Why don't we force learning a 2nd language here?

We do teach foreign languages in high school and at the postsecondary level. Why "force" a second language when we have something better than that -- it's called freedom of choice. There is a good reason why so many foreign countries teach some degree of English language.

 

That's all true but you can't really understand a foreign culture until you can speak it's language. I think it would be beneficial to have students take a second language. The truth is, I didn't really understand English grammar until I studied another language's grammar. Learning another language used to be required to considered educated.

 

I was mostly referring to European countries.

 

English is the dollar of language around the world and it baffles me why it isn't the official language of the United States. I grew up in a home where German was spoken, as a child I understood it but never spoke it myself. Over time my understanding has faded. I went to private schools for my first six years where French was forced upon us and spoken in most classes except English class. I struggled with pronunciation and hated speaking it but by sixth grade had a pretty good understanding of the language but over time that too faded. I had similar experiences with music, I understood it but lacked the discipline. I cannot even guess what possessed me as a child to rebel against these things, the value of which is so obvious to me now. I agree there should be more emphasis on language in education but it must be offered in a way that is natural and interdisciplinary. It doesn't hurt if a second language is spoken at home but children must be encouraged to speak it as much as they understand it. Unfortunately the curriculum in public schools is abominable, dilute and heavily political. This is exacerbated by a student culture that is defiant of rules and expectations. Educators are hobbled by the garbage they're expected to teach and disinterested administrations. I think there's an emerging market for entrepreneurs and education professionals to create a new type of learning environment that would deliver quality education based on older tried and true curriculum merged with technology. There also needs to be established and enforced expectations, zero politics and a longer school year or longer days. The cost should not be prohibitive and some subsidies might be required but how much does public education cost versus it's effectiveness. I think present educators would be amenable to reduced salaries to work in a peaceful environment and parents would be willing to pay for that as well. I know I'm a little off topic but this is something I've been thinking about for a long time. This is already happening in parts of Europe and has partnered with the government that has oversight but is not overly intrusive.

 

Anytime that something is being "forced," there must be a punishment for those who don't comply. What would be the punishment for someone who doesn't put in the time to learn a second language? Jail time, without release until the second language is mastered?

Yes, the idea in this thread is ridiculous.

 

Then dont confuse western europe with the entire world. Its an easy answer. European countries are small, with a lot of languages close by. They learn English so they can talk to each other. Americans don't need to so they don't.

 

Can such an approach be utilized to force illegal aliens to both learn and speak english?

 

English is easy, I learned it as a baby


Figure as all those language, neural paths are being formed
English first don't form those gender, cases, verbs/adjectives/adverb
agreements grammar "brain"


Consider throughout history, the English speaking people have been
the worst at speaking the language of the natives.


Interesting series. How/Why English
The Story of English is the title of an Emmy Award winning nine-part television series, and a companion book, both produced in 1986, detailing the development of the English language. ... The book and the television series were written by Robert MacNeil, . . . .