Teaching Language in the United States

America is a nation filled with all different types of people. People of different color, languages, traditions, and dreams. Because we are a nation of immigrants, we do not share the characteristics of "race, religion, ethnicity, or native language {that} form the common bonds of society in other countries" (Exploring Language 252). However, by agreeing to learn and use just one single language we have been able to unite many different people and create an incredibly diverse population. Yet, why is it that United States, though filled with thousands of people who do not speak English as their first language, must have one official language, English?

In California, the majority of the schools are required to teach ESL (English as a second language) to Hispanic children. These programs were created to teach Mexican immigrants English and the way the United States works. All through California, you will see not just see and hear English but Spanish also. Being from California I am very familiar with this system of two different languages. I used to have a history book that had a dictionary in the back that translated the English vocabulary words into Spanish, so that those Hispanics that did not know English well could still learn. I am not sure if it is like this in Florida, where there is a large population of Philippinoes, but should there be? Should a country where their goal is to have only one language, be catering to those immigrants who come here to be free and yet are not willing to speak the native language?

Many argue that the knowledge of English is not "part of the formula for responsible citizenship in this country" (Exploring Language 252). Others argue that anymore than one language in a country will only lead to a "chaotic mess which {will lead} to countless problems in the government's efforts to manage the nation's business" (Exploring Language 253). Therefore, should the United States be catering to the needs of the minorities and not teach them English, or should American schools continue with their ESL programs?

Under the most common method of bilingual education used throughout this country, "non-English-speaking students are taught all academic subjects such as math, science, and history exclusively in their native language. English is taught as a separate subject" (Exploring Language 254). The problem resulting from this is that it is unable