"Learning Spanish in HS is good because..." BULLS00T!

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PieIsAwesome

Diamond Member
Feb 11, 2007
4,054
1
0
Well you're quite the intellectual...

But FYI, my aunt who lives in the EU (currently Germany) says more people listen to her when speaking Spanish rather than English, and many people in other countries know more than one language.
 

upsciLLion

Diamond Member
Feb 21, 2001
5,947
1
81
Originally posted by: FairlightRacing
Originally posted by: Platypus

You're a joke.

<SNIP>

Case in point, without high school Spanish I wouldn't have been able to help out in a car accident situation I witnessed 5 years ago. Woman ran through a stop sign and drilled the hell out of a Mexican guy in his car right in front of me. Had I not been there to talk to him I wouldn't have been able to send for the ambulence he needed because of internal injuries he sustained as a result of the accident.

Wait, you needed to know Spanish to figure out that a guy who just got the "hell drilled out of him" needed you to call 911? You also needed all that high school Spanish to figure out that a person is speaking Spanish and would probably be better served if a Spanish speaking officer was on scene? You having known Spanish did nothing in this situation that any other competent English-speaking individual could not have done.

You may have passed Spanish 101, but you failed Common Sense 101.

I know you had good intentions, but you're about to get a beating and an eye full of spunk.
 

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
15
81
Learning Spanish is very useful, as it allows you to more readily communicate with fast-food workers, the hotel cleaning staff, and other lower class help. ;)
 

TruePaige

Diamond Member
Oct 22, 2006
9,874
2
0
I learned Latin. I refuse to give into your cheesy spanish speaking.

The richest countries in the world all speak English. Good enough for me.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,333
136
Originally posted by: CorCentral
The point is, most Mexicans in the US have no desire or WANT, to learn english. But be damn sure if I moved to Mexico, I'd be learning "PROPER" spanish pronto!

Their ignorance is hurting them........... No habla Englais!......... Si.......... Si. (Si usually means they have no clue as to what you're saying usually shaking their head no as they say the word)

Sigh... do you have any fsckin' clue whatsoever how hard it is to go from speaking a beautiful, orderly, and near perfect regular language like Spanish to having to learn an ugly, chaotic (yet wonderfully flexible), and highly irregular language like English... as an adult??

Hypothesizing that you're a typical American adult who has only spoken English your whole life and never learned a 2nd language, why don't you move to Beijing and learn to speak Mandarin? It might be easier.


Everyone should learn a 2nd language. It's good for opening up your mind. If the OP doesn't want to learn Spanish, he should try something else.
 

Mill

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
28,558
3
81
I always feel like a dumbass because I am just at a moderate level in Spanish, and that I've forgotten most of my German. As soon as I get done with my degree in Spanish I'm going to start studying German again. I think two languages should be a bare minimum. Most of my friends in Bogota are studying two... typically English and French or English and German. English is required by the vast majority of the high schools here, and almost all of the Universities require that you attain quite a bit of fluency in it.

 

zerocool84

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
36,041
472
126
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: CorCentral
The point is, most Mexicans in the US have no desire or WANT, to learn english. But be damn sure if I moved to Mexico, I'd be learning "PROPER" spanish pronto!

Their ignorance is hurting them........... No habla Englais!......... Si.......... Si. (Si usually means they have no clue as to what you're saying usually shaking their head no as they say the word)

Sigh... do you have any fsckin' clue whatsoever how hard it is to go from speaking a beautiful, orderly, and near perfect regular language like Spanish to having to learn an ugly, chaotic (yet wonderfully flexible), and highly irregular language like English... as an adult??

Hypothesizing that you're a typical American adult who has only spoken English your whole life and never learned a 2nd language, why don't you move to Beijing and learn to speak Mandarin? It might be easier.


Everyone should learn a 2nd language. It's good for opening up your mind. If the OP doesn't want to learn Spanish, he should try something else.


There is a problem though. The industry I work in, (retail home improvement warehouse), they ask why you don't learn spanish, but if you DO know spanish they give you props. I speak spanish but they talk down to the people that dont. They EXPECT you to speak spanish which isn't fair IMO.
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,333
136
Originally posted by: zerocool84
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: CorCentral
The point is, most Mexicans in the US have no desire or WANT, to learn english. But be damn sure if I moved to Mexico, I'd be learning "PROPER" spanish pronto!

Their ignorance is hurting them........... No habla Englais!......... Si.......... Si. (Si usually means they have no clue as to what you're saying usually shaking their head no as they say the word)

Sigh... do you have any fsckin' clue whatsoever how hard it is to go from speaking a beautiful, orderly, and near perfect regular language like Spanish to having to learn an ugly, chaotic (yet wonderfully flexible), and highly irregular language like English... as an adult??

Hypothesizing that you're a typical American adult who has only spoken English your whole life and never learned a 2nd language, why don't you move to Beijing and learn to speak Mandarin? It might be easier.


Everyone should learn a 2nd language. It's good for opening up your mind. If the OP doesn't want to learn Spanish, he should try something else.


There is a problem though. The industry I work in, (retail home improvement warehouse), they ask why you don't learn spanish, but if you DO know spanish they give you props. I speak spanish but they talk down to the people that dont. They EXPECT you to speak spanish which isn't fair IMO.

So talk about them in English whenever they're around. They'll get the point.
 

Skacer

Banned
Jun 4, 2007
727
0
0
Outside of calling the op a retarded bigot, want an actual opinion from someone further on in their life? I wish I had been more than a C student in Spanish. I never did any of my homework or actually paid attention, I did enough to pass but because of that all I remember are random phrases and I can't hold a conversation or translate things on the fly. It is a shame because, while it doesn't affect my day to day activities, it affects where I might go for travel. When you become a normal person, you realize there is a world beyond the 7-11 and pizza joint in your local city that you might want to explore and learning other languages facilitates that greatly. Hopefully it isn't too late for you to correct your short sightedness.

Also, think of this as giving insight to you into what immigrants have to learn all on their own when they learn your language. Perhaps it will give you an appreciation for what they work towards.
 

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
for servicing immigrants if the flood continues sure its useful.
more useful would be chinese:p
lets be honest, china is rushing foward, mexico at its current growth will catch up.... never. well over 100 years, last time it was in the economist.
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: fierydemise
Originally posted by: CorCentral
Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper
This just in... OP is an ignorant tool :thumbsdown:

Agreeing with the majority in a thread is not always good.

I agree with him 95%. You're a tool because you cannot read through all 59 posts, just skimming through like most in here do and lay down your opinion?

As for my 5% offset......... It's good to learn a 2nd Language but never supplement BS with anything Hispanic, or you'll get burned. You're in the USA and unless you have a job requiring you to travel from here to wherever, there is NO need to learn a foreign language. ZERO!
Try traveling anywhere else in the world for pleasure, sure most of world speaks English and you can get by just fine but you'll be treated as an unwelcome foreigner, simply attempting to speak the language (even if you butcher it) will get you better treatment.

But if one travels the world, as you say, then by your line of thinking they should have to know many different languages. The reality is, one just needs to know pertinent things about each culture and make an attempt at learning some of the language. You know, learn a it about the syntax/grammar and maybe pick up a phrase book. But full on learning a single new language isn't going to help one much if they go to a bunch of different countries.

And my father, who has been to Turkey, Korea, and Germany on business knows next to zero Turkish, Korean, or German yet somehow, everything works out. Thats because English is for all intents and purposes the international language of business (yes I know that over a billion speak mandarin...).

Now he did have more trouble if he wanted to mingle with the natives, but that has nothing to do with the success of the business trip.
 

Excelsior

Lifer
May 30, 2002
19,047
18
81
Originally posted by: PieIsAwesome
Well you're quite the intellectual...

But FYI, my aunt who lives in the EU (currently Germany) says more people listen to her when speaking Spanish rather than English, and many people in other countries know more than one language.

That would undoubtedly be related to much of the worlds disdain for anything American (or dare I say British).

Truth is, the natives of any particular country are more receptive and courteous to those who make an attempt at speaking their native tongue. I certainly did the best I could the few times I was in Germany, and my experiences were pleasant.
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: w3stfa11
Originally posted by: dr150
Oye PUTO.

Eres y siempre va ser una pulga retardado que no puede aprender un simple idioma. Que beneficio positivo tu das a la humanidad bendejo, eh?

Tienes que aprender Espanol para la proxima vez que vengo comprar comida de ti que tu me sirves a rodilla en Taco Bell!

Entiendes degendardo? Entiendes PUTITO?
:D

Mods aren't going to check this? Those are some pretty harsh words...

translation?
He is and always will be an idiot that doesn't understand a simple language. What benefit will he be to humanity?

You have to learn Spanish because the next time I come to buy food, you will serve me on your knee in Taco Bell. (got confused with rodilla..., maybe you meant he will serve you on his knees?)

He ended by using a few choice of words... putito is like... female dog, but he's a smaller version of it. By smaller, it's like the difference between an adult and child female.

I'm hoping to minor in spanish for what it's worth.
thanks.
so putito = bitch(female dog)

?

Entiendes PUTITO? = "Do you understand, you little b1tch?"
 

moshquerade

No Lifer
Nov 1, 2001
61,504
12
56
Originally posted by: Bryophyte
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Originally posted by: moshquerade
Originally posted by: w3stfa11
Originally posted by: dr150
Oye PUTO.

Eres y siempre va ser una pulga retardado que no puede aprender un simple idioma. Que beneficio positivo tu das a la humanidad bendejo, eh?

Tienes que aprender Espanol para la proxima vez que vengo comprar comida de ti que tu me sirves a rodilla en Taco Bell!

Entiendes degendardo? Entiendes PUTITO?
:D

Mods aren't going to check this? Those are some pretty harsh words...

translation?
He is and always will be an idiot that doesn't understand a simple language. What benefit will he be to humanity?

You have to learn Spanish because the next time I come to buy food, you will serve me on your knee in Taco Bell. (got confused with rodilla..., maybe you meant he will serve you on his knees?)

He ended by using a few choice of words... putito is like... female dog, but he's a smaller version of it. By smaller, it's like the difference between an adult and child female.

I'm hoping to minor in spanish for what it's worth.
thanks.
so putito = bitch(female dog)

?

Entiendes PUTITO? = "Do you understand, you little b1tch?"

well, i would say the mods here don't understand Spanish.
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
I would like to add that the younger you are when you learn a second language, the better. After about 16, your ability to master new languages easily drops drastically because of the way the brain develops. My kids go to an elementary school that's at least 80% hispanic kids, and guess what? They're all fully bilingual. Some of their parents and grandparents are at only at beginning levels of English. Why? Partly because they speak Spanish at home (aren't immersed in English 24/7), partly because it's much harder to learn as an adult, and English is one of the more difficult languages to master as an adult.

Knowing the benefits to brain development and language skills that one gets from gaining fluency in multiple languages as young children, I've made it a priority for my kids. One went to Spanish Immersion school for kindergarten (he's not had that available since then, but hears it at school all the time, so he's learning...though sometimes it's a lot of swearing, hehe), and my other kid is just finishing her second year of dual-immersion Spanish/English school. At that age, they pick up about a new word every day, roughly equivalent to a toddler learning his/her first language. I wish I had the same opportunities as a child. I didn't start a second language until high school (took six terms of French at a neighboring college at night my freshman and sophomore years of high school), and it took a lot more work to learn than I see in my kids. I picked up a *little* Greek, living there at 16, and have been working on Spanish alongside my daughter, but she's almost hit the 'thinking in the new language' stage, while I struggle to translate the few words I understand in my mind.

I think the important thing when you learn a second language is to choose one that you'll have the most opportunities to use regularly. Practice makes perfect. For much of the US, that means Spanish, since we share a border with Mexico, and thus have the most immigrants speaking that language. For some of the Northern states, French might be a sensible choice, since you can cross the border into Quebec to immerse yourself in that language. I've heard that when you've become fluent in your second language (you've gotten to where you can immediately switch between *thinking* in one language to thinking in the other as the need arises), then subsequent language acquisition is much easier. My high school French teacher was fluent in something like 8 languages. :Q
 

RESmonkey

Diamond Member
May 6, 2007
4,818
2
0
I don't need Spanish to order a burrito. It's my decision to hold on to this language, or not.

Oh, and English isn't my 'only' language, like i said, I speak 2 more. They're just as useful, if not more, then spanish over here. I don't give a rat's behind for the culture. I doubt I'd vacate in some spanish speaking country, too.

I bet I've pissed off most, if not all, of you. Don't care, really. Stating what I want to. Oh, spanish is precious to you? Well, IDK.
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
Originally posted by: RESmonkey
I don't need Spanish to order a burrito. It's my decision to hold on to this language, or not.

Oh, and English isn't my 'only' language, like i said, I speak 2 more. They're just as useful, if not more, then spanish over here. I don't give a rat's behind for the culture. I doubt I'd vacate in some spanish speaking country, too.

I bet I've pissed off most, if not all, of you. Don't care, really. Stating what I want to. Oh, spanish is precious to you? Well, IDK.

Most universities give multilingual students the opportunity to test out of it instead of take more language classes. You might look into it. You should get credit for what you already know.

As a side note, there are many, many subjects we are required to take in high school and college that we might not want to learn about. That's just part of life. If you want to only take courses specific to what you want to learn, then you might consider trade schools instead of university.

You don't piss me off, you just honestly come off as a brat who feels the need to berate other cultures while tantruming. I have a 10 year old, so I recognize a tantrum when I see it. If you had managed to frame your argument in a logical manner, instead of the immature and hateful way that you did, people would be more inclined to sympathize.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,125
30,076
146
you learn it because it expands your knowledge base. Learning any second language vastly improves a majority of your cognitive abilities.

But, if you prefer to remain the average sheltered and ignorant American that you so proudly display in your OP, then here's a [cookie emote not working]

Now go bitch to some other 9th graders...who might actually think that your complaints have any value.