Return-Path: <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id h84Eeb716757; Thu, 4 Sep 2003 10:40:37 -0400 (EDT) Date: Thu, 4 Sep 2003 10:40:37 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <3F574E57.BF1563F9@ht.rol.cn.net> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Tyler E. Johnson" <yakup2@ht.rol.cn.net> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-esl@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-ESL:9395] Re: Accept English Only donation? X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.8 [en] (Windows NT 5.0; U) Status: O Content-Length: 1144 Lines: 25 "English-Only Laws anywhere in this country are a threat to Bilingual Education everywhere!" Dear All, Allow me to play the Devil's advocate for a moment and note that, although I am also disgusted by the U.S. educational system's attitude toward the learning of languages- even proper English- think of this. Because the majority of the American population has never had real contact with other cultures (e.g. living in a foreign country), most do not know how to deal with people who don't speak english. In Europe or even here in China where they are accustomed to people who don't speak a word of their language, and they perhaps don't speak a word of English, people know how to deal with these situations. On the flip side, your average Joe in the grocery store or at the DMV likely has no idea how to piece together a conversation from a less-than-fluent foreigner, or a very hard time doing so. Basically, would forcing someone (especially children) to learn English (if they live in the states) really hurt them? In most other countries (especially Europe) I don't think this priciple would apply. But in the good ol' U.S.....
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