Writer: Wayne Ezell
Source: Sunday T-U Mar 4, Viewpoint section
I found this article in the Sunday newspaper about the reaction to a news article that upset a lot of readers. It was about mis-interpreting a story about the American people learning to speak Spanish as a second language. The article explained further that some local companies were providing Spanish classes for employees, and some adults were signing up at FCCJ for Spanish classes. Readers were upset by this article saying that if you come to American as a spanish speaking you should go to class to learn English, our official language. It explained that people are learning Spanish to better communicate customers. What the writer wrote and the point he was expressing didn't seem to come across to his readers. (PLEASE NOTE: there are three different articles in this one article, I am blogging on the first one) To get you opinion on the article click here
Nancy Comment:
I think this must happen a lot. As the world changes and more people are affected they the changes they have more opinions and are more outspoken about them. I think these newspaper writers need to re-read their articles more carefully and maybe consider writing other sides to the story. He mig;ht have mentioned the fact that Spanish speaking people moving to our country might take English classes to better understand Americans.
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3 comments:
WOW!! Well as a hispanic myself I am bilingual, in fact my english is better than spanish. I would really like to hold a conversation with this fellow lady : " This is the United States; we speak American here," said William Vulgamott, who added that tax money should not be spent to teach Spanish, "in order to communicate with these people."
I sense a bit of discrimination in her tone "these people", and second of all what language is American last I heard it was called english but what would I know I am just one of "those people". I am a fellow spanish speaker and may I say I pay taxes as well. What many people do not know is that learning how to speak spanish or any other language is just not for local buisness but international as well. Many buisness people travel from Latin American counties to conduct buisness in the United States and vice versa. It is called diplomacy. Many people in spanish speaking countries seek english lessons for the same reasons, many english speaking people live in latin America because of their jobs and the citizens of those country learn English to better understand them. What the heck lets just lose international buisness because in America we only speak AMERICAN!!!
I think it is so close-minded of someone to make that accusation. Why not allow and encourage all humans to learn several languages to expand thier minds, vocabulary and realm of communication with others.
I am a communications major and am interested in international relations. To me, setting boundaries to who should, and can, learn what langauge is ridiculous and it should be encouraged to learn any language.
I think that it is stupid also for someone to say that they cannot learn more than one language. I personally know at least 4 different ones. I am also intrested in majoring in Communications, and I think that learning more than one language looks good and can help you in the long run. I think we as a nation should encourage each other to learn other languages to better understand them and their culture. There are too many people out there these days that have no background on other cultures, and don't really seem to care about it. I think we should all work together and make everyone see how important it is to learn other languages other than your main one.
I think we should go over the boundaries and make an extra effort to want to learn other languages and cultures.
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