I need to chose between spanish, french, german and mandarin for my foreign language class. Im already fluent in Spanish, as im mexican, so I really have 3 languages to choose from. Im leaning towards German, but I can easily change mind.
I obviously tried to apply for spanish, but they didnt let me choose it, because its not in the spirit of "multicultarism".

In some businesses I've been to in the United States that advertise themselves as having bilingual staff, I've noticed that most of the workers are Mexicans who yes, speak Spanish very well, but their English is horrible. I'm not trying to make fun of them for their English, but seriously, it seems like bilingual these days means "Spanish required, English optional". I myself speak Spanish way better than some of these people speak English, and yet I doubt I would ever be taken seriously trying to get a bilingual job in California because they can always just go hire a Mexican who speaks Spanish better than me, but who speaks English far worse than me. I just can't understand why there is so much emphasis on Spanish skills but almost none on English. And as a side question, why does it seem like the majority of Chicanos I've met are so arrogant about knowing both languages from birth? I even had one insisting that I'm not a true bilingual because I didn't learn Spanish from birth.
Not one of you understood my question. My question is why do EMPLOYERS care so much about Spanish proficiency but almost nothing about their English proficiency. My question had nothing to do with immigrants refusing to learn English. My question is, why is it that someone who speaks Spanish at a 100% level but English at only a 25% level is hired over someone who speaks English at a 100% level and Spanish at a 75% level. It seems like to be considered "bilingual" you really just have to speak Spanish only, as long as you can get by in English you're bilingual, but if you speak English natively, you have to speak Spanish very well or else you're not bilingual. That was my question: why when it comes to being judged as a bilingual or not, native English speakers have to speak Spanish a lot better than native Spanish speakers have to speak English.

we have to take two foreighn languages to graduate at my school
I suppose we don't have to learn Spanish but it's the obvious choice. How often would I use French? (don't answer that)

It seems like all you cowards disagree with me. I am fluent in 4 languages and I can acertain that what I say is true. Maybe I was wrong by saying better, but it sure does sound more understandable.

And to the guy that said colombians speak beautiful Spanish, they dont, I personally think it sounds awful because of their intonations. I mean to say that American English is just more clear, and so is Mexican Spanish.

Personally I think spanish sounds the most beautiful and I'm not just saying that because I'm Mexican-American. I enjoy learning other languages like French but sometimes when you speak French it sounds like your going to spit but I still like it. I'm curious to know what you guys like. So please and Thank You!

Personally I think spanish sounds the most beautiful and I'm not just saying that because I'm Mexican-American. I enjoy learning other languages like French but sometimes when you speak French it sounds like your going to spit but I still like it. I'm curious to know what you guys like. So please and Thank You!

No, I'm not one of those "ignorant Americans" who thinks that Spanish and Italian are the same language. In fact, I'm half-Swiss and German is my native language along with English. I learned Spanish for some time and then I took up Italian because I was inspired by a trip to Italy. I have noticed countless similarities between the two languages- similar vocabulary and similar grammar/structure. I like Italian better than Spanish but can't learn them both because I'll just confuse the two (which I've already done!). Besides, if I learn Spanish, that's an invitation that all those illegal Mexican immigrants in the US are better than me (analogy: if a guy kills himself over a girl, then that's an invitation that the girl is better than him). I'm actually hoping to move back to Switzerland, so Italian would be better. So, can the Hispanics/Spaniards understand at least the "gist" of an Italian conversation? I'd like input from native Spanish speakers, preferably.
OK, I'm sorry if I offended anyone with the comment about illegal Mexican immigrants. It's just that I feel the US is being invaded by them and we're learning Spanish to communicate with them since they don't know much English. So, if I learn Spanish, those illegal immigrants will be happy and I'll be forced into doing something I don't really want to do. However, I should consider the legal immigrants as well, and I have used a little Spanish with them. On a slightly different note, Italy is a country I'd want to visit over and over, but a vacation to Latin America or Spain is the last thing on my mind in terms of vacation ideas.

i have been very curious about this question for a long time. Some languages(i wont say which) sound pretty ugly but some like russian, french, and italian sound pretty cool. If you don't speak spanish how does the spanish language sound to you? Im Mexican, remember each latin country has a different accent. if you could explain how it sounds maybe wich sound you hear the most or any kind of description. If it souds ugly to you its fine i wont mind i just want opinions.

I read a lot of anti-immigrant chatter here, but I notice that more and more Americans are using the same tonal "sentence end rise" typical of Mexican street Spanish. Calling it "Valley-speak" may fool some people, but discerning polyglots can spot it immediately. It is particularly prevalent in young people and I've detected it on both coasts. The only other instance of this type of intonation occurs in certain Irish populations, but that variation is developed locally, without outside influence..

Is this one a precursor of things to come, ese?
Chukie411 & others:
I'm sure it is not intentional. In that sense language is organic and it evolves.
The intonation I refer to is when the end of a sentence is said in a higher tone than the beginning. It's one of the characteristis of California "Valley talk." You can also hear it in 90% of teen movies.
Be the way, Spanish & English are 2 of my favorite languages, so I'm OK regardless of the outcome.
Christopher: It can't make sense if you don't read it. I'm referring to intonation, not particular phrases of vocabulary.
And you're asking ME to use English?? Hee Hee.
Rosebuds & whatdoiknow:
I never said I disapprove of the change. I'm fine with it.

You get Mexicans who've been in the US for several generations, do they still speak Spanish? Many are in Mexico. People like Robert Rodriguez and Eva Longoria have roots in the US for ages, do they still speak Spanish??

Why do Mexicans not lose their language, while all the Germans, Irish, Italians etc cannot speak those languages in the US?

I want to learn Korean.My first language is Spanish since i'm Mexican (does that make it easier to learn?) Oh yeah, doesn't it make you mad if people are like do you know how to speak Mexican? I'm like grr, its Spanish not Mexican. Does that happen with other languages too? or is it just Spanish?

french but it's very hard for me, it reminds me the spanish language because it has a word for everything.. I want to know another language I dont know german or french.. or what else.. it will be useful, I want to improve french as well but it's not like english when I turn on the tv I just find english but never french.. it's hard to me the pronunciation and grammar.. but anyway tell me another languages and tips for french plz and tips for being fluently in the language you recommend me

Is it at all like the US where tons of languages are spoken

my friends says it is but i thought that in mexico they speak a whole bunch of languages

In public, everyone should always speak in AMERICAN.

Immigrants should only speak other languages at home.

The ONE and ONLY exception to this rule is in restaurants oriented towards certain food types, such as waiters in a Mexican restaurant speaking to each other in Spanish, or in an Oriental Chinese Buffet having the waiters talk to each other in Chinese.
Why sympathize with the red coats? English is not the same.

My 29-year old sister was basically chewed out by a complete stranger for not knowing how to speak Spanish--right here in America! We are about and 1/8 Mexican and an 1/8 Ecuadorian (with the other 75% being Danish, Dutch, French, Irish, Italian, and Scottish mixed in)--should we also be able to speak those 4 languages--along with the Irish and Scottish accents?

I'm bad at english cause i'm shy and never spoke since 6 yrs old now i'm 26. i'm bad at spanish too because even though i come from mexican parents,school was in english, university was english, and yes i never had english speaking friends, but also never had spanish speaking friends and i never really talk much. more over i learned another foreign language and i want to improve in it too. What is best way to learn in parallel 3 languages when you dont really have contact with the people with speak it, just study by your self?

This is an stereotype that really bothers me ... I speak spanish and some other languages; When somebody ask me if I'm from Mexico... I get really pissed
Hey Dude... not only in mexico people speak spanish, almost all southamerica but Brasil speak spanish, the you have Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, etc...
And yeah... I can tell when people is from the south, east, west, canada, Australia or England..

I speak 5 languages, but I am an Undocumented Immigrant.
What can I do to get a degree?