How Americans Feel About Immigrants and Culture

In this chapter, you have learned about important elements of culture. One of these elements, language, is important because it both describes and shapes culture for us.

In the United States today, many languages are spoken, although English is still the dominant one.

A recent survey asked people if they were worried that the United States is no longer an English-speaking nation, and if they felt that immigrants should be required to learn English before they become citizens. To examine the results of this survey, go to http://www.publicagenda.org, click on Immigration under "The Issues" on the left-hand side of the page, then click on Quick Takes, and scroll down the page to Language. Click on the first graph and the following question:

1. Why do you think that most parents surveyed-even those who were foreign-born-believed an immigrant was a bad citizen if he or she did not try to learn English?

Now click your web browser's Back button, select the second graph under Language, and answer this question:

2. Two-thirds of American parents surveyed thought children of recent immigrants should take all of their classes in English. Which group of parents was most likely to want English taught as quickly as possible? How do you feel about this issue?

Click your Back button again, select the third graph under Language, and answer this question:

3. Parents have mixed views on whether Spanish should become the United States' second language. Which group of parents was least likely to support Spanish as a second language? Do you think your parents would agree that Spanish should become the second language in the United States? Why or why not?