OT: Penny per page?

Come one Michael, give him a break. Mastering a language perfectly is not that easy, even for natives. Just a few articles ago, you yourself wrote : "I had to wait in line behind someone from Jamaica that....", which may be common, but it's still wrong.

(I wonder how many errors I made in these few lines... Fire away!)

Jeroen Belleman

I didn't say they had to 'master it', rather they should be able to communicate & read the native language well enough that they don't need a translator, or multilingual signs. That applies to anyone who moves to a place with a different language.

Not really.

Dan

Yes, really, though I understand that the concept is entirely foreign to you.

As some one else point it recently, you're so punny!

Jamie

"Come one" ? :)

Funny how that always happens...

Damn! I re-read it several times and never noticed! It's strange how often we see what we think should be there, rather than what really is there. Good catch.

Jeroen Belleman

Actually the days of monolingual American English is fading fast - Spanish is the leading second US language and cannot be ignored now.

rs

I agree completely. And while we're at it, let's eliminate the "para espanol, marque en el dos" phone prompts too. Last time I flew into Lauderdale/Hollywood airport, all the overhead announ cements were in Spanish first - then English. Seems wrong. But they'll pr obably rename the airport soon to Hector Gonzales International or whatever really soon! :)

Something else to think about: If kids can't speak English, they slow down your kids' education. The choices are slow down the class to the speed of the non-english students, or have those students become a disruptive eleme nt to the rest of the class as they get left behind. Of course, if the cla ss is 50%+ hispanic, this argument likely falls apart.

One last thing: The information density of the Spanish language is quite l ow. That's one of the main reasons I dislike it. Here's a good article a friend of mine sent me recently when we were discussing this problem over a few beers - I mean cervezas. :)

If you want a permanent underclass (and lefties certainly do) then this is a good idea.

Or you can look at it as creating a new upperclass. Those that are multilingual are superior to those that only speak English. Which is probably why many universities require taking a foreign language to qualify for a degree.

Dan

There isn't supposed to be either. In any case, that's a pretty piss poor way to do it.

Absolute bullshit. If you can't speak the language you're a drain on everyone around you and you won't go anywhere either. It really is that simple.

There are always some people (eg. Einstein) who never achieve full fluency in a foreign language.. I would not refuse an Einstein in favor of some smooth talking fellow who can efficiently flog car stereos or front load mutual funds.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

It sure turned all of Europe into a super power. Whoops!

phone prompts too.

announcements were in Spanish first - then English. Seems wrong. But they'll probably rename the airport soon to Hector Gonzales International or whatever really soon! :)

Wouldn't 'Slowpoke Rodriguez' be more appropriate for Miami? :)

your kids' education. The choices are slow down the class to the speed of the non-english students, or have those students become a disruptive element to the rest of the class as they get left behind. Of course, if the class is 50%+ hispanic, this argument likely falls apart.

That's one of the main reasons I dislike it. Here's a good article a friend of mine sent me recently when we were discussing this problem over a few beers - I mean cervezas. :)

'50 words to do the work of 15.' :(

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I think that sets the bar far too low. I want them to speak the language at least above say the lowest quartile. Certainly much better than a one year old.

?-)

How well can they say it, if most or all the people around them don't understand a word that comes out of their mouths?

Not true.

Dan

That's an odd way to put it. I believe some here are complaining about these same people communicating very well with those around them and sticking to their own circles for the most part. I haven't see any evidence that they can't be understood by most of "the people around them".

Perhaps your English isn't what you thought it was?