Billingualism: EVER HEARD THIS PERSPECTIVE???!!!!!

[Someone]

Hey no1 important, at least someone is on the same page as me. When I went to church (Catholic) in Surrey last July, I saw that they offer masses in Polish and Spanish. What about French, eh?

I guess I've never been to Coquitlam (though I do know that it is east of New Westminister). French does go close to the bottom there, doesn't it?

There isn't quite that much room for 4 or 5 languages on a cereal box, juice carton, or can of vegetables, but still, there can be a try.

 

[Someone]

Hey Missile:

On behalf of Asian (and other) immigrants and their children and grandchildren everywhere, I thank you for your apparent ignorance and closed-mindedness!!!

Let me tell you something: here in California, I've come across some Chinese, East Indian, Korean, and Vietnamese people who learned Spanish as well as English. Why? Because in the communities they serve, Spanish is often as useful as English, if not more useful.

Now, as for those of us who chose British Columbia and Alberta (like my relatives). Why would those of us there ever want to learn French? Either just as a hobby, or because the federal government forces us to. What Chinese or East Indian immigrant in Vancouver or Calgary needs French??!!! Or do you think that all of Canada is 2/3 Anglophone, 1/3 Francophone and 0% Allophone just because New Brunswick is??!!!

Nothing against the French language, but it's just the principle. It just never made sense to me: in California, I see everything in Spanish, but I also hear everything in Spanish - OK, that makes sense. In Alberta and BC, I see everything in French, but I NEVER HEAR ANY! I hear a lot more Chinese!

In case you haven't figured it out, missile, for many Europeans and Asians in Alberta and BC, it's hard enough learning English!!! And yet they have another language they never use shoved down their throat! Oh, you probably forgot that these people exist. Well, sorry, but that's not the case! There's more to life outside NB.

 

[Someone]

Hey Missile:

On behalf of Asian (and other) immigrants and their children and grandchildren everywhere, I thank you for your apparent ignorance and closed-mindedness!!!

Let me tell you something: here in California, I've come across some Chinese, East Indian, Korean, and Vietnamese people who learned Spanish as well as English. Why? Because in the communities they serve, Spanish is often as useful as English, if not more useful.

Now, as for those of us who chose British Columbia and Alberta (like my relatives). Why would those of us there ever want to learn French? Either just as a hobby, or because the federal government forces us to. What Chinese or East Indian immigrant in Vancouver or Calgary needs French??!!! Or do you think that all of Canada is 2/3 Anglophone, 1/3 Francophone and 0% Allophone just because New Brunswick is??!!!

Nothing against the French language, but it's just the principle. It just never made sense to me: in California, I see everything in Spanish, but I also hear everything in Spanish - OK, that makes sense. In Alberta and BC, I see everything in French, but I NEVER HEAR ANY! I hear a lot more Chinese!

In case you haven't figured it out, missile, for many Europeans and Asians in Alberta and BC, it's hard enough learning English!!! And yet they have another language they never use shoved down their throat! Oh, you probably forgot that these people exist. Well, sorry, but that's not the case! There's more to life outside NB.

 

[Someone]

Hey Missile:

On behalf of Asian (and other) immigrants and their children and grandchildren everywhere, I thank you for your apparent ignorance and closed-mindedness!!!

Let me tell you something: here in California, I've come across some Chinese, East Indian, Korean, and Vietnamese people who learned Spanish as well as English. Why? Because in the communities they serve, Spanish is often as useful as English, if not more useful.

Now, as for those of us who chose British Columbia and Alberta (like my relatives). Why would those of us there ever want to learn French? Either just as a hobby, or because the federal government forces us to. What Chinese or East Indian immigrant in Vancouver or Calgary needs French??!!! Or do you think that all of Canada is 2/3 Anglophone, 1/3 Francophone and 0% Allophone just because New Brunswick is??!!!

Nothing against the French language, but it's just the principle. It just never made sense to me: in California, I see everything in Spanish, but I also hear everything in Spanish - OK, that makes sense. In Alberta and BC, I see everything in French, but I NEVER HEAR ANY! I hear a lot more Chinese!

In case you haven't figured it out, missile, for many Europeans and Asians in Alberta and BC, it's hard enough learning English!!! And yet they have another language they never use shoved down their throat! Oh, you probably forgot that these people exist. Well, sorry, but that's not the case! There's more to life outside NB.

 

[missile]

Any immigrant to our Country has to know what our languages are before they come here. It can't be a big surprise to them that we speak French and English,can it?Anyway, why argue with you? You obviously are one of the typical know it all Yanks that the rest of the planet hates.

 

[missile]

Any immigrant to our Country has to know what our languages are before they come here. It can't be a big surprise to them that we speak French and English,can it?Anyway, why argue with you? You obviously are one of the typical know it all Yanks that the rest of the planet hates.

 

[missile]

Any immigrant to our Country has to know what our languages are before they come here. It can't be a big surprise to them that we speak French and English,can it?Anyway, why argue with you? You obviously are one of the typical know it all Yanks that the rest of the planet hates.

 

[jackd]

Someone:

Why would those of us there ever want to learn French? Either just as a hobby, or because the federal government forces us to.

.
The federal gov. has never and will never force anyone to speak french or english or any other lnaguage anywhere in Canada. I don't know where you got this information, but tell him he is wrong.
People will want to learn a second language for many reasons:

Function and compete effectively in the global economy of today and the future
Increase job opportunities and salary potential
Develop intercultural sensitivity, increasing global understanding
Improve own language vocabulary and language proficiency
Improve critical and creative thinking skills
Enhance travel and study abroad opportunities
Enjoy great literary and musical masterpieces and films in their original language
Improve likelihood of acceptance while visiting regions located outside of their back yards.
Increase understanding of people in your own country
Open mind to other cultures and better understand it.

 

[jackd]

Someone:

Why would those of us there ever want to learn French? Either just as a hobby, or because the federal government forces us to.

.
The federal gov. has never and will never force anyone to speak french or english or any other lnaguage anywhere in Canada. I don't know where you got this information, but tell him he is wrong.
People will want to learn a second language for many reasons:

Function and compete effectively in the global economy of today and the future
Increase job opportunities and salary potential
Develop intercultural sensitivity, increasing global understanding
Improve own language vocabulary and language proficiency
Improve critical and creative thinking skills
Enhance travel and study abroad opportunities
Enjoy great literary and musical masterpieces and films in their original language
Improve likelihood of acceptance while visiting regions located outside of their back yards.
Increase understanding of people in your own country
Open mind to other cultures and better understand it.

 

[jackd]

Someone:

Why would those of us there ever want to learn French? Either just as a hobby, or because the federal government forces us to.

.
The federal gov. has never and will never force anyone to speak french or english or any other lnaguage anywhere in Canada. I don't know where you got this information, but tell him he is wrong.
People will want to learn a second language for many reasons:

Function and compete effectively in the global economy of today and the future
Increase job opportunities and salary potential
Develop intercultural sensitivity, increasing global understanding
Improve own language vocabulary and language proficiency
Improve critical and creative thinking skills
Enhance travel and study abroad opportunities
Enjoy great literary and musical masterpieces and films in their original language
Improve likelihood of acceptance while visiting regions located outside of their back yards.
Increase understanding of people in your own country
Open mind to other cultures and better understand it.

 

[no1important]

Its a world economy and if the use of the net it is now a small world. The more languages one knows the better in my opinion. Whether its french, english, spanish etc.

 

[no1important]

Its a world economy and if the use of the net it is now a small world. The more languages one knows the better in my opinion. Whether its french, english, spanish etc.

 

[no1important]

Its a world economy and if the use of the net it is now a small world. The more languages one knows the better in my opinion. Whether its french, english, spanish etc.

 

[Someone]

No, missile. I don't call myself American. I call myself Californian. And I also have ties to my ancestral country, the Philippines. So, I belong to more than just one place. Which is more than you'll ever have being in just one little cubby hole. Unlike you, I realize that there are more countries in the world than just Canada and US. Why? See above.

One of those "know it all Yanks"! How pathetic!!! If that's the only thing you can say, shows how limited your ability to think and reason is!

 

[Someone]

No, missile. I don't call myself American. I call myself Californian. And I also have ties to my ancestral country, the Philippines. So, I belong to more than just one place. Which is more than you'll ever have being in just one little cubby hole. Unlike you, I realize that there are more countries in the world than just Canada and US. Why? See above.

One of those "know it all Yanks"! How pathetic!!! If that's the only thing you can say, shows how limited your ability to think and reason is!

 

[Someone]

No, missile. I don't call myself American. I call myself Californian. And I also have ties to my ancestral country, the Philippines. So, I belong to more than just one place. Which is more than you'll ever have being in just one little cubby hole. Unlike you, I realize that there are more countries in the world than just Canada and US. Why? See above.

One of those "know it all Yanks"! How pathetic!!! If that's the only thing you can say, shows how limited your ability to think and reason is!

 

[Someone]

Well JackD, I do agree that knowing multiple languages is a great thing. I guess here's my point on comparison.

While Canada focuses on language, the USA tends to focus on race. Stupid as that is, too. The USA has tended to think in terms of "two solitudes" also: white and black. But here in California, Latin Americans (who are mostly Mexican) and Asians both outnumber blacks. So when the media talks about race being a "white and black" issue, Hispanics and Asians get quite irritated. Especially considering that they are more numerous than the blacks. The only difference being that blacks have more social grievances, hence you will hear more from them.

This is not to be racist, by the way, but just to state facts.

Likewise, in Canada, English and French have been the 2 historic solitudes. But in modern-day British Columbia or Alberta, that just doesn't seem to have anymore bearing than the "white-black only" issue has in California. I have a feeling that my relatives in both provinces don't fully grasp the billingual concept since they never deal with French language or Francophones.

Like I've said before, Chinese seems to be more important in Canada these days - why not give them official status? In fact, Canada has already reached the point where if you exclude Quebec (and NB as well), Chinese will be more common than French. I just don't know how many people in Canada recognize that. Or care. Which seems just as unfair as the situation I spoke of here in California.

 

[Someone]

Well JackD, I do agree that knowing multiple languages is a great thing. I guess here's my point on comparison.

While Canada focuses on language, the USA tends to focus on race. Stupid as that is, too. The USA has tended to think in terms of "two solitudes" also: white and black. But here in California, Latin Americans (who are mostly Mexican) and Asians both outnumber blacks. So when the media talks about race being a "white and black" issue, Hispanics and Asians get quite irritated. Especially considering that they are more numerous than the blacks. The only difference being that blacks have more social grievances, hence you will hear more from them.

This is not to be racist, by the way, but just to state facts.

Likewise, in Canada, English and French have been the 2 historic solitudes. But in modern-day British Columbia or Alberta, that just doesn't seem to have anymore bearing than the "white-black only" issue has in California. I have a feeling that my relatives in both provinces don't fully grasp the billingual concept since they never deal with French language or Francophones.

Like I've said before, Chinese seems to be more important in Canada these days - why not give them official status? In fact, Canada has already reached the point where if you exclude Quebec (and NB as well), Chinese will be more common than French. I just don't know how many people in Canada recognize that. Or care. Which seems just as unfair as the situation I spoke of here in California.

 

[Someone]

Well JackD, I do agree that knowing multiple languages is a great thing. I guess here's my point on comparison.

While Canada focuses on language, the USA tends to focus on race. Stupid as that is, too. The USA has tended to think in terms of "two solitudes" also: white and black. But here in California, Latin Americans (who are mostly Mexican) and Asians both outnumber blacks. So when the media talks about race being a "white and black" issue, Hispanics and Asians get quite irritated. Especially considering that they are more numerous than the blacks. The only difference being that blacks have more social grievances, hence you will hear more from them.

This is not to be racist, by the way, but just to state facts.

Likewise, in Canada, English and French have been the 2 historic solitudes. But in modern-day British Columbia or Alberta, that just doesn't seem to have anymore bearing than the "white-black only" issue has in California. I have a feeling that my relatives in both provinces don't fully grasp the billingual concept since they never deal with French language or Francophones.

Like I've said before, Chinese seems to be more important in Canada these days - why not give them official status? In fact, Canada has already reached the point where if you exclude Quebec (and NB as well), Chinese will be more common than French. I just don't know how many people in Canada recognize that. Or care. Which seems just as unfair as the situation I spoke of here in California.

 

[Someone]

I'm with you, no1importan

I do agree, though! The more languages, the better. That's why I speak English, Spanish, Tagalog (Filipino) and some French. OK, a little bit of Italian also. So much for the ignorant "know it all yank" theory that others have thrown.

And I'm sure that you, living in BC, can imagine that Chinese is suited to obtain official status in Canada within decades. Not that it is guaranteed, but it isn't too far-fetched.

And when that happens, maybe I'll learn Mandarin and Cantonese, too (although that may be a bit harder with the new character set).