As someone who is actually involved in having more people learn English as a second language (I teach non-native speakers of English and pre-service ESL teachers), Craig is absolutely correct.
We are a country with a great numbers of different cultures. I have no idea how discussing those cultures impedes learning English.
A lot of what Brad shared with us doesn't seem anything even a conservative in Australia would say. The US, unlike Australia, broke ties with UK early and rejected ever having a state religion. In fact, our constitution denies having any religious test for office. We have never recognized the President of a protector of any faith.
I have had the good fortune of living in France for over two years. So, I was never "just" a tourist.
I have never experienced the following:
> In my travels in France, I have had a number of Frenchmen say to me, in
> English, "Of course I speak English but you are in my country and we will
> speak French", to which the only reasonable reply is, oui, bien sur --
> yes, of course.
No one ever made fun of how heavily accented and ungrammatical my French was. I was welcomed into people's homes and shared drinks with French wherever I went.
Bob Yates, University of Central Missouri
>>> Craig Hancock <[log in to unmask]> 12/13/09 11:28 AM >>>
Is there any evidence that "honoring other cultures in the classroom"
impedes teaching English? My experience has been directly the
opposite. Are there schools in the US that don't value English
instruction? Does anyone on list know of such a school?
We are a nation of immigrants and a nation built on separation of
church and state, but we have always been a nation in which
anti-immigrant sentiment has been used to divide us, often fanned for
selfish political purposes.
I hope we are all in favor of teaching languages other than English and
in favor of respecting those languages when students bring them to
school. It is nonsense to suggest that this is some sort of trade-off.
I hope we can conduct our discussions on the basis of what is really
happening and avoid divisive distortions.
Craig
What I hoped you'd see in the quote, regardless of its origin, is, "We
> speak English, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian,
> or any other language. If you wish to become part of our society, learn
> our language", which is a point well-taken, and relevant to English
> teachers worrying about honoring other cultures in the classroom.
>
> In my travels in France, I have had a number of Frenchmen say to me, in
> English, "Of course I speak English but you are in my country and we will
> speak French", to which the only reasonable reply is, oui, bien sur --
> yes, of course.
>
> .brad.12dec09.
>
> --- On Sat, 12/12/09, O'Sullivan, Brian P <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>
> From: O'Sullivan, Brian P <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: "We speak English ...
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Saturday, December 12, 2009, 11:32 AM
>
>
> According to
> http://www.hoax-slayer.com/howard-muslim-speech.shtml<http://www.hoax-slayer.com/howard-muslim-speech.shtml>,
> much of this was said by other officials and misattributed to Howard, and
> Rudd had nothing to do with it. This item has been going around in emails
> for a while, and in some versions the attribution was changed from Howard
> to Rudd after the change of administrations--apparently to keep the
> message "relevant," though not factual.
>
> Brian
> ________________________________
> From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
> [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brad Johnston
> [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Saturday, December 12, 2009 10:13 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: "We speak English ...
>
> (Photo of Prime Minister Rudd rejected by ATEG because all jpeg formats
> are rejected. Ask Google if you want to see what he looks like. )
>
>
> Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - Australia.
>
> Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday
> to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to
> head off potential terror attacks.
>
> Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying
> he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.
>
> "Immigrants, not Australians, must adapt. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired
> of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or
> their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have experienced a
> surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.
>
> "This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials
> and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We
> speak English, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian,
> or any other language. If you wish to become part of our society, learn
> our language!
>
> "Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right-wing,
> political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women founded this
> nation on Christian principles and this is clearly documented. It is
> certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God
> offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your
> new home, because God is part of our culture.
>
> "We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is
> that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us."
>
> "This is OUR country. OUR land, and OUR lifestyle, and we will allow you
> every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining,
> whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or
> Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great
> Australian freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.
>
> "If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here.
> You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted or leave it."
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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