http://www.cactuslanguagetraining.com/blog/2008/07/did-obama-get-it-right-or-not/ We look at learning another language around the world Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:49:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 http://www.cactuslanguagetraining.com/blog/2008/07/did-obama-get-it-right-or-not/#comment-119 Russell Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:55:06 +0000 http://www.cactuslanguagetraining.com/blog/?p=106#comment-119 Thanks Augusta, I've seen several of the states have been 'declaring' English as their official language I wonder if it was in response to that? http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/19/washington/19immig.html People should not close themselves down to languages but I understand when governments do not what to produce work in lots of languages. Welsh is Wales will now take lots of money away from real work as the companies have to write everything twice. Thanks Augusta,
I’ve seen several of the states have been ‘declaring’ English as their official language I wonder if it was in response to that?
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/19/washington/19immig.html
People should not close themselves down to languages but I understand when governments do not what to produce work in lots of languages. Welsh is Wales will now take lots of money away from real work as the companies have to write everything twice.

]]> http://www.cactuslanguagetraining.com/blog/2008/07/did-obama-get-it-right-or-not/#comment-117 Augusta Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:14:46 +0000 http://www.cactuslanguagetraining.com/blog/?p=106#comment-117 Hi Russell, and thanks for the comments. Many people have misconstrued Obama's comments, to infer that Spanish was the only language he was promoting for study. What he really recommended was that everyone should learn another language, regardless of which one they choose, as it opens doors both professionally and in personal situations. While I don't know how exactly he was planning to increase the numbers of language learners, I think it's more than likely that there would not be public funding for this, and given the response to his comments many in the US would be against his promoting another language as there is strong feeling here that 'English is enough'. Spanish is seen as the logical choice due to the large number of native Spanish speakers who now live and work in the USA, but here in New York we have a large number of students studying German, Arabic and French as well as other languages, so it seems that anything goes. Hi Russell, and thanks for the comments.
Many people have misconstrued Obama’s comments, to infer that Spanish was the only language he was promoting for study. What he really recommended was that everyone should learn another language, regardless of which one they choose, as it opens doors both professionally and in personal situations.
While I don’t know how exactly he was planning to increase the numbers of language learners, I think it’s more than likely that there would not be public funding for this, and given the response to his comments many in the US would be against his promoting another language as there is strong feeling here that ‘English is enough’.
Spanish is seen as the logical choice due to the large number of native Spanish speakers who now live and work in the USA, but here in New York we have a large number of students studying German, Arabic and French as well as other languages, so it seems that anything goes.

]]> http://www.cactuslanguagetraining.com/blog/2008/07/did-obama-get-it-right-or-not/#comment-114 Russell Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:24:11 +0000 http://www.cactuslanguagetraining.com/blog/?p=106#comment-114 I have only seen bits of this story, as I live in the UK, did Obama offer free or state courses to students or was he just saying people should learn Spanish too? I think it would be good if Americans got a bit more of a world view by learning languages. English people should do the same. As it helps people compete for jobs and travel more. I have only seen bits of this story, as I live in the UK, did Obama offer free or state courses to students or was he just saying people should learn Spanish too?
I think it would be good if Americans got a bit more of a world view by learning languages. English people should do the same. As it helps people compete for jobs and travel more.

]]> http://www.cactuslanguagetraining.com/blog/2008/07/did-obama-get-it-right-or-not/#comment-112 Jamie Holts Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:57:16 +0000 http://www.cactuslanguagetraining.com/blog/?p=106#comment-112 Great Blog post. I am going to bookmark and read more often. I love the Blog template Great Blog post. I am going to bookmark and read more often. I love the Blog template

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