Fight for the English Language

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Zoppi  

Eric Zoppi

Mr. Schmidt

English II, Period 2

28 April 2008

The Fight for the English Language

        When walking around Loyola, someone asks you, “¿Cómo consigo a la parada de megabus?” You obviously have no idea what you were just asked and continue on with your journey. Because many immigrants in the U.S. fail to learn English, American communities are harshly affected. Today our economy loses thousands of dollars because of this inconvenience. Immigrant-run businesses cannot understand their laws and regulations, which already leads to many difficulties. Another loss comes into effect when illegal immigrants don’t  pay taxes and yet get all the benefits of a true American citizen. Our economy is injured because of many difficulties from non-English speaking immigrants.

        After evaluating many articles and reviewing many standpoints, a majority of the experts express that there is a definite need for English to become the official language. Through Murray Weidenbaum’s article, I learned that America is run by businesses. We have great technology, a low rate of unionization for better flexibility, and great education. Many foreigners come to America to receive better education and a chance to get a good job. “Our only weakness,” Weidenbaum states, “comes from our underclass of people” (11). This “underclass” creates many problems in our schools, because they have their roots with another culture and don’t care enough to learn English. Weidenbaum states, “It is unusual for half the students in a central city high school to fail to get a diploma” (11) Because of our very competitive businesses, foreign companies are using American executives. Therefore they learn English in order to communicate. But, when immigrants come into America, “…they lack the skills to earn a living in an increasingly high-tech economy” (Weidenbaum 11).

        Mongolia has made the decision to embrace the English language and ally itself with the U.S. instead of Russia and China. The Mongolian government has called this choice a “time of maturity” which is pushing them towards learning. Prime Minister Elbegdorj is the main force behind this transformation. “Mongolia has been catapulted into the information society and English now proliferates much of the daily life” (Elbegdorj 62). The Mongolians believe that English is the key to other cultures, so they have built more English schools. There is one obstacle however…the price. By 2020, the Prime Minister believes English will be the official second language of Mongolia. “We really need to talk with foreigners and experience other cultures…we want to learn about the world and most of the news about what is happening is in English” (Elbegdorj 62).

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        There have been attempts in America to make English the official language. So far, 27 states have approved and 8 states are considering it. Also, the senate is pending the idea of adding a provision in the Immigration Bill. Wendy Kosh explains how immigrants who don’t learn English as soon as they come into America, never will. Letting immigrants in without proper English, hurts them and us. “We think we are helping them[immigrants], but we’re not” (Barleta 8A). The accusation that comes from this idea of English as an official language is not anti-immigration. In fact it encourages it. It ...

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