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2009-01-24T21:28:00.001-08:00

Rome (Traduzione approssimativa in italiano alla fine)

We arrived in Rome in the evening of June 16 after a long but very nice flight on Air New Zealand. Very good food, lots of movies to choose from, and great service. We stayed at a hotel in Campo dei Fiori, a few blocks from the Tiber and Trastevere. Both Trastevere and Campo dei Fiori have a reputation for informality but also for being full of life. That’s true. The second day we visited the Bocca della Verità. Legend is that if you tell a lie the Bocca will eat your hand. In one of the photos I look like I must have told a small one. Later we went to the Coliseum and the Roman Forum. The four-story structure could accommodate 50,000 spectators who would attend to watch gladiators fights and other shows. Coliseum comes from the colossal statute, which represented Nero outside the Coliseum. The Forum was the original piazza. It’s now rubble but during Roman times it was the center of political, economic, cultural, and social life. The same kind of life visible in today’s Italian piazza was visible in the Forum. This was the day for historical Rome. It was hot but we walked a lot. We had dinner near Campo dei Fiori. The third day we visited the Vatican. It’s a tiny country, which became official in 1929 when Mussolini and the Pope signed the agreement. Inside Saint Peter’s Basilica. The inside is impressive and its beauty is supposed to remind people of being close to God. Michelangelo’s Pietà, carved when the sculptor was only 24, is one of the major sights. We went up to the very peak of the Saint Peter’s Dome. The first level can be reached via elevator (highly recommended). The very top requires climbing lots of stairs and narrow path. Not sure I’d recommend it if someone is claustrophobic. Only one person fits in the way and if someone starts feeling bad… In any case, the view is beautiful but I am sure the Pope must have a secret elevator, which we were not allowed to use! Later we went to the Vatican Museum to see the Sistine Chapel (Reservations ahead of time were a great idea since we avoided the long line). Michelangelo was not simply a great artist but also in great physical shape since he painted the Sistine Chapel standing on scaffolding. He also did all the painting himself unlike other artists such as Raphael who did the broad outlines and then let assistants do the actual painting. His assistants put up enough plaster for the day and then he painted the fresco (painting on fresh plaster, unlike a mural where the cement is dry). The third day was visiting Piazzas. We did Piazza Navona and the nearby Pantheon. The area is very nice and could also be a great section of the city to stay in. The Italian Senate chamber is nearby (Palazzo Madama). We later la Fontana di Trevi and eventually Piazza di Spagna. The name comes from the fact that the Spanish embassy used to be located in the area. Around Piazza di Spagna we window-shopped on Via Condotti, which is the part that interested Lucia the most. Lucia did buy something though at Rinascente Department Store where prices are “reasonable.” Next stop Calabria.

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Siamo arrivati a Roma la sera del 16 giugno dopo un volo lungo ma molto piacevole su Air New Zealand. Cibo molto buono, scelta di film e servizio eccellenti. Prima notte a Roma in un albergo nella zona di Campo dei Fiori, alcuni isolati dal Tevere e da Trastevere. Sia Campo dei Fiori che Trastevere hanno una reputazione per familiarità ma anche per essere pieni di vita. Tutto vero. Il secondo giorno abbiamo visitato la Bocca delle Verità. La leggenda è che se dite una bugia la Bocca vi mangerà la mano. In una delle foto ne avrò detta una piccolina e la mia mano sembra essere stata divorata. Poi siamo andati al Colosseo e al Foro Romano. I quattro piani del Colosseo potevano accomodare 50.000 spettatori che assistevano a duelli di gladiatori ed altri spettacoli. Il termine Colosseo viene dalla statua colossale che raffigurava Nerone fuori del Colosseo. Il Foro era la piazza originale. Ora rimangono rovine ma durante il periodo romano era il centro della vita politica, economica, culturale e sociale della città e dell’impero. Lo stesso genere di vita visibile nelle piazze moderne italiane si può immaginare facilmente nel Foro eccetto per la presenza di toghe e mancanza di blue jeans e termini inglesi! Faceva caldo ma abbiamo camminato molto. Il terzo giorno abbiamo visitato il Vaticano. Ufficialmente è una piccolissima nazione divenuta ufficiale nel 1929 quando Mussolini ed il Papa hanno firmato l'accordo. La Basilica di San Pietro. La parte interna è impressionante e la relativa bellezza intende ricordare a tutti di essere vicini a Dio. La Pietà di Michelangelo, scolpita quando lo scultore aveva soltanto 24 anni, è uno dei punti principali. Siamo saliti in cima alla cupola di San Pietro. Il primo livello può essere raggiunto tramite ascensore (molto raccomandato). La parte superiore richiede salire moltissimi scalini in un percorso strettissimo a fila indiana. Non lo suggerirei ai claustrofobi. Il percorso è a senso unico e se qualcuno comincia a sentirsi male… Comunque, la vista è bella ma sono sicuro che il Papa deve avere un ascensore segreto, che a noi non è stato permesso di utilizzare! Poi siamo andati al Museo Vaticano per vedere la Cappella Sistina, anche se ci sono tante altre opere d’arte che ci si potrebbero passare diverse giornate (prenotazioni anticipate per l’ingresso così si evita la lunghissima fila). Michelangelo non era semplicemente un grande artista ma anche in buonissima forma fisica poiché ha dipinto la Cappella di Sistina in piedi sul ponteggio. Inoltre ha fatto tutta la pittura da se stesso a differenza di altri artisti come Raffaello che facevano solo un abbozzo e poi lasciavano ai loro assistenti il lavoro di completare l’opera. Gli assistenti di Michelangelo intonacavano solo un pezzo per il giorno e poi Michelangelo completava l'affresco (pittura sull'intonaco fresco, diverso da un murale in cui il cemento è asciutto). Il terzo giorno abbiamo visitato le piazze, cominciando con Piazza Navona ed il Panteon lì vicino. La zona è molto piacevole e potrebbe anche essere una grande sezione della città da stare per un prossimo viaggio. La sede del Senato Italiano è vicino Piazza Navona (Palazzo Madama). Poi siamo andati alla Fontana di Trevi e finalmente a Piazza di Spagna. Il nome viene dal fatto che l'ambasciata spagnola era situata nella zona. Intorno a Piazza di Spagna abbiamo guardato le vetrine dei più eleganti negozi di Roma (Via Condotti) che è la parte che ha interessato Lucia di più. Lucia ha comprato qualcosa ma solo al grande magazzino La Rinascente dove i prezzi sono “ragionevoli”. La prossima tappa: Calabria.

Learning Languages Online

2008-08-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

Learning Languages Online

Can you learn a language online? When you think of a language, you think of oral skills but of course language learning requires speaking, understanding, reading, writing and culture. There is little concern about learning reading and writing in an online environment. It’s the oral part that sometimes causes concern and may give second thoughts to taking a language class online. Yet, it’s not just possible to learn the oral aspect online; indeed for some people it can work even better than in a regular classroom. Oral work is handled in a number of ways in an online situation. To begin with, audio is available at the site accompanying the textbook. This is the same audio one listens with a CD or an audiocassette. In many ways it’s better because one can easily download it and put on an I-pod or similar type of player and listen to it at leisure in many places. Oral work is also supplemented by special recordings made by the instructor. These recordings can also be added to an I-pod. Of course, a good online class also has opportunities to meet with the instructor for practice sessions in person and tutors. Some of these practice sessions can also be handled on the phone and via computer by means of web cams. Online language learning is not for everyone, but for many people it can work very well. It requires discipline and dedication. Try it!

Italian Classes

2007-06-10T16:34:00.000-07:00

Allan Hancock College offers Elementary and Intermediate Italian online. Italian 101 online (Elementary Italian), Italian 102 online (Elementary Italian), Italian 103 online (Intermediate Italian), and Italian 104 online (Intermediate Italian). These Italian courses online have been offered for the past several years. More information is found below.

ITALIAN CLASSES AT ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE-FALL 2007

7 classes available at Allan Hancock College

*Italian 101, Elementary Italian, Tuesdays & Thursdays 10:00-12:30 (No prerequisite)
*Italian 101, Elementary Italian, Mondays & Wednesdays 4:0-6:30 p.m. (No prerequisite)
*Italian 101 Online, Elementary Italian, Online Course (No prerequisite)
*Italian 110, Italian Conversation, Monday 1:00-3:00 (Prerequisite: One semester of Italian or equivalent).
*Italian 102 Online, Elementary Italian, Online Course (Prerequisite: One semester of Italian or equivalent)
*Italian 103 Online, Intermediate Italian, Online Course (Prerequisite: two semesters of Italian or equivalent).
*Italian 104 Online (Prerequisite: three semesters of Italian or equivalent).
Register on the Web or in person. Click HERE for information.

Classes begin August 20, 2007

Questions? Scroll down and read the FAQ. If you still have questions, call Domenico Maceri, PhD, (805) 922-6966 ext. 3422 OR e-mail dmaceri@hancockcollege.edu

FAQ

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS: Italian 101 and Italian 102 are an introduction to the language. Italian 110 focuses on the oral aspect of the language and the expansion of vocabulary. Italian 103 & 104(Intermediate Italian) reviews the grammatical structure introduced in 101 and 102, expands vocabulary, offers practice in writing. All courses include aspects of Italian culture.
PREREQUISITES: Italian 101- NONE; Italian 102- ITALIAN 101 OR THE EQUIVALENT; ITALIAN 110: ITALIAN 101 OR THE EQUIVALENT: Italian 103- ITALIAN 102 OR THE EQUIVALENT. Italian 104- ITALIAN 103 OR THE EQUIVALENT.
NUMBER OF UNITS: Italian 101, Italian 102, and Italian 103 are five semester units; Italian 110 is two semester units.
TEXTBOOKS:
Italian 101 & Italian 102: Prego! by Graziana Lazzarino et al., sixth edition and Laboratory Manual to Accompany Prego!, Lazzarino et. al, sixth edition, 2004. Grammar Workbook for Introductory Italian, by Domenico Maceri, 2006.
Italian 110: Italian Conversation: Points of Departure, Paolozzi.
Italian 103 & 104 (Intermediate Italian): Da capo, 5th edition, Lazzarino & Moneti and Lab Manual to Accompany Da Capo, fifth edition, Lazzarino & Moneti, 2003.
USED BOOKS: You may buy used or new books. However, make sure that you get the right edition. The registration code in the inside cover of Prego! is no longer necessary to use the web site.
BUYING TEXTBOOKS: Books are available through the Allan Hancock College Bookstore (on site or online) as well as through other outlets (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.).
MATERIAL TO BE COVERED: Italian 101: We will cover the first half of the material in your textbook, workbook, and your lab manual. The second half of your textbook, workbook, and your lab manual will be covered in Italian 102. Italian 110: We will cover fifteen lesson included in the textbook.
Italian 103: We will cover the first half of the textbook and the Lab Manual. Italian 104:We will cover the second half of the textbook and the Lab Manual.
TRANSFERING CREDITS TO FOUR-YEAR C0LLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES: Italian 101, Italian 102, Italian 103, and Italian 104 credits transfer and articulate to four-year colleges and universities. Italian 110 credits transfer as elective units. Check with a counselor at Allan Hancock College and/or with the institution you plan to transfer the credits to make sure.
LANGUAGE LAB: The Language Lab at the Santa Maria Campus is a useful resource. It includes Italian language television (RAI international) as well as Internet access. Staff members may be able to help you learn Italian. A list of activities and resources is available HERE . Click on Italian Lab. The Lab can also duplicate the audio which accompanies the Lab Manual free of charge. You will need to provide blank CDs.
CREDIT/NO CREDIT: Courses are available for letter grades (A,B, C, D, F) or a Credit/No Credit basis. Credit/No Credit means that instead of getting a letter grade on your transcript, you will get CR (credit) or NC (no credit). You will get CR if you receive a grade of C or higher, NC for a grade of D or F.
TUTORING: You can meet with an Italian tutor in the Tutorial Center at the Santa Maria Campus to get extra oral or written practice. To schedule a session with a tutor, call Donna Bishop at 922-6966 ext. 3767 or e-mail her at dbishop@hancockcollege.edu. Be SURE you talk to Donna. Tutoring is free of charge.
FEES: Current fees are $20 per unit for California residents. Non California residents and international students need to also pay $173 per unit (Italian 101, 102, 103, and 104 are five units each. Italian 110 is two units). Other minor fees may apply. See the latest information on fees in the schedule of classes at the Allan Hancock College web site.
FINANCIAL AID: Financial aid is available in the Financial Aid Office.
ACCREDITATION: Allan Hancock College is fully accredited.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: High school students may qualify to take classes at Allan Hancock College. Students attending high schools which do not offer Italian may take Italian at Allan Hancock College. Credits earned may be transferred to high schools and can also be "banked" for college or university degrees.

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INFORMATION FOR ONLINE COURSES

COURSES OFFERED ONLINE: Italian 101 Online (Elementary 1) , Italian 102 Online (Elementary 2), Italian 103 & 104 Online (Intermediate Italian).
FINAL EXAMS: The final exam includes a written and an oral part. The exam will be held at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. For those students living outside of the area, arrangements can be made to take the exam elsewhere.
PROCTORS: Students not able to come to Santa Maria for the final exams (written and oral) can arrange to have the final proctored near their place of residence. Proctors typically are educators (high school teachers or college professors), librarians, officials at a college testing center, military officers, consular officers, etc. Proctors do not need to know Italian. Contact the instructor for more information about arranging a proctor.
ATTENDANCE: No class attendance is required, but there will many opportunities to communicate with the instructor. E-mail communication, instant messaging, and phone conversation will be used to carry out instruction. For those students living near the Santa Maria Campus, face-to-face meetings can be arranged. Contact the instructor for more information.

Italian language classes for kids

Italian language classes for (5fth through 9th grade) at Cuesta College in San Luis obispo. Summer 2007. Registration going on now. For more information go to Cuesta College

Italian conversation classesItalian conversation classes at Cal Poly this summer. Registration going on now. For more information go to Cal Poly

Americans Study Abroad

2007-01-07T16:21:00.000-08:00

American college students are studying abroad in increasing numbers. Data from 2004-05 reveals that Britain is the number one choice (32,071 students), followed by Italy (24,858), and Spain (20,806). Complete list is available HERE.

Buon Natale nel Mondo

2006-12-22T14:27:00.000-08:00

English Merry Christmas ; Happy Christmas
Italian buon Natale
Spanish feliz Navidad ; feliz Pascua
French joyeux Noël
German frohe Weihnachten
Russian с Рождеством
Arabic ميلاد مجيد
Chinese 圣诞快乐
Afrikaans geseënde Kersfees
Albanian gëzuar Krishtlindjet
Aragones goyoso Nadal ; goyosa Nabidá
Aymara suma navidad
Basque Eguberri on
Brazilian Portuguese feliz Natal
Bresciano bu Nedal
Breton Nedeleg Laouen
Bulgarian Честита Коледа
Byelorussian З Калядамi
Calabrese buon natali
Caló bounnez funtandal
Catalan bon Nadal
Cornish Nadelek Lowen
Croatian sretan božić
Czech veselé Vánoce
Danish glædelig Jul
Dutch prettige Kerstdagen
Esperanto feliĉan Kristnaskon
Estonian häid jõule
Finnish hyvää joulua
Flemish vrolijke Kerst
Furlan bon Nadâl
Galician bo Nadal
Greek καλά Χριστούγεννα
Hebrew חג מולד שמח
Hindi क्रिसमस मंगलमय हो
Hungarian Kellemes Karácsonyi Ünnepeket
Icelandic gleðileg jól
Indonesian hari Natal
Irish Nollaig Shona
Japanese クリスマスおめでとう
Korean 즐거운 성탄, 성탄 축하
Latin Natale hilare
Latvian priecîgus Ziemassvçtkus
Leonese Bon Nadal
Lithuanian su Šventom Kalėdom
Malagasy tratrin'ny Krismasy
Maltese il-milied it-Tajjeb
Manx Nollick Ghennal
Maasai enchipai e kirismas
Mokshan Roshtuva marxta
Mudnés bòun Nadèl
Napulitano felice natale
Norwegian god Jul
Papiamentu bon Pasku
Persian کريسمس مبارک
Polish Wesołych Świąt Bożego Narodzenia
Portuguese feliz Natal
Punjabi ਕਰਿਸਸ ਖੁਸ਼ਿਯਾੰਵਾਲਾ ਹੋਵੇ
Quechua paqariku atawsami
Rapanui here noere
Romagnolo bon Nadél
Romanian Crăciun fericit
Serbian срећан Божић
Slovak vesele Vianoce
Slovenian srečen Božič
Swahili heri kwa sikukuu ya Noeli
Swedish god Jul
Tagalog maligayang pasko
Traditional Chinese 耶誕快樂
Triestino bon Nadal ; bone feste
Turkish Mutlu Noeller
Ukrainian З Рiздвом Христовим
Valencian bon nadal
Venetian bon Nadal
Welsh Nadolig Llawen

European Babel?

2006-12-21T08:05:00.000-08:00

New year, new members, new languages, and more translation and interpretation. The number of official languages at the European Union will rise to 23. The newest languages are Irish, Bulgarian, and Rumanian. Translators and interpreters are being hired to meet the demand created by these new languages.

Speak Irish?

2006-12-16T20:08:00.000-08:00

As of January 1, 2007 Irish (Gaelic) is going to be the 21st official working language of the European Union. Officials are working furiously to create enough translators and interpreters to accommodate the needs. Ireland itself is planning to become a bilingual country. The government will launch a policy with 13 key objectives for the Irish language in the near future.

Bianco Natale: Mina

2006-12-08T18:16:00.000-08:00

Video di Mina che canta Bianco Natale (White Cristmas).

Tongue-Tied British?

2006-12-03T15:44:00.000-08:00

British kids are happy to be tongue-tied. As soon as they had a chance to drop French, teenagers at a school in Manchester were very happy to do so. Only 15 out of 100 signed up for French. Interest in German was even worse and the school decided not to offer it at all. “Languages are hard," according to some British students. Of course, math is just as hard. Dropping math also as soon as they can? British adults don’t do much better at languages when compared to other Europeans. Out of the 25 European Union countries the UK only beats Hungary in the proportion of its citizens able to have a conversation in a second language. A study by the European Commission showed that 30 per cent of people in the UK were able to do this, compared to 91 per cent in the Netherlands, 88 per cent in Denmark, 62 per cent in Germany and 45 per cent in France.

And Not Tongue-Tied Tuscans
97% of students in Tuscany (the people residing in the region around Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, etc.) speak English, according to a study by the Crusca academy.

Tongue-Tied Italians

2006-11-28T20:23:00.000-08:00

Only one in three Italians can speak a foreign language. More than half of the Italian population has no interest in learning a foreign language. Of those who speak a foreign language, English is the most popular (53%), followed by French (37%), German (4%), and Spanish (2.8%).

Foreign Languages Online?

2006-11-12T05:23:00.000-08:00

Spanish and French are the most widely available foreign languages in American high schools. Some also teach German and smaller numbers even Italian and Latin. Yet, high school students in California can take a language not offered at their high school at their local community college. Some offer them online. Allan Hancock College and San Francisco City College teach Italian online and other schools will probably follow suit. More info is available at the site of the California Virtual University.

Swiss Languages: Official and Less

2006-09-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

Switzerland has four official languages, but some are less official than others. Romansh is a case in point. A Latin-based language spoken by a tiny minority of the Swiss population, Romansh is one of Switzerland's four national languages but it remains with little representation in the country. It receives federal support and is spoken in the southeastern canton of Graubünden but in the rest of the country few people know it. For federal administrative purposes Romansh is used alongside of German, Italian, and French in Switzerland. Materials for federal elections are available in Romansh. Speakers of Romansh also speak German as natives and sometimes prefer it to their own language for practical purposes.

Lots of People and Few Last Names?

2006-09-16T11:37:00.000-07:00

There are only 700 last names used in China (Corriere della Sera). Chinese also use a very small number of fist names which means that confusion exists to identify people. In Shangai one out ten residents has Zhang as last name. In Shangai there are four thousand people whose names are Jie (first) Chen (last name). It’s worse in Beijing where one out five residents is named Wang (last name). The most common last name in Chinese is “li.” Italy, on the other hand , has 350 thousand different last names. Last names in Italy are based on names of people, of place, professions or nicknames. Most trace their origins to the Middle Ages. Spanish has a different situation. There aren’t very many last names and it’s often the case that the first born is given the name of the father if male and mother if she is female. Yet, Spain uses a second last name (the mother’s) in addition to the fathers (Juan García Lopez). The second last name helps identifies the person although the father’s (García) would be the one determining an alphabetized list.

No Se Habla Español?

2006-09-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

After a generation or two the Spanish spoken by Latino immigrants is all gone. Of course, anyone who pays attention already knows that. Now there is scientific study confirming it. The study by UC Irvine and Princeton University finds that by the third generation only 7 percent of Mexican-American grandchildren speak fluent Spanish.

Campioni del Mondo/World Champions

2006-07-14T12:14:00.000-07:00

Keeping Indigenous Languages Alive

2006-07-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

Although twenty-seven American states have passed laws declaring English their official languages to shore up the “common” language, the real danger is faced by other languages. Now some efforts are being made to keep American indigenous languages alive.

Speak Chinese?

2006-07-08T10:29:00.000-07:00

A new web site to teach Chinese was launched recently by the Chinese government. It includes audio-visual presentations, interactive exercises and advice for teachers of Mandarin Chinese (free subscription) as well as photographs and descriptions of cultural icons such as the Great Wall, kung fu actor Jackie Chan and basketball star Yao Ming. The site is part of the government efforts to supplement the network of “Confucius Institutes” around the world. According to the Chinese government officials more than 30 million people around the world are learning Chinese in 100 different countries. That of course does not match the 250 million Chinese who are learning English. Yet, as the economic power of China continues its fast rise so will the popularity of the language.

More Soccer Notes

2006-06-13T13:03:00.000-07:00

Togo, Togo, Togo

At the end of the first half Togo was beating South Korea (1-0). Eventually, the Togolese lost 2-1. Too bad. Togo, a former French colony became independent in 1960. It has a population of about 5 million people. The coach for the Togo team is Otto Pfister who quit his job a few days before the beginning of the World Cup. There was a dispute between the team and the Togo Federation about salaries. Eventually, Pfister came back to coach but it was not good enough. The next chance is on June 19 against Switzerland.

Fire the Coach?

A Polish fan almost had a nervous breakdown because Poland lost 2-0 to Ecuador. Zygmunt Jan Pruszynski sued Pavel Janas, the team’s coach. However, he is willing to relent if Poland beats Germany in tomorrow’s game.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Tie: A Victory

Trinidad and Tobago tied Sweden in their first World Cup game. The “upset” is a real victory for the Caribbean country.

Soccer: Politics on the Field?

2006-06-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

You can read my article on soccer and politics in the Los Angeles Daily News.

World Cup Odds and Ends

2006-06-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it’s soccer feast these days. Just watched the first half of USA-Czech Republic. During the break I am posting a few things of interest. Mexico won yesterday against Iran (3-1). It was a sweet victory for Mexican players particularly Oswaldo Sanchez whose father had died a few days ago. Mexicans players dedicated the victory to Sanchez’ dad. In 1966 North Korea beat Italy. Korean players went home as heroes. Now North Koreans cannot watch the World Cup because the country cannot afford the broadcast rights. Not to worry. South Korea will help them out. Diego Armando Maradona went back to Italy to play for a benefit game. Italian police confiscated two Rolex watches from Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona to pay off some of his 30m euros ($39m) in back taxes. Maradona ran up the debt when he played for Naples in 1984-1990.

No Bilingual Classes: Parents Upset

2006-06-09T14:40:00.000-07:00

Parents of elementary school kids became upset when school officials ended the dual language program their kids were enrolled in.

Speak English and More...

2006-06-02T21:06:00.000-07:00

The Washington post has an op-ed piece on the value of English and other languages.

1,000 Euros for English?

2006-05-31T05:41:00.000-07:00

The cliché of the monolingual American is very well known. Now Spaniards are apparently suffering fro the same “disease.” To redress the situation Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has decided to give young people up to 1,000 euros (680 pounds) each to study English. Although the study of English is mandatory in Spain, only 20% of Spaniards can speak the language, according to a study of the European Union. Spain is one of the “weakest” countries in the knowledge of foreign languages. “Weaker” still are English-speaking Britain and Ireland.

Voting in Español?

2006-05-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales does not favor the prohibition of bilingual ballots. Many House Republicans disagree and would favor the expiration of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act. This law requires bilingual ballots if more than 5 percent or 10,000 voting-age citizens in a county don't speak English "very well," according the US Census figures, and are fluent in another language.

When English is King

2006-05-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

Although South Africa has 11 official languages , English is the de facto national language, way ahead of Afrikaans. One of the reasons is the power of English in the world which pushes black intellectuals to publish in Shakespeare’s tongue to reach wide audiences.

Only English in the US?

2006-05-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

The US Senate voted 63-34 to declare English the national language. One of the requirements for undocumented immigrants to become citizens would be to learn English. Some people believe that passing this kind of legislation will send a strong signal that immigrants should learn English. I have written about this topic many times and will probably do so again in the near future. In the meanwhile you can read articles I wrote about English only in the Japan Times and at La Oferta.

Bilingualism Translates into $$$$$

2006-05-12T18:38:00.000-07:00

An increase in pay for military personnel proficient in certain foreign languages will become effective in June. Foreign language pay will go up from $300 to $1,000 a month for active military members and to $6,000 a year for reserve and National Guard members. The idea is to increase the capability in languages of strategic importance the Pentagon.

Georgia: Toward Monolingualism?

2006-05-08T20:58:00.000-07:00

When school budgets become tight, one of the first things to disappear is the study of foreign languages. Although languages are increasingly becoming more important as the world keeps getting smaller, schools in Georgia are going to drop the teaching of foreign languages in Atlanta schools. While the study of foreign languages in a basic subject in many industrialized countries, in the US it’s a frill which schools think it can be done away. SAD.

More English in South Korea

2006-05-07T14:49:00.000-07:00

In South Korea parents spend significant amounts of money to send their kids to bilingual schools (Korean and English). Parents are worried that if their kids do not learn to speak English like natives, they won’t be successful in life.Some South Korean parents are going as far as putting their kids through a frenectomy—a minor surgery which lengthens the tongue by about one millimeter. The idea is that having a longer tongue will significantly affect the kids’ pronunciation when they learn English. Now the government is planning to continue promoting English even more through legislation.

National Anthem in Spanish and Beyond

2006-05-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

President Bush said recently that the “The Star-Spangled Banner” should be sung in English, reacting to the recording of the anthem’s version in Spanish (Nuestro Himno). In fact, there are many translations of the anthem in diverse languages. The U.S. government gave its blessing to a different version 87 years ago. That translation of "The Star-Spangled Banner," has been available on the Library of Congress Web site for two years. Polish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Armenian, versions are also available as well as Samoan and Yiddish. Because of the heated debate about immigration, which many see as Mexican and of course Spanish-language, the singing of the anthem generated controversy. Even Bush’s statement has become controversial since the President apparently sang the anthem in Spanish as well.

Irish Pensions Info in Seven Foreign Languages

2006-05-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

Ireland is going multicultural. The Irish government will provide pension information in seven foreign languages including Polish, Arabic, and Chinese. The information will benefit the estimated 200,000 foreign workers in Ireland.

Difficult and Easy Languages

2006-05-01T18:04:00.001-07:00

It’s obvious that some languages are easier to learn than others. A lot depends from which language you’re beginning and which is the language you’re learning. For Americans, Romance languages and many other European languages are “easy” to learn. French, Spanish, Italian, German, Swedish, etc. are ranked as category 1, according to the US State Department. Hungarian is placed in Category 2, along with 30 others including Russian, Greek and Thai. Arabic, Cantonese and Japanese were in Category 3, the toughest. The categories are based on how long it takes an average student at the Foreign Service Institute to reach proficiency in the language. To reach level 2+, minimal professional competency, takes about 700 hours of instruction for a category 1 languages. Category 3 takes three times as long.

Difficult and Easy Languages

2006-05-01T18:04:00.000-07:00

Pope: Christ is Risen in 62 Languages

2006-04-16T18:58:00.000-07:00

In his first Easter message, Benedict XVI addressed more than 100,000 people in St Peter’s square as well as hundreds of millions of viewers on television. The Pope repeated the angel’s pronouncement – “Christ is risen” in sixty-two languages. The Pope also called for peace in the world.

Japanese Companies Seek Trilingual Employees

2006-04-07T20:07:00.000-07:00

Bilingual skills mean more employment opportunities in Japan if one of the two languages is English. Now some companies prefer employees with a third language, often Chinese, for promotion. Some companies encourage employees to study foreign languages online.

Bilingualism Will Save Your Life

2006-03-24T15:58:00.000-08:00

The power of bilingualism.

Arabic Language Online?

2006-03-22T09:51:00.000-08:00

The most widely studied foreign language in American colleges and universities is Spanish. Yet, the Modern Language Association reports that the number of students studying Arabic has gone up 92.3% — to 10,584 — between 1998 and 2002. The number of colleges teaching Arabic has also increased by 48%. Since there are many dialects of Arabic it’s difficult for teachers to select the appropriate one to teach. Students need to concentrate on the area they need. Right now the Arabic dialect of Iraq (LA Times, Free Subscription) is popular but other versions are just as important.
Arabic is considered a crucial language for national security reasons . But of course, learning the language is valuable for other reasons.
Through cooperation between the University of California and Brigham Young University online classes in Arabic will be offered this fall. other schools already teach languages online. First semester Italian is available online at San Francisco City College. Allan Hancock College teaches first, second, and third semester Italian online. More information on language courses online is available at California Virtual University.

Monolingualism in Colorado?

2006-03-18T17:41:00.000-08:00

If at first you don’t succeed, try again. In 2002 Colorado voters rejected an initiative to eliminate bilingual education from public schools. Now another group is collecting signature to attempt the same thing.

Bilingual Police Needed

2006-03-14T19:34:00.000-08:00

If you’re a police officer in Tucson, you can get a stipend with your bilingual skills. The increase in Spanish-speaking residents makes their language vital for law enforcement officers. In January, 52 officers passed a language proficiency test. A total of 114 police employees and civilian employees the bilingual stipend.

Japanese Laws Translated Into English

2006-02-19T17:58:00.000-08:00

The Japanese government intends to translate business-related technical terms and phrases from 14 major laws and whole texts of some of these laws. The idea is to avoid problems caused by misinterpretations of laws as international commercial transactions grow. About 200 major laws will be translated into English.

Driver’s Licenses in English and Beyond

2006-02-02T16:04:00.000-08:00

Many American states allow people to take their driver’s license tests in a variety of languages. In Alabama, a lawsuit was brought up by Pro-English, an English only group which claimed that tests in languages other than English are against the Alabama constitution. Not true said a judge. Although English ahs been declared the official languages of the state, driver’s license tests can continue in 12 other languages in addition to English. However, Maine, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming require English language tests Alaska.

Bilingual Bush?

2006-01-16T15:26:00.000-08:00

It’s almost a cliché that Americans are tongue-tied. President Bush wants to reverse the trend as a tool to fight terrorism. He has announced a $114 million National Security Language Initiative to expand Americans' interest in the lesser studied freign languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Farsi and Hindi. The Department of Education estimates that more than 200 million Chinese children are studying English. Only about 24,000 U.S. elementary and secondary students are studying Chinese.

Tongue-Tied American Troops?

2006-01-07T14:56:00.000-08:00

Americans troops heading overseas may be given language training before reaching their new posts. Although details have not been finalized, the plan is to provide troops with two to four week training in key languages such as Arabic or Chinese.

Translating the New Testament into Gullah

2005-12-29T07:27:00.000-08:00

There are about 10,000 speakers of Gullah (LA Times, free subscription), an English dialect going back to the seventeenth century. It’s spoken mostly in the Sea Islands off South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. The total number of speakers may reach as many as 250,000. Now they even have the New Testament (De Nyew Testament) in Gullah, sometimes also called Geechee. The language may have developed as a statement of defiance as slaves talked without their masters understanding. For some, it developed as a practical way of communicating. About 3,000 copies of the De Nyew Testament have been sold.

Bilingual Teachers: Spain to the Rescue

2005-12-27T15:10:00.000-08:00

The shortage of bilingual teachers in parts of the US forces some school districts to seek them in Spain.

Happy Holidays Around the World

2005-12-24T20:10:00.000-08:00

Bilingual Santa?

2005-12-24T13:56:00.000-08:00

Santa Claus speaks español.

Freedom of Speech in English only?

2005-12-17T17:55:00.000-08:00

In the “good old days” some immigrant kids were hit by teachers for speaking a language other than English. Kids are no longer hit but sometimes still receive unfair treatment. A high school student in Kansas City, KA was suspended for speaking Spanish in the hall. Superintendent Bobby Allen of the Turner School District soon rescinded the suspension and also issued a personal apology. Some other kids of Hispanic background are apparently receiving less than professional treatment by school officials at Hardy Elementary School in Texas. Parents of Hispanic kids have complained that their sons and daughters have been yelled and unfairly punished by their teachers.

Wanted: Bilingual Teachers

2005-12-08T19:11:00.000-08:00

If you are a bilingual teacher looking for a job, check out the Philadelphia School District. The Head Start program at Luis Muñoz-Marin School is staffed by English-speaking teachers. Parents in the North Philadelphia community are not happy at all. In Philadelphia, 14 percent of the student body is Latino. However, only 4 percent of the teaching staff is Latino and most are not bilingual.

Happy Thanksgiving (The Artist is Lucia)

2005-11-23T20:30:00.000-08:00

Interpreting: Justice in the Courtroom

2005-11-01T07:25:00.000-08:00

If you don’t speak English, you have the right to an interpreter, according to American laws. There are 200 court certified interpreters in seven languages in Washington State, in addition to those certified in American Sign Language for the deaf.

More Bilingualism

2005-10-30T14:13:00.000-08:00

More Michigan kids becoming bilingual.

British Kids to Become Bilingual?

2005-10-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

British ministers are developing a plan that would enable all British elementary schoolchildren to study foreign languages. The aim is to make language lessons available to all seven to 11-year-olds by 2010.

Speak English or Else?

2005-10-14T18:57:00.000-07:00

Must you speak English only at work? Apparently so. In an e-mail sent out to employees at Cleveland Clinic, in Florida, recipients were told that speaking languages other than English is allowed only with “with those patients or vendors who are not English speaking.” The clinic’s administrators denied allegations that they are forcing their employees to speak English and only English and that is against their policy to "restrict the use of any language in the workplace." Company officials said that they value, encourage and embrace diversity in the workplace among employees, staff, patients and visitors. English-only policy can be considered discriminatory by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Bilingual Census?

2005-10-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

In order to get more accurate results, the US Census began experimenting with questionnaires in both English and Spanish. The idea is to encourage more people to fill out questionnaires and end up with more accurate counts of Hispanics residing in the US. Precise number of residents are important for local governments because the federal government uses these numbers to allocate grant money for housing, education and other programs and to determine the number of representatives in Congress and in state legislatures.

Popularity of Arabic

2005-10-10T17:27:00.000-07:00

Soon after 9-11 it became clear that Arabic became an important language. Enrollments in Arabic language courses doubled between 1998 and 2002 according to the Modern Language Association. It’s no different at the State University of New York in Oswego.

Bilingual Teaching Positions

2005-10-10T17:21:00.000-07:00

The increasing Hispanic population creates jobs for bilingual individuals. In education it’s no different. Bilingual teaching positions are available in many parts of the country.

Linguist Reserve Corps?

2005-10-08T20:58:00.000-07:00

Since 9-11 it became clear that one of the weak links in fighting terrorism is our shortage of linguistically qualified government personnel. Although American officials manage to collect lots of data, shortages of bilingual personnel make it difficult to translate the information and use it efficiently. The US Senate tried to deal with the situation by passing a bill that would create a civilian linguist reserve corps pilot program in the Defense Department. The linguist reserve would help government officials decipher communications that could prove vital to our security.

Multilingual Greeks

2005-09-24T17:22:00.000-07:00

Fifty percent of Greeks can communicate in a foreign language, but in Britain and Italy the figures are much lower. Only a third of Britons and Italians can speak a second language. The data comes from the Eurobarometer survey, conducted by the European Commission. Greeks are in line with the EU average as 50 percent of the bloc’s citizens can communicate in a foreign language. Some 44 percent of Greeks speak English, and 8 percent speak French or German. The most gifted linguists are Luxembourg’s citizens. Almost 99 percent of them know at least one foreign language. But then for citizen of Luxembourg the second language is in some ways their first since Luxembourgeois is spoken by a small segment of the world’s population. Speaking only Luxembourgeois would limit one's opportunities in the world economy.

Bilingualism at the LA Times

2005-09-22T14:20:00.000-07:00

The new Op-Ed editor at the Los Angeles Times is bilingual and values languages skills (free subscription).

Bilingualism in Florida

2005-09-19T20:45:00.000-07:00

Bilingualism in Florida.

Bilingual Oregon

2005-09-18T14:12:00.000-07:00

Dual-Language School in Oregon.

California: The Bilingual State?

2005-09-12T20:18:00.000-07:00

Although California, Arizona, and Massachusetts virtually eliminated their bilingual education programs, dual-immersion programs are alive and well. Dual-immersion schools focus on developing skills in two languages and create bilingual and bicultural individuals. It’s happening in California. Whittier, San Bernardino, San Diego, Porterville.

Reading: Not Only in English

2005-09-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

The increase of Spanish-speaking people in the US is also affecting libraries. In order to serve all patrons many libraries across the country are increasing their holdings in Spanish. The Denver public libraries are no different. They are restructuring to serve the population they serve. Changes are occurring in libraries across the country, both big and small. Some libraries offer reading materials in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Russian, Korean, and Chinese. Some people, however, object to money being spent for Spanish language materials because it might undermine the English language. Do these people also object to books in Braille because it also undermines the English language? Efforts to accommodate readers of a language other than English aren't new in Denver. "In 1913, we had a branch library with Dutch and English," said Diane Lapierre, director of strategic initiatives for the Denver Public Library. Janet Cox, adult-services supervisor at the Pueblo Library District, in Colorado, said it best as she defined the role of libraries. She stated that libraries "provide material to meet the needs of the people in the area, whether that be in English or Spanish or another language." Read on.

Affirmative Action for Men?

2005-08-30T16:23:00.000-07:00

Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers created a controversy not too long ago when he stated that women are not as good as men at science and math. In China, men are not as good as women at learning languages. To balance the enrollments Chinese universities are accepting men with slightly lower scores. Officials explained that they are giving some preferential treatment to male students, but it is limited to classes of "less-popular languages and special situations." About 80% of the students at Chinas prestigious Foreign Language School at Peking University are women. The preferential treatment of men would lower women’s enrollment to 70%. gender discrimination? Laws suits would not be uncommon in other countries but in China….

Is Bush Anti-Bilingualism?

2005-08-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

George Bush made language history when he ran for president in 2000 by sprinkling his speeches with Spanish phrases (Free registration). Although he admitted he does not speak Spanish very well, he got a lot of mileage from his limited linguistic skills. During the campaign Bush never maligned bilingual education and Texas, unlike California, Arizona, and Massachusetts, has not eliminated bilingual education. Now, however, it seems Bush is joining the English-only bandwagon. His administration is not going to publish a report it commissioned on bilingual education. The reason? It appears the findings support bilingual education. The study was commissioned in May of 2002 and was charged to take a hard look at the exiting research on bilingual education. Russ Whitehurst, assistant secretary for Education Research and Improvement, stated at the time that the No Child Left Behind education reform law "puts a strong emphasis on using education practices and programs based on sound, scientifically-based research." The findings apparently contradict the administration proposal and Whitehurst sent back the manuscript to the authors to find their own publisher.

Bilingual Iraq

2005-08-24T17:32:00.000-07:00

A draft of the Iraqi constitution (Article 4) states that Arabic and Kurdistan are the two official languages for Iraq. Iraqis are guaranteed the right to educate their children in their mother tongues, such as Turkomen or Assyrian, in government educational institutions, or any other language in private educational institutions, according to educational regulations.

Less French and German Fluency

2005-08-19T20:36:00.000-07:00

Studying French and German is becoming less popular with British teen-agers. However, the total number of students taking A level in foreign languages went up. The decrease in French and German was offset by increases in Spanish, Italian, Mandarin and Russian.

New Book

2005-08-16T17:28:00.000-07:00

My new book is coming out September 16, 2005. Here is a preview.

Famine in Niger

2005-08-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

HELP

Tongue-Tied Scots?

2005-08-06T15:05:00.000-07:00

Scotland is experiencing a serious shortage of university students in modern languages because not enough of them are signing up to train in the subject. The deadline for admission is almost at the door and so far less than two-thirds of the places at the country's teacher training colleges have been filled. Ian Smith, dean of the faculty of education at Strathclyde University said that they were hoping to recruit 60 modern language students, but so far only 28 materialized. One of the problems for language teachers in Scotland is that many schools need graduates who can teach not one but two foreign languages. And those candidates are difficult to find.

Bilingual Voting?

2005-08-04T17:48:00.000-07:00

In 1965 Congress passed The Voting Rights Act which says bilingual ballots may need to be provided. If more than 5% or 10,000 voting-age citizens in a county don’t speak English "very well," according the US Census figures, and are fluent in another language, election materials need to be translated. Forty years later the language rights are still not protected. The city of Boston is being sued for allegedly violating the voting rights of limited-English speaking citizens. The US Department of Justice is suing the city because of complaints experienced by immigrant citizens. Bringing the suit forward was a challenge because the Chinese immigrant citizens were concerned about being identified fearing retaliation. Yet, the US Department of Justice was able to assure that no one would suffer for coming forward and testifying.

Importing Bilingual Teachers from Mexico

2005-08-03T21:27:00.000-07:00

Given the serious shortage of bilingual teachers in Texas, school administrators are bringing in Mexican national to fill teaching positions.

Not Much Blogging Lately, But...

2005-07-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

Very little time these days. Finishing up a grammar workbook for introductory Italian which will be published next month. You can still read my weekly column (link on left).

Latin Not Quite Dead Yet

2005-07-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

Although Latin is not as popular as the other foreign languages, it’s holding its own. Don Best, principal of Gatlinburg-Pittman High School, in Tennessee recently requested a new Latin teacher during a meeting of the Gatlinburg Board of Education earlier this month. All four county high schools offer Latin, which is somewhat rare these days. Spanish is, of course, more popular, but the fact that Latin is viable is certainly remarkable.

Social Security en Español etc.?

2005-06-29T17:15:00.000-07:00

Much of the discussion about Social Security has been about President Bush’s plan to privatize it lately. The program, however, has been very successful and it looks like Bush will not get his way. One of the successes is the availability of information. The Social Security Administration makes its web site available in 15 different languages: Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Farsi, French, Greek, Haitian-Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Those who work, contribute, and eventually deserve to receive benefits will not be prevented from it because they don’t know the English language. The SS Administration even makes interpreters available in many of these languages. Everyone who qualifies for benefits will get them. Almost everyone. Undocumented workers will not. Although the millions of undocumented workers contribute to Social Security under fake names, they will not collect a dime. Billions of these contributions which cannot be determined who actually sent them in go into a "earning suspense file." In the past two decades, the fund has grown to nearly $200 billion.

One Year Not Enough to Learn English

2005-06-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

It happened in California. Research by a state agency found that it takes anywhere from 3-7 years for immigrant kids to learn enough English to qualify for English-only instruction. It also happened in Massachusetts. A recent study found that most Massachusetts immigrant kids do not learn enough English in one year of immersion and cannot transfer to regular classrooms. Both California and Massachusetts virtually dropped bilingual education and replaced it with one year of immersion. Experts have been saying for years that you cannot learn a language in a year in spite of the myth that kids learn languages fast. In fact, the opposite is true. Children learn slowly in comparison to adults. Kids do have an advantage in that they can acquire a native-like pronunciation but adults will typically retain some kind of foreign accent.

Math and Modern Languages Are "Hard" Subjects

2005-06-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

The Swedish government is proposing that math and modern languages be given extra weight in high school to encourage more students to study them. Apparently, students are focusing on courses which will give them high grades but little knowledge. Which languages? French, German, Spanish, Italian and Russian.
Sweden's education system is focusing on making sure Swedes can operate globally without having to resort to using interpreters. Although Swedes are doing very well with English, English only is not enough. What about Americans? Is English only enough?

Official Languages and Not

2005-06-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

Basque, Catalan and Galician languages were not granted official status in the European Union. Gaelic, on the other hand, was granted official status. It will be a boost for the second language of Ireland.

Foreign Languages in Ireland: New Realities

2005-06-08T17:26:00.000-07:00

Language study in Ireland should be revised to meet the new needs of the global market, according to a new report issued recently. Most Irish students study languages for historical reasons. French is the most popular with about 75%, German is second with about 20%, Spanish is third with 4%, and Italian fourth with less than 1%.

Teenager Polyglot

2005-06-05T06:36:00.000-07:00

He speaks eight languages besides his native Macedonian. Kire Angelov, a teen-ager from Veles, knows English, Italian, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, and the one made up by Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien. He has almost finished the creation of his own language, which he called Sinioier (light). Unfortunately, no one else speaks it. Kire has won a scholarship to the United States.

English Only Web Sites?

2005-05-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

Many major American cities provide their official websites in multiple languages. Philadelphia makes its site available in 12 languages, costing the city about three thousand dollars annually. Eric Gioa, a New York City councilman, (D-Sunnyside) suggested that New York City should also provide a multilingual web site. Minority Leader James Oddo (R-Staten Island) disagreed vehemently saying that "throughout its history, the common and unifying thread that has bound individuals... has been the English language." This is only partially true. The US has always been a multilingual country from its beginnings although English has been the dominant language. As usual, when it comes to providing services for immigrants, Republicans oppose them while Democrats favor them. This is strange since Republicans are pro business and most businesses provide services in many languages to attract customers. Sounds like republicans don't want to attract immigrants and at the same time don't want their votes.

Curing Monolingualism in Connecticut

2005-05-27T14:29:00.000-07:00

It used to be that students’ first opportunity to study a foreign language occurred in junior high school for Central, Eastern and Western schools in Connecticut. Now it’s different. The first opportunity occurs in elementary school. That means when students reach middle school they have already had two years of Spanish or French. The district received a federal grant for three years totaling $285,000 to introduce foreign languages in elementary schools.

When Words Kill

2005-05-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

The most dangerous jobs in Iraq are those held by interpreters. Most of them work for Titan, a civilian contractor which provides language services to military personnel. Interpreters work alongside of soldiers but in most cases carry no weapons. Interpreters are despised by Iraqi insurgents who see them as traitors. Merely being seen in the company of American soldiers poses risks which can lead to death.

No English, No License?

2005-05-18T06:31:00.000-07:00

Like many American states, Alabama offers driver’s license tests in a number of languages in addition to English. Now a lawsuit would make tests available only in English. Six individuals who are members of an English-only advocacy group have sued Alabama Governor Bob Riley and Department of Public Safety Director Mike Coppage for allowing tests in other languages. They claim that since Alabama passed a law declaring English the state’s official language, services in other languages should not be available. These extremists are not really trying to protect the state or the country from other languages but are really attempting to make it difficult for immigrants to integrate. Without licenses, people are stuck and can’t get to the store, go to school, jobs, and Americanize. They could also pose a threat since some might drive without a license and endanger other motorists. Unfortunately, English-only people are blind and can’t see two inches from their noses.

Vetoing English Only

2005-05-10T18:46:00.000-07:00

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano vetoed and English-only bill for her state because the measure is “flawed.” The bill, according to the governor, will not accomplish the goal of making all Arizonans fluent in English. English-only laws are always insulting particularly to those citizens who speak a language which has existed in the US long before English came to the new world.

Adieu to French

2005-05-10T18:44:00.000-07:00

Ventura College is dropping French I, II, III and IV as well as German III and IV. The cuts will save district approximately $120,000. Savings emerge primarily from the French and German’s instructor’s salaries. While these two languages are being cut, an extra section of beginning Spanish will be offered. The addition of the extra Spanish course is certainly welcome; cutting French and German most certainly is not.

Tongue-Tied Americans? No Problem

2005-04-30T19:31:00.000-07:00

According to an editorial of the Wall Street Journal, Americans don’t need to learn languages because everyone else in the world is learning English. English only is enough. However, the WSJ says that after 9/11 things have changed. But Americans still don’t need to learn languages because we have immigrants who know languages (subscription) and all the FBI and other government agencies have to do is create a U.S. Civilian Linguist Reserve Corps. That would be a list of immigrants who are fluent in languages and call them when they are needed. Simple? Leave it to the Wall Street Journal to solve complex problems without any effort. (Thanks to Hispanicon for the tip).

Benedict XVI: Beyond Language

2005-04-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

If you want to understand Benedict XVI beyond his linguistic abilities, go to Body and Soul.

Benedict XVI & Spanish

2005-04-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

Newly-elected Pope Benedict XVI speaks many languages but yesterday said nothing in Spanish, causing bewilderment among Latin American journalists present. Benedict XVI thanked the news media for their coverage of the transition, addressing reporters in Italian, English, French, and German. Nada en español. Maria Antonieta Flores, a Mexican journalist with Il Publico newspaper, said Spanish-speaking journalists “wanted him to speak in Spanish."

Multilingual Pope

2005-04-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

Newly-elected Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) has much in common with John Paul II not simply form the point of view of ideology but also linguistically. John Paul knew eight languages. Ratzigner knows ten. The superstar of linguistic knowledge, however, was Giuseppe Mezzofanti (1774-1849), an Italian Cardinal who spoke more than 38 languages fluently. Although he never left Italy, managed to learn how to speak languages without an accent. People from all over the world came to challenge him in their native tongue. They all reported their amazement at this man's fluency.

Camping out for a Chance to Enter a Bilingual School

2005-04-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

Parents wishing their kids to enroll in North beach Elementary School camped out as early as a day before for a chance to get in the day after and obtain a lost for their kids. Given the limited number of spaces available, long lines developed. At least one parent needed to wait in line to ensure a space for their kids. The school teaches speaking, reading, and writing in both Spanish and English beginning in Kindergarten.

Multilingual Pope

2005-04-04T17:48:00.000-07:00

John Paul II spoke eight languages. Will the new Pope be also multilingual? It's quite likely although language fluency is not the only requirement to be elected Pope. Yet, since the Catholic Church is a global entity, it's certainly an advantage to have a Pope who can speak several languages, which come in handy when the Pope travels the globe, as was the case with John Paul II, and will likely be the case with the new Pope. Which languages? There is little doubt that Italian is an essential language since it is the working language of the Vatican. In addition, English, Spanish, French, and Spanish are considered very useful languages for obvious reasons. Latin is also beneficial since it is one of the two languages used in the Conclave, which will elect the new Pope. Yet, even in the election process Italian is apparently the language used in the discussions, which will lead to the election.

NAHP Award

2005-03-23T18:27:00.000-08:00

You can read about my National Association of Hispanic Publications award by clicking HERE.

Not Much Blogging Lately, But...

2005-03-12T07:44:00.000-08:00

Not enough time to blog. In any event, you can read my weekly column in English published at La Oferta (San Jose-San Francisco) by clicking HERE. These articles may be reprinted. Contact me for permission. I am also contributing a few times a month to L'Italo-Americano (in Italian).

Japanese Becoming More Popular

2005-01-31T20:20:00.000-08:00

Japanese is one of the five languages most requested by healthcare clients in the state of Illinois. When non-English speaking patients come to a hospital interpretation is requested. Often the language barrier is broken via a three-way telephone conversation. Spanish was the language most requested, followed by Polish, Russian, Japanese, and Korean. The number of language services requested by Illinois clients increased 22 percent, from 41 in 2003 to 50 in 2004. 2000 census figures revealed that 19 percent of Illinois' population speaks a language other than English at home.

Parents Fight to Keep Languages in School

2005-01-30T21:29:00.000-08:00

Forty-five parents and foreign language teachers recently attended a school board meetings in Brookfield Wisconsin and pleaded for foreign language to be taught for 90 minutes a week as part of the regular school day curriculum. Elementary school teachers testified that the day is already too full and other classes would suffer. Another point against foreign languages is the cost. Until two years ago elementary school kids in the district were exposed to French, Spanish, and German. However, the program was eliminated because of budget cuts. Some school districts consider foreign languages a frill. That is not the case in other countries. Maybe they know something we don't?

Keeping Latin Alive?

2005-01-29T20:49:00.000-08:00

Budget problems may force Harwich, Massachusetts schools to cut language programs. Yet, Schools Superintendent Rosemary Joseph is trying very hard to save languages. Responding to a question about whether Latin is really necessary, Joseph stated categorically that it is. She pointed out foreign languages are essential to making the school attractive to students.

English Only in Arizona

2005-01-28T19:50:00.000-08:00

Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, recently introduced a bill that would make English as the official language of Arizona. If it receives enough support, it will appear in the 2006 ballot. In all likelihood voters will approve it. That would follow the elimination of bilingual education from the state and a more recent proposition which denies benefits to undocumented workers in Arizona. If the English only bill is approved federal law would not be affected. Twenty-seven other states have adopted English as their official language. The idea is to hit immigrants and force them to learn English. As if immigrants need more incentives to learn English. The effect of the new law will be minimal and will only serve to make Arizonans feel good about attacking immigrants and foster a climate of monolingualism, which is dangerous to the security of America.

Texas to Increase Funding for Bilingual Ed

2005-01-28T19:45:00.000-08:00

State Representative Rene Oliveira of Brownsville, the ranking Democrat on the state House education committee, proposed an increase in funding for educating bilingual students, from 156 (M) million dollars to 468 (M) million dollars. Oliveira also proposed doubling of the amount of money the state spends on pre-kindergarten bilingual education from 454 (M) million dollars to 908 (M) million dollars.