NationStates Jolt Archive

Check this out:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10372148/

WHy do schools insist on pressing such issues?!?

I have a nasty feeling that when my little goofball goes to school, I'm going to have problems. :(

This is so stupid it's giving me a headache. Why would anyone resist a bilingual society?

And there have been cases where schools want to ban foreign languages
Genius. Pure genius. Seriously, what kind of an idiot came up with this? Foreign languages can come quite in handy, me thinks...

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger..."As an immigrant," the Austrian-born governor said, "I know the importance of mastering English as quickly and as comprehensively as possible."
That's just hilarious. :D

This is so stupid it's giving me a headache. Why would anyone resist a bilingual society?

Because Jesus only spoke English. :p

I reckon the more languages we learn, the better.

Because Jesus only spoke English. :p
That's not true, haven't you ever read a bible? It's in swedish!

They think that if student who can't speak English very well is allowed to speak Spanish at school then this will obviously hinder their learning of English (This is true). However the vast majority of students tend to speak English well enough, and the stategey is only really useful for helping a first generation immigrant to learn the official language.

I personally think it's an inadequacy thing. People to tend to hate it if they can't understand what the people in the next converstation are saying. It's like when I'm on a bus and I hear a conversation in another language. I'm thinking "What are they saying? What are they saying?! I must know!". Unfortunately the best I can normally do is identify the language. :(

That's not true, haven't you ever read a bible? It's in swedish!

It is obviously an evil foreign bible. DOn't try to trick me! :mad:

I reckon the more languages we learn, the better.Ditto. I'm constantly surprised that language learning is not compulsory in primary schools here in the UK/Ireland - I believe it is in some parts of continental Europe. It was compulsory up until GCSE when I was at secondary level, but my younger cousins now going through that stage tell me it no longer is. It's a global world these days - I think it's madness not to even attempt to learn another language (or rather not to have the opportunity to do so).

Besides, I think it's really unfair - bordering on arrogant - to go to a non-English speaking country and try to talk to its citizens in English. I know that a lot of people (in Europe anyway) will understand it, but it is unreasonable to assume that everyone will.

It is obviously an evil foreign bible. DOn't try to trick me! :mad:
Actually you're both wrong. It's in aramaic... a language of the Jews... :confused:

Actually you're both wrong. It's in aramaic... a language of the Jews... :confused:

:eek: BLASPHEMY!!

Because Jesus only spoke English. :p

Jesus spoke horribly, horribly mispronounced Aramaic. Didn't you see Jesus Chainsaw Massacre?

Jesus spoke horribly, horribly mispronounced Aramaic. Didn't you see Jesus Chainsaw Massacre?

Jesus spoke English! So should we all! :mad:

;)

Besides, I think it's really unfair - bordering on arrogant - to go to a non-English speaking country and try to talk to its citizens in English.
/me walks into bank in Spain.
/me asks teller something in Spanish.
*Teller looks confused.
/me repeats, more clearly (my pronunciation is dire).
*teller asks: "Do you speak English?"

Jesus spoke English! So should we all! :mad:

Jésus did speak Spanish, too, you know. Performed miracles with our garden.

I reckon the more languages we learn, the better.

NO:mad:

It leads to 3vil crosscultural understanding and sympathy for foreign opinions. People read foreign****, listen to foreign **** and thus loose sight of what matters.

and btw, reading should be abolished. Same ****!

What exactly is the big deal? It is not as though anyone is forcing everyone to speak Spanish, just those who know it can speak it when they feel like it. Suspending someone for not speaking English? What a nice way to get yourself sued! :rolleyes:

Jesus spoke English! So should we all! :mad:

;)Indeed, it shows just how powerful he was. He could speak in a language that no one else knew yet. For the most part we would call such languages giberish, but this was Jesus. It's always made me suspicious of the the disciples. How the did they know what he was talking about? They were mere mortals.

Ditto. I'm constantly surprised that language learning is not compulsory in primary schools here in the UK/Ireland - I believe it is in some parts of continental Europe.
Well, I'm fairly certain english is compulsory in many countries.;) It sure is here... Then we get to choose (in these remote, wid, uncivilized areas of Sweden) between german, french, spanish and italian. I wish there were more languages availible, dammit!

Jésus did speak Spanish, too, you know. Performed miracles with our garden.

Well, he was gardening. I think all gardeners are required to speak it, aren't they? ;)

Indeed, it shows just how powerful he was. He could speak in a language that no one else knew yet. For the most part we would call such languages giberish, but this was Jesus. It's always made me suspicious of the the disciples. How the did they know what he was talking about? They were mere mortals.

Jesus was psychic. He transmitted his thoughts directly into his disciples.

That's how they wrote such accurate bibles. ANd how every translation of the bible, regardless of language or political and social pressures at the times is always 100% correct. :D

...as long as they're in English, of course. :D

Jesus was psychic. He transmitted his thoughts directly into his disciples.

That's how they wrote such accurate bibles. ANd how every translation of the bible, regardless of language or political and social pressures at the times is always 100% correct. :D

...as long as they're in English, of course. :DI KNOW! I can't believe we allow fair treatment of the Catholics! We used to have it just right in the UK. Ocassionally we'll pillage your monastries, burn you at the stake, but we'll never allow you to succede the throne! Never! Bah, those heretical Catholics and their damn Latin bible. They're just trying to decieve the followers of Christ. But NOW, that idiot Prince Charles is talking about becoming defender of the faiths. We have an establishment for a reason you retard.

/me walks into bank in Spain.
/me asks teller something in Spanish.
*Teller looks confused.
/me repeats, more clearly (my pronunciation is dire).
*teller asks: "Do you speak English?"

Ouch. :D

Well, I'm fairly certain english is compulsory in many countries. It sure is here... Then we get to choose (in these remote, wid, uncivilized areas of Sweden) between german, french, spanish and italian. I wish there were more languages availible, dammit!

Yeah, it's kind of like that in Germany, too, just with less languages to pick from. Everybody has to learn English, many will also have to learn French. As for any other languages you can pick, it depends on your school, really. None at all, or maybe Spanish or Italian, is most likely. Though a friend of mine even had Japanese at her school. And of course there are the schools with an emphasis on classical humanities, which offer Latin and Ancient Greek (though Latin is quite often found at other schools, too).

/me walks into bank in Spain.
/me asks teller something in Spanish.
*Teller looks confused.
/me repeats, more clearly (my pronunciation is dire).
*teller asks: "Do you speak English?"Yeah, that happens. My point was more along the lines of this: if you make the effort to speak in the person's local/native language, it will normally be appreciated, regardless of how crap you might be at said language. Oftentimes, in my experience at least, realising you don't speak their language well will encourage people to talk to you in English if they speak it. But it doesn't hurt to make a little effort; if anything, I'd say people would be more willing to accomodate you if you do.

My point was more along the lines of this: if you make the effort to speak in the person's local/native language, it will normally be appreciated, regardless of how crap you might be at said language. Oftentimes, in my experience at least, realising you don't speak their language well will encourage people to talk to you in English if they speak it. But it doesn't hurt to make a little effort; if anything, I'd say people would be more willing to accomodate you if you do.


Very true, especially in France. French people seem to like seeing foreigners struggle with their beautiful but difficult language. If you try and fail, they'll help you and talk english/german/.... :fluffle: . If you don't try, they tend to behave stereotypish - arrogant and unfriendly.
At least, that's my experience....


@topic:

The best thing about my time in kindergarten was that I got in touch with foreign languages. The best thing about my schoollife was that I learned foreign languages. The best thing about my student life is that I'm studying a foreign language. The best thing about travelling around is that I get in touch with foreign languages. The best thing about a book is reading it in a foreign language...
How can one live with JUST ONE language?! :eek:

Check this out:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10372148/

WHy do schools insist on pressing such issues?!?

I have a nasty feeling that when my little goofball goes to school, I'm going to have problems. :(
This is so incredibly offensive! It sounds a lot like Residential Schools, where children were prevented from speaking their indigenous languages. I can see it when you are in, say, an immersion school...many French immersion schools 'punish' you for speaking English...but they don't suspend you. It's to prevent children from falling back into their first language out of laziness, when the specific intent of attending that school is to become fluent in French. But this particular case seems highly punitive, and I suspect the motivation is based on the teacher's inability to understand what the students were saying...oh no, they could be insulting me! I must react!

I would be absolutely enraged if someone punished my child for speaking any one of her languages.

Well, I'm fairly certain english is compulsory in many countries.;) It sure is here... Then we get to choose (in these remote, wid, uncivilized areas of Sweden) between german, french, spanish and italian. I wish there were more languages availible, dammit!
Second language learning is compulsory in my province beginning at Grade 4...what language is not important, though it is still most often French, with Spanish in close second place. It is Dutch, or German in communities with high populations of Dutch and German people...and there are finally full immersion schools in our urban centres in more than French...Manadarin, Spanish, Cantonese, Arabic, and so on. I know that this move is being pushed in ALL the provinces and territories in Canada...and within my lifetime I will likely see compulsory second language learning accross the country. Woohoo! Why not? Sheesh. So much research is out there about how learning a second language improves your native language skills, and translates to better employment opportunities, etc.

I'll be frank. When I saw this had come from Kansas, I wasn't surprised at all. I mean, first with the ID education idiocy, and now this? Kansas seems to be taking Texas's place as most maligned state, and for good reasons. God, what is it with that goddamned state?