Korean Job Discussion Forums

tomato

It looks like the Miriam Ferguson Society has been active in the US Presidential campaign:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080711/ap_on_el_pr/obama

The Bobster · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

wiki:
Miriam Ferguson, along with a few other people, have been credited with the quote: �If English was good enough for Jesus Christ, it ought to be good enough for the children of Texas.�[6] She was an educated woman and fairly well-read, so it is somewhat unlikely that she actually ever uttered those words. There are also variations of these words going back to 1881 that were often used to ridicule the backwardness of various unnamed Christians which strengthens the argument that the attribution to Ferguson was incorrect.[7]

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

When God speaks to Bush He has to speak English because Bush doesn't really speak Spanish.

KrazyInKlamath · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Location: Gyeongsan, South Korea

"I agree that immigrants should learn English," Obama said. "But instead of worrying about whether immigrants can learn English � they'll learn English � you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish. You should be thinking about how can your child become bilingual. We should have every child speaking more than one language."

I personally think that all American children should begin learning a second language by at least fifth grade (then maybe, if desired, begin a third language while continuing the second). I think we have spent too long not encouraging foreign language study. However, I object (and I think others object to the same) to the second language having to be Spanish. What is wrong with German? What is wrong with Chinese? What is wrong with Arabic? French? I think each school district should decide which language will be taught as the second language. Granted, most school districts will probably choose Spanish, but at least there is a choice.

mithridates · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:14 am Post subject:

KrazyInKlamath · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Location: Gyeongsan, South Korea

mithridates: Thank you for the insight.

Unfortunately, I think that when the parents and school systems finally decide that two years of high school foreign language is not enough, there will be a lot of lobbying going on to require all students to learn Spanish, these lobbyists will then convince Congress to refuse federal tax dollars to states who refuse to require the second language to be Spanish (think No Child Left Behind). The unfortunate thing with that is so many states want the Federal funds and will cower to the lobbyists.

Confused

Maybe I just need to let go of my bias towards Spanish and accept the reality.

mithridates · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:06 am Post subject:

KrazyInKlamath · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Location: Gyeongsan, South Korea

You are right, Spanish is pretty easy to pick up (and pick up again after not being exposed to it for a while) and at least where I am from there is the chance to use it. It was pretty easy to pick up for me since my mother began teaching my French when I was in elementary. Getting an early start made learning German a lot easier and has also helped in studying Czech and Hebrew.

I just wish Korean were that easy for me to pick up and retain. My brain will not retain it even though I have put a hold on my other language studies. Oh well. C'est la vie.

mithridates · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:17 am Post subject:

tomato · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject:

SirFink · Joined: 05 Mar 2006

Those darn Republicans.

Reminds me of the Spanish imperialists who forced the native people of Mexico to learn Spanish and become Catholics at the point of a sword. When did Spanish stop being (like English) the language of your oppressors and instead become the "native" tongue of poor, oppressed people ?

Kikomom · Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 5:29 pm Post subject:

This is very good news. Sounds like ESL will be a wide open opportunity when Obama gets in office. You guys overseas are in on the ground floor, gaining experience and seeing how it's done right.

Teaching should flourish in an Obama administration and today's esl's are in a great position to further their careers in the field of education.

Well done, sir.

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

You don't really expect the Republicans to speak Spanish to the illegal maids they smuggle across the border, do you?

Kikomom · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:13 am Post subject:

Haha! They are going to be soooo surprised when they find out she's been learning english from her six year old.

I like to give them something to be paranoid about.

But don't worry, as soon as they see there's money to be made on the Headhunting front, they'll be on the bandwagon in a jiffy.