As the wife of an immigrant who came here from Holland in the mid-1950s; as one who has taught English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes to immigrants from Laos and Cambodia; and as one whose Anglo children were for many years the minority in their predominantly Hispanic schools, I have direct awareness and experience with the challenges faced by those who do not know English when they come to this country.
It is not necessary now for Mexican immigrants to learn English, since they can transact pretty much all business of life in Spanish. That wasn't an option for my husband's family, since there were no bilingual Dutch classes, Dutch TV programming, Dutch newspapers, Dutch driver's license exams, etc., available to them when they settled in Kansas in 1955.
My father-in-law was the only one in the family who knew English. His wife and three sons, anxious to become Americans, knew that it was essential that they learn English, and worked eagerly to do so. My mother-in-law (who is now 87) has told me that of course it was not easy for her to learn English in her 30s, but she knew that it was an important part of becoming American.
For many generations, immigrants came to America and assimilated, even though it was harder, and took longer, for the older members in the family. The rich heritage and traditions of the U.S., and the very reason we have been called a "melting pot," is that we have combined such a rich stew of nationalities into one nation. That melting pot has produced achievements and advancements which are the envy of the rest of the world.
Unfortunately, in recent years, and apparently only with Mexican immigrants, the process of assimilation into our English-speaking culture has been considered a "threat" to their culture.
My husband's family didn't lose their Dutch heritage as a result of becoming Americans; instead, it was something that they, then and now, continued to celebrate and embrace. All of their grandchildren are proud of their Dutch roots. Mom doesn't understand, and feels frustration with, the fact that so many immigrants coming here from Mexico seem to want to remain fully Mexican while taking advantage of the benefits of living in America.
The Laotion and Cambodian students I taught in the ESL classes came to this country in the late 70s. Very few of them knew any English. Learning our language, and educating themselves and their children, was a priority with them. With no bilingual classes available to their children, they learned English by immersion. And almost without exception those children excelled in school, because their parents placed a premium on learning. Those children and their parents did not lose their heritage by becoming Americans.
I read the comment by someone of Mexican descent: "...it is just as important to be bilingual as it is to know English." That comes across as very arrogant. Bilingualism is indeed a wonderful goal, and one to which we should all aspire. However, there are thousands of languages on this earth, and a person can be bilingual, or indeed multilingal, without knowing Spanish. The same person stated that a person of Mexican descent being unwilling to speak Spanish is to "ignore and deny your Mexican roots." Are my daughters denying their Dutch roots because they don't speak Dutch? Do I disparage my Scots/Irish heritage because I don't know the languages of those countries? What nonsense.
If I moved to France, or Germany, or Japan, or any other country whose predominant language was not English, I would expect to learn that country's language. If I moved to Mexico and intended to become a citizen, I would expect to learn Spanish. I would not expect (much less demand) that business, industry, media, retail, etc. provide me everything in English in order to accommodate my unwillingness to adapt.
It is the responsibility of immigrants - to any country - to learn the language of the county in which they reside and whose benefits they enjoy.
(Dallas Morning News Consejos forum 3-14-06)
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