[Grovenet] 2nd Languages (Was Re: ear mark this!)

[Greg & Cindy Gritton]

I agree whole-heartedly that schools should be teaching more languages to 
our students and at a young age, but would like to point out that in 
Finland, they have two official languages--Finnish and Swedish. Depending 
on which is spoken at home, students start learning the other in K.  Then, 
beginning in 3rd grade, the students choose a new language, typically 
English, French, Spanish, or German.  Then after several more years, 
students pick one more, choosing from one of the above, or from Italian, 
Russian, and some I can't recall.

So, while I don't think we have to make English our official language, I 
don't have a problem with it as long as we encourage learning other 
languages, too.  The fact that Finland has two official languages has meant 
that everyone there can communicate in either tongue, but they also want 
their students to be able to communicate easily in other languages, as well 
(Not that everyone applies themselves with the same enthusiasm nor 
communicates perfectly in their chosen languages).

While I learned minimal Finnish before serving a mission for my church 
there for 18 months (and continued to expand my Finnish vocab. while 
there), I hadn't mastered it and have to admit there were times when it was 
nice to know someone usually could speak English. I can't remember how many 
times people told me they spoke English poorly when their pronunciation and 
grammar were superb. Often people wanted to practice their English on us, 
but always with the aforementioned disclaimer.  :-)

Of course, Finnish isn't a language one usually needs while traveling (it 
is a nation of only about 5-6 million), and Finns, like many Europeans, I 
think, enjoy traveling throughout Europe (or to other nations) on their 
month long vacations (but vacation lengths is a whole other topic in and of 
itself!), and I'm sure this has played a major role in creating the 
language requirements they have there.

Of course, then you have the French, who may learn other languages, but it 
seems as a nation don't want to acknowledge it if you happen to only speak 
English, probably due to English becoming more of the unofficial 
international language instead of French. (Though I had a wonderful 
roommate at college from France who loved English.)

So I guess my point is, that having an official language isn't a bad 
policy, but failing to provide foreign language opportunities for our 
children is.  And I have to agree with Katie that at some point we're going 
to be in a lot of trouble if we don't have enough Chinese speakers.  Many 
California schools actually started offering it as a foreign language 
option years ago, and it would be nice if FG were to add it to their 
curriculum at some time soon, too.

As a nation, we need to provide additional languages starting in elementary 
and do it in a way that allows our students to continue to progress in 
their new languages throughout their schooling instead of inadvertently 
teaching them that only English matters.


Cindy Gritton


At 03:50 PM 2/11/2008 -0800, you wrote:
>I  guess we strongly disagree on this one Alan.
>I say we have 33 intelligent senators who recognize that we are doing
>a disservice to our kids and our country as a whole by not requiring
>that everybody learn a second language, and preferably a third language.
>
>Our defense department and state department are incredibly short
>handed on people who know foreign languages. This hurts us defensively.
>Tourists who visit other countries are often greeted by signs in
>multiple languages and the tourists who visit stay longer and spend
>more. The same is not true of most US destinations. This hurts us
>economically.
>
>Making English our official language will not do anything to fix our
>problems and it looks petty and arrogant to the rest of the world.
>It also won't make people who come here learn English any faster than
>they already are.
>
>So what are we going to do when the most common language of business
>becomes Chinese. When the Chinese speak English and Chinese and we
>only speak English?  Who'll be laughing then?
>
>Katie
>
>Beins got ary fro?  (From my very white native born US citizen
>grandmother who grew up in Missouri as said to her by a very white
>native born US citizen english speaking neighbor who knew only the
>limited english that his dirt poor family taught him.  He surely
>wasn't speaking French or Japanese, just good old 'American' english.
>Do you know what he was asking? If English was the official language
>he would still be from a dirt poor english speaking family with
>limited english language skills because he didn't go to school. )
>
>On Feb 11, 2008, at 1:06 PM, Alan Domenghini wrote:
>
> > I did not snoop this, nor do I plan to. However knowing the grove
> > folks
> > as I do .. someone will...
> >
> > 33 Senators Voted Against English as America's Official Language
> > On June 6, 2007, 33 Senators Voted Against English as America's
> > Official
> > Language. On Wed. 6 June 2007, 23:35:23-0500, Colonel Harry Riley ,
> > USA
> > , Ret. wrote:
> >
> > Senators:
> >
> > Your vote against an amendment to the Immigration Bill 1348 to make
> > English America 's official language is astounding. On D-Day, no less,
> > when we honor those that sacrificed in order to secure the bedrock,
> > character and principles of America , I can only surmise your vote
> > reflects a loyalty to illegal aliens. I don't much care where you come
> > from. What your religion is. Whether you're black, white, or some
> > other
> > color......male or female......Democrat, Republican or
> > Independent....... But I do care when you are a United States Senator
> > representing Citizens of America .......and vote against English as
> > the
> > official language of the United States .
> >
> > Your vote reflects Betrayal. Political Surrender. Violates Your Pledge
> > of Allegiance. Dishonors historical principle. Rejects Patriotism.
> > Borders on traitorous action and, in my opinion, makes you unfit to
> > serve as a United States Senator........
> > Impeachment.......Recall........Or other appropriate action is
> > warranted
> > or worse.
> >
> > Four of you voting against English as America 's Official Language are
> > Presidential Candidates: Senator Biden, Senator Clinton, Senator Dodd,
> > and Senator Obama. Four Senators vying to lead America, but won't or
> > don't have the courage to cast a vote in favor of "English" as
> > America's
> > Official Language when 91% of American Citizens want English
> > officially
> > designated as our language. This is the second time in the last
> > several
> > months this list of Senators have disgraced themselves as "political
> > hacks"...... Unworthy as Senators and certainly unqualified to
> > serve as
> > President of the United States . If America is as angry as I am, you
> > will realize a backlash so stunning it will literally "rock you out of
> > your panties"......... and preferably totally out of the United States
> > Senate. The entire immigration bill is a farce.... your action only
> > confirms this really isn't about America .....it is about self-serving
> > politics.....despicable at best. It has been said: "Never Argue
> > with an
> > Idiot.... They'll drag you down to their level!" The following
> > Senators
> > voted against making English the official language of America :
> >
> > Akaka (D-HI)
> > Bayh (D-IN)
> > Biden (D-DE) Wants to be President?
> > Bingaman (D-NM)
> > Boxer (D-CA)
> > Cantwell (D-WA)
> > Clinton (D-NY) Wants to be President? (GOD FORBID!)
> > Dayton (D-MN)
> > Dodd (D- MN) wants to be president
> > Domenici ( R-NM) coward. protecting his senate seat
> > Durbin (D-IL)
> > Feingold (D-WI) - not unusual for him
> > Feinstein (D-CA)
> > Harkin (D-IA)
> > Inouye (D-HI)
> > Jeffords (L-VT)
> > Kennedy - (D-MA)
> > Kerry (D-MA) wanted to be president
> > kohl (D-WI))
> > Lautenberg (D-NJ)
> > Leahy (D-VT)
> > Levin (D-MI)
> > Lieberman (D-CT) Disappointment here.....
> > Menendez (D-NJ)
> > Mikulski (D-MD)
> > Murray (D-WA)
> > Obama (D-IL) Wants to be President? GOD FORBID!
> > Reed (D-RI)
> > Reid (D-NV) Senate Majority Leader
> > Salazar (D-CO)
> > Sarbanes (D-MD)
> > Schumer (D-NY)
> > Stabenow (D-M
> >
> > "Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage
> > morale, and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be
> > arrested,
> > exiled or hanged!!! President Abraham Lincoln
> >
> > Every potential voter should be aware of this! Please circulate this
> > TILL THE ELECTION in November 2008.
> >
> >
> >
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