Immigrants Should Be Forced to Learn and Speak English

2415 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: What issues does an immigrant face

The issue of whether or not immigrants should be forced to learn and speak English has been discussed for many years and is viewed differently by legal immigrants, illegal immigrants and American citizens. R. D. King (1997) wrote that the issue of immigrants learning to speak English dates back to 1753 with regards to German immigrants. In his article, Should English Be the Law, King (1997) states, “In 1753 Benjamin Franklin voiced his concern that German immigrants were not learning the English language” (par. 4). Even after all these years, the issue of immigrants learning and speaking English in order to better communicate with co-workers, at the bank, or seeking medical care remains a concern for English-speaking American citizens. Furthermore, immigrants speaking English continues to be an ongoing topic of discussion for politicians and the media. Schools in the United States teach children that Christopher Columbus is the man credited with finding America (Oliveri, 2007). Columbus Day is a national holiday in the United States. Christopher Columbus came to America from Italy but was a citizen of Spain; therefore, United States citizens should remember that America was founded by immigrants. From its beginning America has welcomed immigrants who came to the United States from a multitude of counties. These earlier generations of immigrants came with the intention of becoming American citizens and worked to learn and speak English in order to unite America under one language (Whitmore, 2008). Immigrants, who come to America legally today, continue to come for work and to take advantage of the freedom America offers. The majority of the legal immigrants currently coming to the United States want to “assimilate” ... ... middle of paper ... ...? The Seoul Times. Retrieved September 29, 2009, from http://theseoultimes.com/ST/top_frame.html Oliveri, D. (2007, August 30). Columbus Day lesson plan. Celebrate the man who found America. Retrieved November 20, 2009 http://homeschool-curricula.suite101.com/article.cfm Poisl, D. (2006, October 5). Assimilation and the necessity for English. American Chronicle. Retrieved October 10, 2009, from http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/printFriendly/14381 Poisl, D. (2007, September 26). How immigration reform will help everyone. American Chronicle. Retrieved October 10, 2009, from http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/38702 Whitmore, S. (2008, March 11). Seven in ten Hispanics say immigrants should learn English. PRNewswire. Retrieved October 7, 2008, from www.hispanicprwire.com/prin.php

Show More
Related

  • The Myint Author Of Christopher Columbus: Hero Or Villain?

    821 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many books have led children to believe Columbus discovered America. Myint discovers “Leif Eriksson is the first European believed to have sailed to North America, having reached Canada 500 years before Columbus set sail to the west.” (Myint, 2015, Para. 2). Columbus did not plan to reach America; the voyage was to reach Asia. It is also believed Columbus set sail to prove the world was round. This is dismissed by Myint as “it was an idea that had been established by the Ancient Greeks in the 5th Century BC.” (Myint, 2015, Para. 4). Historians fail to provide these facts; this creates a false image of Columbus in a child’s

    Read More

  • Christopher Columbus: Hero Or Villain?

    605 Words  | 2 Pages

    Christopher Columbus does not deserve to be honored as a hero with his own holiday. Close to 500 years, people have praised Christopher Columbus and also celebrated him as though he was the one who truly founded America. Teachers teach students that he was a great man, also how he found treasures and land known as America. Students are also taught about the names of his three ships he used on his first voyage. However, they did not teach us the truth about Christopher Columbus, and his so called “discovery”.

    Read More

  • A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn

    1226 Words  | 3 Pages

    America is a nation that is often glorified in textbooks as a nation of freedom, yet history shows a different, more radical viewpoint. In Howard Zinn’s A People's History of the United States, we take a look at American history through a different lens, one that is not focused on glorifying our history, but giving us history through the eyes of the people. “This is a nation of inconsistencies”, as so eloquently put by Mary Elizabeth Lease highlights a nation of people who exploited and sought to keep down those who they saw as inferior, reminding us of more than just one view on a nation’s history, especially from people and a gender who have not had an easy ride. In some respects, we can attribute the founding of America and all its subsequent impacts to Christopher Columbus. Columbus, a hero in the United States, has his own holiday and we view him as the one who paved the way for America to be colonized.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Christopher Columbus Day

    1332 Words  | 3 Pages

    “In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue”, is the rhyme embedded in children’s heads in the first lesson of US history. However, beyond the discovery of the New World, Christopher Columbus receives no other mentions. Especially no one acknowledges that he was the reason Native Americans were mistreated and kept as slaves. Although Christopher Columbus’ actions are not all honorable he should still be celebrated during Columbus Day as a brave explorer who risked his and his crew’s lives to find a new way of travel and land. His efforts bridged a gap between the New and Old World and helped feed Europe, which immensely impacts our society. Because of his dedication and bravery to be an explorer Christopher Columbus Day should be celebrated.

    Read More

  • Ridley Scott’s Failure to Acknowledge the Truth in 1492: Conquest of Paradise

    4122 Words  | 9 Pages

    [2] Columbus is a mainstay of American patriotism. He is the patron saint who planted the seeds of our nation. Our culture has been lulled into his heroic myth for hundreds of years and has celebrated this man with much pomp and circumstance. Columbus’ worthiness has been the subject of much controversy and is now being linked to such un-heroic terms as mass murder, holocaust, and genocide.

    Read More

  • Bilingualism Should Not Be Continued

    980 Words  | 2 Pages

    James Fallows, a proponents of having bilingualism in the U.S. Fallows claim that there is no need to declare English as the official language in the U.S. “because it already is that” (263). Fallows argues that English is already the most powerful language in this world, and obviously the immigrants knew that fact. Therefore, bilingual services will not reduce the incentive of immigrants to learn English. However, his argument is not fully correct. From 2000 to 2010, over 9 million immigrants came to America (Camarota). Because of this huge population of immigrants, most of the immigrants merely formed communities within their own ethnic or linguistic groups. In their communities, they can live well by speaking their native languages. Furthermore, when they are facing public problems, they have...

    Read More

  • Summary Of Pat Mora's Immigrants By Pat Moa

    922 Words  | 2 Pages

    With the rapid economic development, more and more people try to immigrate to America and trying to learn English. Some parents would like their children just speaking English. However, there are some parents tend to keep their native language and teach to their children, in order to keep their culture alive. And in my opinion, parents should keep their old language alive.

    Read More

  • English Should Be the Official Language of the United States

    1713 Words  | 4 Pages

    middle of paper ... ... Our government already works in an English-speaking capacity, and of all the languages we have put forward for our country in the past, English makes the most sense overall. While providing the necessary instruction and help for non-English speaking citizens and/or immigrants, we will still be preserving the cultural heritage of early America. Works Cited Perea, Juan.

    Read More

  • Applying Social Cognitive Theory in Teaching English

    901 Words  | 2 Pages

    Social cognitive theory (SCT) involves four key components: reciprocal interaction, enacting learning, vicarious learning, and modeling. Despite Ann, the English teacher in the video, may not know what SCT is, she does apply the theory to her teaching strategy.

    Read More

  • Social Learning Theory

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many theories have been thought of over the years to attempt to explain why people behave the way they do. Many questions were brought up when thinking about that and the social learning theory is a popular theory in explaining this. Nobody really thought of the social learning theory too much until Albert Bandura wrote his idea of it. He actually wrote a book called “Social Learning Theory.” In this book, he states that behavior is learned from the environment through the process of observational learning(Saul McLeod).

    Read More

  • Cognitive And Social Cognitive Theory

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    Reducing sexually transmitted diseases in women ages 15-24 does not have a simple solution. In fact, changing sexual behaviors encompasses various different approaches that can at times be difficult to reach. For an approach to show significant improvements a consistent change in personal factors, environmental factors, and human behaviors must occur (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, 2005, p. 20). The social cognitive theory describes these three important factors and introduces how they are all intertwined to produce the desired outcome of changing health behavior. The social cognitive theory approach has been chosen to indicate that sexual behavior can be changed but it must begin with those who are engaging

    Read More

  • Should Immigrants Learn English Essay

    1324 Words  | 3 Pages

    Who is an immigrant? An immigrant is a person who has a citizenship in one country but enters another country to set up as a permanent resident. Sometimes countries are suffering greatly from lack of leadership, internal strife or war, and a collapsed economy. This is the case in Somalia, as well as in Syria, Libya, and Yemen. Syrian people are moving to Europe in order to find a peaceful home. Mexican immigrants come to the US looking for jobs. The people then move to new countries where they don’t speak the national language. In America, when the immigrants come, there are many difficulties: cultural differences regarding time and scheduling, transportation issues, and language difficulties.

    Read More

  • Should English Be The Official Language Essay

    872 Words  | 2 Pages

    English becoming the official Language of the United States is not just a controversial topic, it is necessary to keep America alive. American history and tradition is falling, and the ground on which she was founded is slowly fading. Americans must wake up to the importance of preserving the history of their culture. America is considered to be the greatest country in the world by even some who are not Americans. The “American Dream” is something people fantasize over all around the world. In order to keep the desire to be American, one must truly understand what it takes to be American. English is essential in living the American life. English should be the official language of the United States to give the people what they want, to recognize the historic role, and to limit controversy.

    Read More

  • Social Cognitive Theory

    1585 Words  | 4 Pages

    Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too (What is Breast Cancer, 2015). The purpose of this evaluation is to introduce the audience to breast cancer; discuss risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis; address the mind- body connection of breast cancer and suggestions for prevention and treatment; and provide an overview of breast cancer in social cognitive theory framework. Lastly, one alternative intervention for breast cancer will be highlighted in accordance with the social cognitive

    Read More

  • All Students Should be Required to Study a Foreign Language

    903 Words  | 2 Pages

    Of course, opponents of mandatory foreign language courses will say that immigrants and naturalized citizens should learn and speak the "de facto" official language of the United States--English. It is a valid point, but misses the bigger picture. People who speak English as a second language are already bilingual, while American-born students typically are not. Language is the most fundamental aspect of a culture. Students who learn the not-so-foreign language of the predominant minority group in their region of the country will gain at least some insight into the different cultures of their neighbors and perhaps have a better understanding of them at the personal level.

    Read More

More about Immigrants Should Be Forced to Learn and Speak English

Open Document