We all could if we started early enough. I didn’t get a language class option until high school, and by then it was almost too late. Americans should be taught English and Spanish in school from the first day of kindergarten. But, for now that’s a pipe dream, American public schools are a complete disaster at the moment.
Why? English isn’t my first language but I can’t think of a single time that knowing my native language (not Spanish) was necessary to accomplish something useful in the USA (other than talking to my family, which isn’t relevant for the children learning a foreign language in school). I can’t think of a single time that not knowing Spanish prevented me from accomplishing something useful, either.
We all could if we started early enough. I didn’t get a language class option until high school, and by then it was almost too late. Americans should be taught English and Spanish in school from the first day of kindergarten. But, for now that’s a pipe dream, American public schools are a complete disaster at the moment.
Why? English isn’t my first language but I can’t think of a single time that knowing my native language (not Spanish) was necessary to accomplish something useful in the USA (other than talking to my family, which isn’t relevant for the children learning a foreign language in school). I can’t think of a single time that not knowing Spanish prevented me from accomplishing something useful, either.
Then you’ve never experienced the secret menu at your local taco stand.