Drowning in Spanish Immersion
How America is Losing It's Voice
When our son was in second grade they offered a very short course in Spanish to the students in his class as something progressive. At the time I thought it was something good and that he would be open to learning that not everyone speaks the same language even in his own country.
Fast forward about 30 years and now we are being force fed this Spanish Immersion for all grades in all schools! This isn't just being taught a few Spanish words for a few hours a day once a week. This is living and learning all the time in the language that is not the official language of our country! You know what? If you want to learn Spanish take a class outside of regular school hours, or go to Spain.
What is immersion language study?
It is learning a foreign language the same way we learned English (or whatever our native language is): by living it. In a typical language immersion school, the student doesn't study only in the formal sense - he or she lives the language. Classes are taught entirely in Spanish, speaking in another language at any time is discouraged, and the student lives in Spanish-speaking environment. Nearly all Spanish immersion schools offer the option (and in some it's not an option) of living with a Spanish-speaking family. That means students hear the language as it is used in real life.
At a time when our government is seriously considering granting amnesty to all the illegal aliens, which in my opinion is WRONG, we are being asked to change our major language spoken in public to Spanish to make it easier for the illegal aliens to assimilate into our society. That is just plain crap.
Recently, I wrote to my Senator Patty Murray voicing my opinion about this very topic. I got a canned reply that English is already the official language of our country and that she didn't think anything else needed to be done. You know what that really said to me? That she was more concerned about the Mexican votes than keeping our country from becoming North Spanish America.
You know, I get it. I really do. All this amnesty promotion and Spanish immersion, etc., is just a precursor to the elections coming up. Well, here is my answer to that. I will not vote for anyone who is not for closing the borders and not allowing another illegal alien into our country. Letting the Mexicans in has been the downfall of our country because with the Mexicans have come their gangs and drugs. They prey on our Native Americans and any other low income group and get them hooked on meth. The first time they use it, they are hooked. And how do they get more? They steal. They break into houses, or businesses, or schools...any way to get items to sell to make enough money to keep their habit supplied.
Won't it be handy to be able to speak Spanish fluently to the drug pushers?
Published by Carol Wilkerson
Happily married grandmother who likes to do genealogical research, handwriting analysis, write stories; I am a fibromyalgia survivor. View profile
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7 Comments
Post a CommentI agree Carol, English is the language of America.
Late response to Kim: You said "Any other country worth a damn allows citizenship based on speaking their language first." - not true. They grant the residency and then provide free classes in that country's language. The reason why spanish is given preference in the USA is simple logistics. The countries closest to you speak Spanish.
Of all the different languages spoken in the world,why is Spanish the only language promoted and shoved down the throats of the majority English speaking American citizens ? Sick of Spanish being shoved down my throat, What would the citizens of Spanish speaking countries do if every in their countries was converted from their majority speaking public language and English was shoved down their throats like Spanish is being done to Americans ?
Right on, Sister...I totally agree!
P.S. Any other country worth a damn allows citizenship based on speaking their language first. I am sick of hearing the argument that Native AMericans were the first Americans and thus the official language(s) is/are Native American dialects. The fact remains that America was colonized by the British and developed thereafter. The official language of America should not be a lottery for the post-constitution immigrants. The fact is it is just plain English! I think it is a shame that Americans have allowed this language debate to get out of hand. Excellent article.
Hey Dr!... Why not German, French or a language of our choice? I hate Spanish. Sould I be forced to speak it? Give me a choice. Thanks
Yeeeah... I used to think that way too. When the school started teaching my youngest daughter Spanish in the first grade, I was livid. then I started traveling outside the US. 20 years later, I wish I had supported that program. EVERY other country worth a damn makes it mandatory that students be fluent in a second language before graduating... Except the US.