Jose,

I tried to avoid being overtly partisan or politically judgmental in phrasing my suggestion, but perhaps I should clarify the irony in my what I wrote.  

This president has just said that the national anthem should be sung in English, not in Spanish.  He is specifying that immigrants must learn English.  However, he's not proposing, nor is he likely interested in proposing, any funding to support their learning of English.  Historically, immigrants have learned English because it is, in most cases, an economic advantage to be able to use English productively, so there is really no issue about immigrants learning English.  Those who need it for the workplace, for school, and for broader acculturation will make an effort to learn it.  Specifying this requirement, as he did, simply makes it a convenient political issue for him.

I was in a debate with some English-only advocates a few years ago in Cupertino.  They were arguing that since English was the language of the majority the majority had the right to legislate language policy.  When I asked the obvious question, about existing and future Hispanic majorities in some parts of the country, they were less willing to let majority rule.

Ultimately, language use is market-driven, but for some reason most radical free-marketers I've had this discussion with don't trust the market to handle language policy.  They want to make a political issue of it.

Herb


Why so much interest now in wanting immigrants to learn English?  I'm sure
some would support this out of xenophobic sentiments fearing what a large
number of Hispanics would represent to the United States in the future.
Whoever backs up this initiative should make their motivations clear.  

-José

-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stahlke, Herbert F.W.
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2006 9:00 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: English for Immigrants

I just read the text of Pres. Bush's speech on immigration, and I notice
that he gives considerable emphasis to the importance of immigrants
learning English.  If this is to be more than a political gesture, it
seems to me that there will have to be some pressure on the White House
and on Congress to fund what Bush is trying to formulate as a
requirement.

As an organization we have not been an active advocacy group, but this
might be an issue worth joining forces with other groups on.  We, at
least, together with TESOL, MLA, LSA, NCTE, CCC, AAAL, etc., have some
idea of what those needs are and what goes into meeting them.

Herb

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