Does the US have a language conflict?

In the United States, conflicts over language persist, particularly in places with large immigrant populations. Having passed an initiative in 1998 that prohibits teaching schoolchildren in any language but English, Californians may be more cognizant of the possibility of “language wars” than other Americans.

Was Germany banned from the US?

A total ban on teaching German in both public and private schools was imposed for a time in at least 14 states, including California, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa and Nebraska. California’s ban lasted into the mid-1920s. The Supreme Court case in Meyer v. Nebraska ruled in 1923 that these laws were unconstitutional.

Was speaking German illegal?

During World War I, some states made it illegal to speak German. This had the effect of reducing German from being the second most commonly spoken language in America to being a minority tongue, even long after the war ended.

How many Americans speak only English at home?

But more than 231 million speak only English at home, and don’t know another language well enough to communicate in it. Marty Abbott, executive director of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, says not only is there a language learning gap in the U.S., it’s actually getting worse.

Is there a language learning gap in the United States?

Marty Abbott, executive director of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, says not only is there a language learning gap in the U.S., it’s actually getting worse. “The [enrollment] in schools is dropping,” Abbott tells Here & Now ‘s Jeremy Hobson.

What percentage of US schools offer foreign language classes?

– The percentage of all middle schools offering foreign language instruction decreased from 75 to 58 percent. – The percentage of high schools offering some foreign language courses remained about the same, at 91 percent.

Is there a shortage of foreign language teachers in America?

– About 25 percent of elementary schools and 30 percent of middle schools report a shortage of qualified foreign language teachers. – In 2009-2010, only 50.7 percent of higher education institutions required foreign language study for a baccalaureate, down from 67.5 percent in 1994-1995.