English as Second Language in America
English as second language is becoming ever more prevalent in this country with the draw of several foreigners who now call the US home.
When I take a trip to the doctor's office, my doctor's first language is Hindi with English as his second language. When I visit my local Chinese restaurant it is run by a family who speaks English as their second language, primarily speaking Chinese. When I head off to the farmer's market I meet a Mexican family who speaks mainly Spanish with English as second language.
As an English speaking nation it is becoming more and more advantageous for us to learn to speak other languages as well. Having lived in India where most people can speak five or more languages so that they may communicate on a larger scale with their neighbors, I learned the importance of multiple language skills.
In the US we are considered a melting pot, and many inhabitants who call the US home speak English as second language. Would it not be beneficial for us who speak only English to be able to communicate better with those who speak another primary language other than English? Nationally our second language is Spanish and to keep children competitive, being proficient in Spanish would better equip them when it comes time to enter the job market.
I have noticed that bilingual speakers are becoming favored in the job market today. In this country, teaching children Spanish, starting in kindergarten, would assist in giving them the upper hand as adults to be proficient in another language that is becoming more and more popular. If our counterparts can learn English as second language so as to communicate with us, could we not do the same for them? Knowledge is power, therefore, anything new you learn makes you more powerful, whether it be at the workplace or amongst your neighbors.