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I agree. Learning a foreign language should be required in the U.S. When I visited my ex husband's country, they asked me if I spoke their language (no, not fluently, but understood context and some tense). German? No. Italian? No. French? petit peur. Most of the people I met knew at least 3 language and sometimes 4 or 5. It's just the way it is in a lot of overseas countries.
I agree. Learning a foreign language should be required in the U.S. When I visited my ex husband's country, they asked me if I spoke their language (no, not fluently, but understood context and some tense). German? No. Italian? No. French? petit peur. Most of the people I met knew at least 3 language and sometimes 4 or 5. It's just the way it is in a lot of overseas countries.
Yes! Americans don't realize it, but in much of the world, it's normal to be multi-lingual. I think most high schools and universities require two years of a language for graduation, don't they? Still, for many Americans, learning a 2nd (let alone--a third) language and trying to gain some measure of fluency in it is unnatural. To people raised in environments, where there are a number of languages swirling around, it's very natural.
I've also run into Dutch citizens, who speak several languages, due to the school system requiring the learning of 4 major European languages. This shows, it can be done! Would be interesting to see how their school system achieves that.
Yes, my high school (and university, I think, back in the day) required 2 yrs. I took 4 years of French. I think that not only should classes be required, but a proficiency test should be administered. I also think more than one language should be required. I really wish now that I'd studied Spanish but I was a language snob at the time. Also, it was partly because we had a French-speaking Belgian teacher at my high school. She was the best teacher I ever had.
Language isn't required for graduation anymore in many schools and hasnt been for a long time. I'm glad because I struggle with being forced to learn things, but I do wish I was more capable in Spanish because I'd like to travel more in the Spanish speaking world. I have no problem with the bilingual nature of the area and don't feel put out or discriminated against because of it, not in the slightest.
I didn't find it a big deal either and had no problem with it. I noticed that the only trouble I might have had would have been working in a doctor's office where there would be a lot of Spanish-speaking patients but those people usually had an English-speaking person with them anyway.
I'm trying to think way back to whether in high school a foreign language was required for graduation. I think it was one of those things you only did when you wanted to get to college. Not sure though.
I didn't find it a big deal either and had no problem with it. I noticed that the only trouble I might have had would have been working in a doctor's office where there would be a lot of Spanish-speaking patients but those people usually had an English-speaking person with them anyway.
I'm trying to think way back to whether in high school a foreign language was required for graduation. I think it was one of those things you only did when you wanted to get to college. Not sure though.
Most Americans can't even speak English when they get out of high school these days. Or maybe I should say,
Most American's cant even speak English when they get out of high school these day's.
So sad. Another thing I've noticed is that people will continue with the wrong spelling or pronunciation just to go along with their crowd or co-workers.
So sad. Another thing I've noticed is that people will continue with the wrong spelling or pronunciation just to go along with their crowd or co-workers.
My dad always used to say that language was the glue that held society together, and when, due to lack of literacy and other reasons, when a society can no longer communicate through proper spelling, this is a tell-tale sign of societal decay.
So true. I was watching a sitcom recently and they did a scene about that. Wish I could remember which one it was.
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