Obama has a split personality?

[scooterbug44]

People learned English because that was where the money and dominant culture was - same reason we need to learn Spanish and Mandarin.

The number one language in the world is Mandarin. The second is Spanish. English is #3.

You can argue elitism all you want, but it is estimated that 60-75% of the world's population speaks 2 or more languages so advocating that we learn more than one language to stay competitive is just common sense.

 

[JustaLocal]

You can argue elitism all you want, but it is estimated that 60-75% of the world's population speaks 2 or more languages so advocating that we learn more than one language to stay competitive is just common sense.

And I would bet most of those who know 2 or more, include english as one.


I think we should all know at least two languages and basic algebra.

 

[traderx]

This makes me think that you missed my intended sarcasm when I said-

I meant that I was fascinated that this is your take on Obama's words and actions because mine is very different...
And I was making fun of the fact that so many in this country view the French as they do (e.g. Freedom Fries). I don't think the French are bastages but I understand why the world things we are and this is what Obama is thankfully trying to fix...

G

I confess to slow moments but my sarcasm net is pretty good.

The US is hardly alone in its view of France. This is what a UK newspaper had to say about Obama's visit to Europe:

How does he repair transatlantic relations without getting too close to the cheese-eating surrender monkeys" that much of the US despises?

Gotta love the Brits!

I support Americans or anyone else learning non-native languages. I just have a problem with the government spending money to accomplish the goal. Do you find it ironic that Obama himself does not speak a foreign language? I beat he is using the Rosetta Stone to learn French and maybe a hint of German.

BTW, I read that while in Paris, the French will present Obama with a French army knife. This is quite an honor and he may come in handy during his visit with Ahm.......jad.

Second btw, if you want to read something fun and informative, Google "French Military Victories" and hit the "I feel lucky" button. Good reading.

 

[scooterbug44]

20 - 25% speak English as a native or second language. There are 300 million Chinese studying English and many more from India, Korea and the Arab world.

There are about 200 languages that have a million or more "native" speakers. Mandarin Chinese is the most common, being spoken by around 874,000,000 people as a native language. English is a distant third with approximately 341,000,000 native speakers.

And Obama DOES speak a foreign language - he speaks Bahasa, a language common in Indonesia and Malaysia.

 

[TooFarTampa]

Speaking of which, HAPPY BASTILLE DAY!!!

We celebrate it every year*!!!!




* OK it's our middle kid's birthday.

 

[LuciferSam]

I confess to slow moments but my sarcasm net is pretty good.

The US is hardly alone in its view of France. This is what a UK newspaper had to say about Obama's visit to Europe:



Gotta love the Brits!

I support Americans or anyone else learning non-native languages. I just have a problem with the government spending money to accomplish the goal. Do you find it ironic that Obama himself does not speak a foreign language? I beat he is using the Rosetta Stone to learn French and maybe a hint of German.

BTW, I read that while in Paris, the French will present Obama with a French army knife. This is quite an honor and he may come in handy during his visit with Ahm.......jad.

Second btw, if you want to read something fun and informative, Google "French Military Victories" and hit the "I feel lucky" button. Good reading.

The story has become a cliche. Back in WWII we saved the French's sorry a--es and prevented them from having to learn German. Until they return the favor by rescuing us from imminent disaster, things will never be right between us. Six-hundred years from now we'll still be bearing that grudge. You would think by now with all the stupid things th U.S. has done militarily that the French have had plenty of opportunity to bail us out. Maybe that's why we have such moronic foreign policy. We're giving the French the chance to right themselves!:roll: Nah! Then we wouldn't be able to bash them, and that's what life is all about!

 

[traderx]

I think we should all know at least two languages and basic algebra.

We graduate kids from high school who cannot convert a percent to a decimal and who cannot identify South America on a world map. Obama wants foreign language training included in the No Child Left Behind program. The result will be further weakness of our schools.

 

[scooterbug44]

Yes, high standards are always the death knell of education! :roll:

I am much more concerned that we graduate people from 3rd GRADE who can't do those things!

 

[JustaLocal]

We graduate kids from high school who cannot convert a percent to a decimal and who cannot identify South America on a world map. Obama wants foreign language training included in the No Child Left Behind program. The result will be further weakness of our schools.

In my opinion, mathematics is just as important as foreign language, if not more.

 

[BeachSiO2]

I seem to remember France aiding the US colonists back in the 1700's during the American Revolution. Was that one of the many incorrect things we were taught in school?