In 1969, my family and I had the good fortune of working and living -- with our older daughter then attending kindergarten and learning Spanish better than her parents did -- in Puerto Rico for that entire year. More recently, I lived in Ukraine for more than two years (1999-2001) learning Russian, which was spoken more than Ukrainian in Yalta and Kherson, where I served. One source of friction in Austin, as well as elsewhere throughout the United States is hearing so many foreign languages, especially Spanish, being spoken among some U.S. citizens, many legal immigrants and especially illegal immigrants. Those who don't speak those languages feel left out and often are frightened by hearing conversations that we don't understand. As a consequence, over the past few decades, there has been a movement developing known as English Only -- which, at minimum, advocates that all U.S. citizens be required to be able to speak fluent English. English Only also advocates that all U.S. documents issued by the government be written only in English and not be translated.
Ukraine RPCV Chandler Harrison Stevens writes: 'English Plus' best for commerce, safety
'English Plus' best for commerce, safety
5/5/2009 8:55:05 AM
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By Chandler Harrison Stevens
Today is Cinco de Mayo -- meaning, in English, the "5th of May." In 1862 it was particularly significant because it was the last time an army (the French) invaded the Americas.
While the Cinco de Mayo defeat of France took place in Mexico, it is still significant here in the U.S.
Mexico is our closest ally other than, of course, Canada. We are all a part of "The Americas" and, in particular, of North America. While there are mixed feelings about NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, there is no denying that in this age of globalization, we are much closer than ever to our neighbors both to the north and to the south.
There is also no denying that here in Austin, also known as SpamTownUSA, that our meatpacking economy would probably not have survived had it not been for the influx of Hispanic immigrants during the two globalizing decades, the nineties and the aughts.
In 1969, my family and I had the good fortune of working and living -- with our older daughter then attending kindergarten and learning Spanish better than her parents did -- in Puerto Rico for that entire year. More recently, I lived in Ukraine for more than two years (1999-2001) learning Russian, which was spoken more than Ukrainian in Yalta and Kherson, where I served.
One source of friction in Austin, as well as elsewhere throughout the United States is hearing so many foreign languages, especially Spanish, being spoken among some U.S. citizens, many legal immigrants and especially illegal immigrants. Those who don't speak those languages feel left out and often are frightened by hearing conversations that we don't understand.
As a consequence, over the past few decades, there has been a movement developing known as English Only -- which, at minimum, advocates that all U.S. citizens be required to be able to speak fluent English. English Only also advocates that all U.S. documents issued by the government be written only in English and not be translated.
Suppose that were the case elsewhere in the world, where governments now do go to the expense of translating many regulations, etc., into English. Suppose that most U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers were neither learning languages of Countries-Of-Service, nor Teaching English as a Foreign Language, nor organizing and participating in English Clubs with enthusiastic native citizens. In that case, I expect that the world would be less safe and less prosperous.
In this age of economic globalization, English, with the help of the Peace Corps, is becoming the language of choice, particularly in international commercial operations.
I taught business courses in Ukraine, strictly in English. The students seemed to appreciate my speaking to them some in Russian outside of class. But the faculty there insisted that my classes be taught only in English, since understanding and speaking English was an important part of the education that these future Ukrainian business people needed.
When I lived in Puerto Rico 40 years ago, I represented Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Republican and New Progressive Party Gov. Luise Ferre's staff as his science adviser. English Only, if it were a nationwide policy of the United States, would not allow Puerto Rico to become the United States' 51st State, which Gov. Ferre favored. Puerto Rico now has two official languages, Spanish and English.
The best policy for the entire United States, as well as for the world, is not English Only but rather English Plus -- meaning everyone between 7 and 70 years of age should study at least two languages, one of which would be, of course, English. This is already more or less a policy within the Peace Corps.
How this English Plus policy might be implemented within the United States remains to be seen. At minimum, all military personnel should be required to learn a language of whatever country to which they are most likely to be deployed.
Otherwise, government money could subsidize anyone learning a second language of their own choosing. Languages can now be learned on the Internet, which would be cheaper than other expenses we already incur by not having such a policy. An English Plus policy might help win "the war on terror" and counter radical jihad in the Middle East.
Chandler Harrison Stevens, a retired college professor, formerly served as independent in the Massachusetts legislature, served in the Peace Corps and owned his owner business.
