Spanish as a Second Languge

Spanish As a Second Languge

In recent years, the total population of Spanish speakers in the US has doubled. According to Census 2001 of the estimated 284 million residents in the USA, 36 million are of Hispanic origin, Five million more than the entire population of Canada. In 1960 people of Hispanic origin only equaled 6% of the US population. Since increased to 13%. 332 million people in the world speak Spanish. Second to Chinese Mandarin: 885 million. The continual growth of the Hispanic population increases everyday, but the number of Americans not of Hispanic descent who speak Spanish fluently, is a mere 3%, according to studies done by Florida State University, Relevant because of area of high Hispanic concentration.

Spanish should be required to be taken as a second language in grades K-9. American students should be required to speak Spanish fluently upon completion of their 8th grade year. Other societies such as Pakistan, Japan, and China can demonstrate proficiency in 3 or 4 languages by middle school years. "A child taught a second language after the age of 10 or so is unlikely ever to speak it like a native," said