California: Why can't EVERYONE just learn Spanish?

**Rockntractor** · 06-29-2011, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by jnkbortka

they don't! when i lived in NYC, the Superintendent of my building spoke hispanic, and there was a Spain-spanish speaking guy who lived there. they could only communicate in english.

I had a feeling!

**FDK** · 06-30-2011, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by noonwitch

Also, don't suggest someone of Spanish descent is Hispanic. Our mexican exchange student clarified it for us-she descended from the conquistidores of Spain, and Hispanics are "indians".

A friend of mine's wife's family is like that. I've gotten the lecture on how they're better than other Mexicans because they have pure Spanish blood. But are they racist? Nah....

**Elspeth** · 07-01-2011, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by noonwitch

I support teaching kids spanish in school from a young age, not because of "diversity" issues, but so that our kids can develop good language skills. It's a language american kids have a fair amount of exposure to in our culture, and the younger kids are when they learn a second language, the easier it will be for them to learn more languages later in life. When I was in school, we didn't get to take foreign language classes until high school-that really is waiting too long.

I should have taken spanish instead of german, it'd be far more useful in my job.

They're better off learning Chinese or Arabic. That's where the money is going to be.