speak english. why should we be ashamed of that???

[TruthConquers]

I have read that the conquered speak the language of the conquerors.

For me, I homeschool and I am teaching Latin and Koine Greek.
Both of which I am learning, too.

Take that "Let's all learn spanish."

[bankwalker]

it's great to learn more than 1 language, I just don't think my tax dollars should fund it.

[billorites]

My kids have started French as of first grade.

Wish I'd gotten such an early start on foreign languages.

[TheDon]

LOL! You'll love this one: California BofA ATMs now require you to select English or Spanish before proceeding with your transaction.

[MattinNJ]

My two year old son is fully bilingual. My Cuban in-laws watch him all day. I mouth all the platitudes about how it will help him get along better in the future yada, yadda, yadda, when people comment how great that is. The real reason I'm happy is that I hope he picks up a lotta hot spanish girls ;-)

Worst part of my day is when I have to sit through all those horrible shows on Univision and Telemundo ;-)

[Prodigal Son]

Spanish is a beautiful language. I wish I had gotten started on it early in life.

[austinTparty]

I agree. My kids are bilingual (not Spanish), I'm quadrilingual. Sure helped with my job, travelling, and a whole lot of other things.

I'm not in favor of bilingual instruction for immigrants, though, because they need to become fluent in English first. Then bilingual instruction is a boon.

[Lizavetta]

Understanding Calculus will probably get you a better job

Agreed. Why don't they immerse the students in computer science, math, and physics so they can get jobs in fields other than social work and teaching?

[marron]

Foreign language study should be a required part of any curriculum. At one time it was common for French, German and Spanish to be offered at the secondary level, at least two of them at the junior high level, and either Spanish or French were often taught at the elementary level.

A lot of that seems to have gone away, along with band and vocational training. Since budgets are bigger than ever, I wonder what has changed. Maybe someone in the education field can address this...

[RightWhale]

At the time of the founding of this country it was assumed that an educated person would have perfect English, be able to converse in French, and read Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. A lot of Americans spoke French in the home, and some still do in New England and, of course, new Orleans. Speaking Spanish in the border states has always been a plus.

Since there is so much communication in languages other than English, it seems that a person who speaks only English would be at a disadvantage overall.