Why do my teachers tell me I have to learn Spanish?

Question

They say in a couple years it's gonna be the main language in the USA. I don't know if it's true or not but I don't mind learning another language but not because I have to learn, but because I want to. I want to know if it is true and I also want to know if English is the official language in the USA, I know majority speak English but is it official, and if not why? I know America has very diverse culture and I'm not trying to discriminate.

and BTW i'm not trying to get out of having to take Spanish in high school because I actually enjoy it.

Answer 1

It's easier to learn a new language the younger you are.

Answer 2

I would definitely encourage everyone to learn a second (and third!) language.  It is useful, it teaches you a lot about your own language, it enables you travel and opens a lot of doors.  You do NOT need to learn Spanish!  Pick a language because it interests you, or you want to travel in that country some day.  

Immigrants to the US need to learn English.  That is our language, and those who do not learn the language will always be closing themselves from fully integrating with our culture, closing themselves off from jobs and most of the opportunities this country offers.  If you wanted to immigrate to Spain, I'd tell you you have to learn Spanish.  Assuming you have no plans to immigrate to a Spanish-speaking country, pick another language for whatever reasons you may have.  If you WANT to do it, you will learn more, enjoy it more.  Have fun!

Answer 3

your teachers must be republicans hoping to bring in all that cheap labor.  But nevertheless even if they are not, they are correct in what they are telling you.  They want the illegals to come in and drive down your wages ...so they can get the cheapest labor pool possible.

They are right, if you dont learn spanish you probably wont be able to work in construction, landscaping, highway and road repairs, hotels and motels and hospitality, meat packing industry, general labor, etc..

But its gonna be worst than that.  As you probably have noticed in malls now, and in mainstream grocery stores you see a lot more people walking around than you did just 10 years ago.....speaking boldy in spanish and dont care if you are listening.  This means that every business that deals with customers at a retail level will have to hire bilangual people over straight english speakers.

When you go apply for a job as a grocery clerk, or as clerk at us cellular or verizon etc..or any job at the mall, you will have to be bilangual.....and it will get worst from there because the manager jobs will also go to bilangual people.  You probably see this already at your local mcdonalds.  You see to manage a crew of 12 that is all spanish speaking, you probably need to be bilagual........  Are you getting the drift of the pattern????  it gets worst.  pretty soon politicians will be bending over backwards for the spanish speaking vote and not giving a hoot about the american vote...etc.....

Answer 4

Ango Saxons are almost the minority due to a large population of Latinos.  If you want to speak in english press 1 on your telephone.  If your don't learn spanish, you will not be able to communicate with everyone here.  Also you can get a better job being bilingual.

Answer 5

You don't need to keep sounding so apologetic. I agree with you. You should not be forced to learn another language to communicate in your own country.

When I was in high school, Spanish wasn't the only foreign language course offered. I guess that's changing in a lot of schools now.

Answer 6

English is the official language of the USA and I don't see that changing anytime in the near or distance future.

Spanish is not going to be the main language... immigrants speak Spanish among themselves but their children and grandchildren will switch over to English.

Your teacher is not very bright, I am sorry.

It can be useful for you to learn Spanish if you want to travel to Spain, Central and South America, or you want to get a job in a field that involves Hispanic immigrants, foreign trade and such...

As far as I am concerned, immigrants should learn English, instead of expecting Americans to speak their native language..

On a personal note, I speak 4 languages and can read on a 5th - I never in my life regretted or found this knowledge useless. It came very handy while exploring our planet.

Best of luck!

Answer 7

-Usually because it's the EASIEST foreign language to learn (& for THEM- to teach You!). But DON'T choose it for THAT reason...-because you're RIGHT; you SHOULD be the One to choose WHICH foreign language you want to speak!  May I offer a Suggestion?? -If Your school offers it; take Chinese !!!  Yeah it's harder, & there's more to Remember... But it's Different; Fun; -and with China an up and coming World Influence (as in the Olympics), people who can speak Chinese are GOING TO Be VERY much in "Demand" in 5 or 10 years! So give it a "shot", & Good Luck!  :)

Answer 8

First, unfortunately, even though English is our predominate language, there is no legislation establishing it as the official language of the U.S.  As for requiring that you take a Spanish course, it depends on the academic program that you are in.  In most college prep programs at least one credit in a foreign language is required.  

I think that being multi-linqual is great and I wish that I had learned a second language.  I do have a problem, however, with immigrants who refuse to even attempt to learn English.  If I were to go and live in Mexico, China, or wherever, it would be incumbent on ME to learn to communicate, not the other way around.

Many years ago I lived in a pre-dominately Asian neighborhood and found it very interesting that in day to day conversations most of my neighbors could converse in English; but, if the police had to respond to a call, you couldn't find a person who would speak English within a mile!

Answer 9

That's a stupidity.  The official languaje in USA is english.  Nobody can force you to learn a foreign languaje.   The inmigrants are those who have to learn the official languaje of their new country.

Answer 10

They are actually doing you a favor by telling you to take Spanish in high school. I know that it's hard for you at this point in life to look towards the future, but the trends in the USA are pointing towards Spanish. The number of Spanish speakers has grown at a rapid pace over the past 2 to 3 decades and is increasing more rapidly as time goes on.  The job market is leaning towards both bilingual professionals and blue collar workers. By the time you are ready to go out and start your career, you could be faced with situations of not being able to compete for positions if you lack that particular skill.  

Demands in the workforce have evolved throughout history to meet the needs of society.  At one time, only people that planned on being secretaries learned to type, now because of computers and technology, it is really a requirement for some of the most basic jobs. If you go back a little farther in history, people weren't required to be able to read and write to do a lot of  jobs. Now, most places won't hire you if you lack those basic skills. High school graduation didn't used to be a requirement either, but now not only is a high school diploma required, they are looking for people that have post secondary degrees or certification.

You can complain about it now and not try to learn Spanish now, but where will it get you? Probably on the bottom of the stack of applicants or in the circular file. I will guarantee you that if you don't learn it now, you will regret it later.  You'll probably end up having to study it at some  point in time to survive in the job market. It doesn't come cheap when you get out in the real world. Now you have the advantage of studying it for free. I suggest that you take the advice and roll with it.