Bilingualism...good or bad?

[tstas114]

What is your opinion of bilingualism?  Should a 2nd language be required in all schools for our children?  How many languages can you speak, fluently or conversationally? 

[kyddkai]

I don't see anything wrong with knowing two or more languages.. If anything, it's beneficial.
I wouldn't say it should be required, but strongly recommended. I can speak only two

[golotomer]

I think the US is lacking in the ability to speak more than one language.  Most other countries make it a requirement to learn English in addition to their native tongue and often people in Europe are able to speak two or more additional languages.  So yes...I think it should be mandatory for all children to learn a second language and probably Spanish would be the top choice. 

[carebearmafia]

Yeah I think I would be a good idea. Virtually everywhere else knows 2 languages or more.
I myself happen to know only English and Spanish. English was my first language though.

[jcribb16]

I think the US is lacking in the ability to speak more than one language.  Most other countries make it a requirement to learn English in addition to their native tongue and often people in Europe are able to speak two or more additional languages.  So yes...I think it should be mandatory for all children to learn a second language and probably Spanish would be the top choice. 

What you said was the same I wanted to say - you said it better than I could have!!

[JessieKateRose]

I think it should be highly encouraged but not required. Not everyone will find use for a second language.

[articx]

Bilingualism is a good thing, and agree it should not be required but strongly recommended but there will be a problem of language availability. Some High Schools may have Spanish and French, but how about Hungarian or Japanese? Students should be able to learn the language they are interested in. Schools could probably have a program that lets them study at another school. If the High School I graduated from offered the language I wanted to learn, I would of taken that class.

[anguyen21]

I think the US is lacking in the ability to speak more than one language.  Most other countries make it a requirement to learn English in addition to their native tongue and often people in Europe are able to speak two or more additional languages.  So yes...I think it should be mandatory for all children to learn a second language and probably Spanish would be the top choice. 

Adding on to this I think we should start these kids all the way into elementary so that the learning experience will actually stick.  How many of us took a language in high school, but still remember anything?

Also, I think knowing another language would be more useful than say... calculus, but we still learn it even though a majority of us will never use it.

[monnee]

It's good to learn another language, but I don't think it should be required in all schools because learning english for some children is already hard enough.

[bschumacher]

I think it's important to be fluent in at least two languages, especially if the second language is that of a trading partner. Also, people with good computer skills are  finding jobs in other countries.