In my high school French, Spanish, and German were offered and many people resented taking Spanish in middle school and avoided it in high school because it wasn't "as classy" as the others.
Is this a sign of racism? Someone today told me to take Italian in Uni, "anything but basic ass Spanish", and stated a disdain towards taking the language since Spanish isn't a foreign language anymore, but is it really because they view French/German/Italian as spoken mostly in Europe by white people and Spanish is viewed as low brow because of a connotation w/ PoC in the US?
Has anyone else experienced similar statements to those I mention, feel there's a connection, or do y'all disagree?
Spanish was the most popular language offered at my high school. French, Korean, and SL were paid dust. I guess it depends on location, seeing how in SoCal, there are a ton more Latinos who would probably choose Spanish over the others. Although, I do agree to an extent that people view it as a cheap language.
How about learning many languages you speak to more people?
Americans SHOULD learn Spanish to some degree since they have so many immigrants.
I mean I speak English/French/Italian/Spanish and its a blessing, I could go and speak with anyone!
It's a shame people are so closed minded about this, and lets all remember that SPAIN still uses Spanish so it is foreign lmao
In high school i took both French and Spanish, however, when I went to college i started taking Chinese. I would not call Spanish a "cheap" language. I think it will be useful to know how to speak it considering it is projected that soon America will have a high Spanish speaking population.
If you plan on going to University, take whatever language course will give you an advantage in your career path.
It's partly because spanish is the most obvious and practical second language to have, and partly due to ignorance, xenophobia, and anti-Hispanic/Latino racism.
In my school it's the most taken. We have all four levels of spanish and an extra advanced one which I'm taking next year (my junior year). We also have the same in German and only levels 1 and 2 of French, since no one takes it. I think people take it at my school because it's just easier to learn than German (and I would know, I can speak German, Spanish, Portuguese, English, and some French, and Spanish was by far the easiest to learn)
Mexicans are typically seen in a negative light in the US (the illegal immigrant stereotype), and they speak Spanish, so some people associate the language with that. Although I will say in my high school Spanish was infinitely more popular then French, I took French and barely anybody else did, I think 2/3 of the school took Spanish even though we're closer to french speaking places (French Canada)
No. It's a great language, but you need to understand Spanish often has a bad rap in America because the people who primarily speak in America are usually low-income, uneducated Mexican immigrants who are usually perceived to be "hopping the border" and feeding off of American tax dollars.
And no offense, but Spanish is such a BEAUTIFUL language when Spaniards speak it, but some Mexicans really make it sound...well...not so beautiful.
Maybe it's something only US citizens think. Cause in my Uni there are tons of french, swedish, german and aussie exchange students who have told they love spanish and my country of course.
Spanish is very common now. Learning french & Italian is pretty useless here. Only the people who want to feel cooler than everyone else choose to learn random languages that aren't used much in the US.
In many parts of the US, you get paid more for speaking English and spanish.
Spanish was the most popular language offered at my high school. French, Korean, and SL were paid dust. I guess it depends on location, seeing how in SoCal, there are a ton more Latinos who would probably choose Spanish over the others. Although, I do agree to an extent that people view it as a cheap language.
in the world for this post.