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Bilingualism on Rise
San Antonio Express News ^ | 10/09/2003 | Sonya Garza

Posted on 10/09/2003 7:38:44 AM PDT by wildbill

Bilingualism on the rise

By Sonja Garza San Antonio Express-News

Web Posted : 10/09/2003 12:00 AM

As a child growing up in the border town of Laredo, Maria Elena Garcia — like most everybody else she knew — spoke both Spanish and English at home. Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia says when he was growing up, he wasn't allowed to speak Spanish at school. But the latest Census Bureau report says that in seven Texas counties — including Hidalgo — 80 percent speak a non-English language at home. Associated Press Graphic: Language at home Flash plugin needed to view graphic.

"I will say it was a very Tex-Mex type of Spanish," said Garcia, now a campus instructional coordinator at Storm Elementary School, where a dual-language program is taught.

"But I was proficient in both" English and Spanish, she said. "For me, that experience was very powerful."

According to figures released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau, that dual-language experience is growing in U.S. households.

Nearly one in five U.S. residents age 5 and older — or 47 million people — spoke a language other than English at home in 2000, an increase of 15 million since 1990, the Census Bureau reported.

Of those 47 million residents, more than half — 55 percent — reported that they also spoke English "very well," according to the study.

After English, Spanish was the most common language spoken at home, followed by Chinese.

The report showed the number of Spanish speakers rose from 17.3 million to 28.1 million over the 10-year period, a 62 percent increase. About half of the Spanish speakers reported that they also were fluent in English.

It was no surprise to Garcia that her former hometown of Laredo was second in the nation among cities with the highest proportion of people — nine of 10 — who spoke a language other than English at home. Hialeah, Fla., ranked first.

"On the border, Laredo is mostly mexicano. ... Growing up, I didn't know I was a minority," said Garcia, who is of Mexican ancestry.

The report ranked cities or areas with populations of 100,000 or more. The top 10 places with the highest percentage of residents who spoke a language other than English at home included four Texas cities and three California communities.

Educators say increased numbers of people who are bilingual or multilingual reflect a growing diversity in the United States.

"Our country is strengthened by people who are bilingual and multilingual and can communicate our ideals and aspirations to others around the world," said Maria Robledo Montecel, executive director of the Intercultural Development Research Association in San Antonio.

The Census Bureau estimated the nation's foreign-born population numbered 32.5 million last year, accounting for 11.5 percent of the total U.S. population.

About 52 percent of the country's foreign-born residents were Latin Americans, and about 26 percent were born in Asia.

The bureau's "language use" study showed that U.S. counties with a large proportion of households speaking a language other than English were concentrated in states that border Mexico, the Pacific Ocean or the Atlantic Ocean.

In seven Texas counties — Hidalgo, Kenedy, Maverick, Presidio, Starr, Webb and Zavala — 80 percent of the population spoke a non-English language at home.

Garcia said being bilingual opened doors for her, affording her professional opportunities, including earning more money.

"I think it's beneficial from every aspect — economically, socially ... definitely financially, academically," she said.

Blanca Ramirez, who taught Spanish and English for 25 years and is now an instructional coordinator at Lanier High School, also emphasized the importance of knowing more than one language.

"I used to teach the kiddos (that) if you learn another language, you are two people in one," Ramirez said. "Especially in San Antonio, you know how important Spanish is."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: balkanization; bilingual; census; esl; immigrantlist; immigration; language
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Census Bureau says 47 million now speaking a foreign language at home--an increase of 15 million since 1990. Is anyone getting the message about how many illegal aliens are living here now
1 posted on 10/09/2003 7:38:44 AM PDT by wildbill
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2 posted on 10/09/2003 7:40:46 AM PDT by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: wildbill
I had better start brushing up on the ole espanol
we arent just being invaded
we are being sold out
at the highest levels....
3 posted on 10/09/2003 7:42:02 AM PDT by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
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To: joesnuffy
My favorite is when they speak their native tongue right in front of you (i.e. at the store or something). I can't help but be paranoid that they're talking about me (ala Mr. Costanza in the Korean Nail Place in "Seinfeld."). Anyhoo... I find the whole thing annoying. Speak English or leave.
4 posted on 10/09/2003 7:44:03 AM PDT by conservativeinbflo.
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The US may become a two language nation like Canada.
5 posted on 10/09/2003 7:47:09 AM PDT by Consort
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To: Consort
Si Si
6 posted on 10/09/2003 7:48:51 AM PDT by KC_for_Freedom (Sailing the highways of America, and loving it.)
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To: wildbill
Garcia said being bilingual opened doors for her, affording her professional opportunities, including earning more money.

"I think it's beneficial from every aspect — economically, socially ... definitely financially, academically," she said.

That part is great, as far as it goes. It's just important that English is one of the 'linguals'. Having English immersion at school would alleviate matters.

7 posted on 10/09/2003 8:01:24 AM PDT by JohnnyZ (RED SOX WIN! We had 'em all the way)
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To: conservativeinbflo.
I could care less if two foreigners/immigrants are speaking between themselves in a foreign language. That's fine--we have freedom of speech in our country, they can speak privately in Pig Latin for all I care. It's annoying and rude, but there's no law against being rude.

When I lived in South America for a couple of years, I would usually try to speak Spanish even if I was with another American, just so the Argentinos wouldn't think us rude. But there is nothing dorkier than two gringo Americans trying to talk to each other in broken Spanish, when we can get our point across 10 times faster in our native language. So, as long as I was just talking to an American buddy, we would often slip into English, for convenience.

What I don't tolerate is when immigrants demand that social services--voting ballots, legal services, tax forms, classroom education, etc.--be provided to them in their native language. That is why they MUST learn English. If you're here in this country for any length of time, you should be able to do basic things in English.
8 posted on 10/09/2003 8:02:13 AM PDT by Choose Ye This Day (Moving to Turkmenistan, where all the jobs are.)
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To: wildbill
INTSUM
9 posted on 10/09/2003 8:10:31 AM PDT by LiteKeeper
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To: *immigrant_list; A Navy Vet; Lion Den Dan; Free the USA; Libertarianize the GOP; madfly; B4Ranch; ..
ping
10 posted on 10/09/2003 9:35:48 AM PDT by gubamyster
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To: wildbill
"On the border, Laredo is mostly mexicano. ... Growing up, I didn't know I was a minority," said Garcia, who is of Mexican ancestry.

Doesn't sound like she understands English well now. She was a "majority". When Laredo is mostly Mexicans, Mexicans are in the majority.

11 posted on 10/09/2003 2:44:44 PM PDT by FITZ
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To: MNLDS
That is why they MUST learn English. If you're here in this country for any length of time, you should be able to do basic things in English.

It's interesting how more Americans will learn basic Spanish just to take a vacation in Mexico for two weeks --- more than most Mexicans will learn after living in the USA for 20 years. In this part of the country one third of the population speaks no English ---- yet only one fourth were born in Mexico. Many speak a mixture of Spanish-English that they believe is bilingual --- but they aren't understood well in either language.

12 posted on 10/09/2003 2:48:55 PM PDT by FITZ
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To: wildbill
Bilingualism on Rise

As it should be. We are one of the few countries in the world that does not insist our children learn a second language in school.

Americans are lucky that most business in the world is done in English. But so much better to be able to understand the conversation after the meetings are concluded.

Who could possibly be against such a requirment?!

13 posted on 10/09/2003 2:56:10 PM PDT by BJungNan
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To: wildbill
"Our country is strengthened by people who are bilingual and multilingual and can communicate our ideals and aspirations to others around the world," said Maria Robledo Montecel, executive director of the Intercultural Development Research Association in San Antonio.

How can they communicate our ideals if they never learn them themselves. What they spread and communicate is the grass roots corruption they learned in Mexico and how they can use it to fraudulently beat the system in the United States.

14 posted on 10/09/2003 3:06:50 PM PDT by Pa' fuera
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To: BJungNan
Easily.
I speak 2 languages now and used to speak 3 more.
While I am all for Americans learning other langauges as a choice, I oppose Bilingualism. It is a frontal assault on our culture and history.
I would much preffer that immigrants speak english in the home (like my parents do) as it forces them to assimilate.
Given teh demographic, Bilingualism is essentually a method of manking Spanish an official language.
15 posted on 10/09/2003 4:19:07 PM PDT by rmlew (Copperheads are traitors)
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To: rmlew
One thing they can do to address what you are talking about is require all signs to be bilingual where a foreign language is used.

This is as they do in Canada with the use of French and English in most labeling and in China where English language on a sign can only be half the height (size) of the Chinese characters on the sign.

16 posted on 10/09/2003 5:45:35 PM PDT by BJungNan
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To: FITZ
"On the border, Laredo is mostly mexicano. ... Growing up, I didn't know I was a minority," said Garcia, who is of Mexican ancestry.

Doesn't sound like she understands English well now. She was a "majority". When Laredo is mostly Mexicans, Mexicans are in the majority.

On the contrary, she understands English as spoken by Liberals QUITE WELL. She didn't know she was a minority (protected class of citizen) then but you better believe she knows it now.

17 posted on 10/09/2003 6:51:45 PM PDT by YankeeReb
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To: BJungNan
One thing they can do to address what you are talking about is require all signs to be bilingual where a foreign language is used.
There are over 100 languages spoken in New York city. It isn't practical.
With the exception of Little Odessa and Borrough Park for Russian, and the Chinatowns, the result would be Spanish signs everywhere. That would give de facto preference to Spanish.

This is as they do in Canada with the use of French and English in most labeling and in China where English language on a sign can only be half the height (size) of the Chinese characters on the sign.
The have signs in Canada because it is a bilingual country that has given up on a national culture. That is exactly what virtually all conservatives oppose in the US.

18 posted on 10/09/2003 9:12:22 PM PDT by rmlew (Copperheads are traitors)
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To: joesnuffy
I had better start brushing up on the ole espanol >>>>>>>


"We the people" should demand all 'electeds' take a pay cut, to PAY for Spanish lessons for us TAXPAYERS.

If the gov't was enforcing ALL our laws, "We the people" wouldn't have to press 1 for English.........SEVERAL times a DAY.
19 posted on 10/10/2003 4:01:56 AM PDT by txdoda ("Navy-brat")
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To: FoxFang; FITZ; moehoward; Nea Wood; CheneyChick; Joe Hadenuf; sangoo; 4.1O dana super trac pak; ...
ping
20 posted on 10/10/2003 8:31:54 AM PDT by JustPiper (18 out of 19 HiJacker's had State issued Driver's License's !!!)
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