Thread: As immigration booms, so do English classes

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/n ... glish.html

As immigration booms, so do English classes
Some Americans wary of bilingual nation, but many language courses full, have waiting lists
By Eunice Moscoso

WASHINGTON BUREAU

Friday, August 25, 2006

WASHINGTON — Although many Americans are concerned that immigrants are not assimilating into the larger culture, evidence suggests that many are waiting in line to learn English.

English-language classes across the country are full and have waiting lists of up to 18,000 people. The demand for language instruction also is evident on Spanish-language television with an array of commercials for English-learning products, such as the top seller, "Inglés Sin Barreras" or "English without Barriers," a video and audio program that reportedly sells 60,000 copies a year.

Immigrant advocates and Hispanic scholars say the full classes and booming language businesses show that immigrants are eager to learn English and assimilate into U.S. society.

"Immigrants realize that English is the language of currency in the United States . . . and that English is one of the basic ingredients to guarantee upward mobility," said Harry Pachon, president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at the University of Southern California. "The one thing that characterizes 98 percent of the immigrants coming to the United States is that they want to improve their lives."

But others say not enough immigrants are learning the language or integrating into American culture.

They argue that the English language as a unifying force is under attack as governments at all levels increasingly operate in other languages to accommodate foreigners. For example, many states offer driver's license tests in various languages and electoral ballots in many areas are printed in Spanish.

"The problem is that multilingual government has created for some an English-optional society," said Rob Toonkel, spokesman for U.S. English Inc., a group that advocates making English the nation's official language.

Toonkel, who teaches English to immigrants, said that in many places, immigrants can function without learning English and therefore have no motivation to learn.

Toonkel says the waiting lists for English-language classes are inflated because people sign on to waiting lists for several classes and not take their names off once they are accepted into one.

The Census Bureau reported last week that the number of foreign-born people in the country reached nearly 36 million last year, or about 12 percent of the population. The number increased from 31 million five years ago. More than half of the immigrants are from Latin American countries.

By several accounts, millions are learning English. About 1.4 million adults are taking English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) classes subsidized in part by federal and state governments. In 2000, the number was 1.1. million. Others are taking classes sponsored by community groups, churches and businesses.

According to the National Council of State Directors of Adult Education, there are waiting lists for ESOL classes in at least 14 states.

In Massachusetts, 18,000 people are waiting for the classes, officials said. In Wisconsin, several businesses, such as the Cargill meat packing company, have set up their own English classes for worker because of waiting lists in city programs.

According to a survey by the Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research group, 57 percent of Hispanics polled believe that immigrants have to speak English to be part of American society and 41 percent do not.

In another survey, the center found that Hispanic immigrants lose their native language significantly with each generation. About 46 percent of U.S. born children of immigrants use English as their dominant language. In the next generation, the number jumps to 78 percent.

But other signs point to a growing bilingual nation: bank ATMs offering services in English and Spanish; federal agencies issuing information in Spanish; and the booming Spanish-language media.

John Keeley, a spokesman for the Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank in Washington that advocates stricter immigration controls, said the sheer numbers of immigrants arriving in the United States leads to the formation of ethnic enclaves separate from mainstream American culture.

But Holly Patrick, manager of language programs at the Latin American Association in Atlanta, where about 500 adults are learning English, said Americans have a misconception about immigrants.

"People assume that if you don't speak English it's because you are not trying or don't want to," she said. "When in fact, a lot of people are struggling to learn."

"People assume that if you don't speak English it's because you are not trying or don't want to," she said. "When in fact, a lot of people are struggling to learn."

When "must speak Spanish" is off the job requirement and I can get a job, and when everything isn't written in Spanish and I don't have to choose between English and Spanish........I'll beleive it. Till then.....I beleive the earlier statement on how they can function without it in a alot of communuties and the incentive to learn English is gone.