Learning a second language, at least on a conversational level, should be part of a good overall education. Most colleges require students to study a foreign language for two years in high school now; most elite schools require three. My daughter's high school requires three years of a foreign language. Her school added Chinese as one of the options last year.

That explains why Michelle is never proud of America! Obama has now accidentally admit that he is ashamed of America as well.

This is America for goodness sake, immigrants should learn English and why the hell are we learning Spanish for? Why not Chinese, or Tamil? or French, or German for that matter. Why Spanish?

I don't understand why Obama's statement should be criticized. What's wrong with kids learning a foreign language? It's a CULTURAL thing. I did, and I survived, and I'm proud of my language skills. Spanish is a beautiful language, but why not learning French, Italian or even German (oh yeah), or Russian? Or Japanese. Isn't it the globalization hammered down upon us? It will not depress the kids, believe it or not, to learn another language. What if one day English is not going to be the first language on the planet? It happened before (French or/and German prevailed). BTW, I won't vote for Obama, but it angers me to see that each time this man makes a statement, it becomes a feeding frenzy for media and various groups.

I can't believe Americans are so tight about learning another language it is pure arrogance. Learning another language will only benefit a person. I'm bi-lingual and it has benefited me greatly, as a matter of fact I've been hired ahead of others just because I'm bi-lingual.

Obama is always explaining away those things he has said. Isn't he?

jeremy

BHO is only identifying what he thinks is a problem. As always, he advances nothing to relieve the problem. Same old BHO -- as hollow as one can be!

I think it would be great if children learn more than one language.

Absolutely NOTHING wrong with that.

This is a NON-ISSUE.

sam46

What does BHO say in the way of curing the problem? NOTHING -- as always! He sure fuels people like you who see problems and don't think solutions!

I think it should be mandatory that kids take a language in elementary school. And more than Spanish should be offered. My son wanted to take German but only now is taking it because they only offer it in college. I think this is part of a well rounded education. Obama is not out of touch at all. It's the ones who disagree that are out of touch.

How many languages does Obama speak?

Janie -- do you know calculus? In the real world, it' a much more valuable talent than languages unless you're working in an international restaurant or dealing with illiterate Hispanics.

Obama is such a phony and a total worm. We already graduate our students with 2 years of foreign language.

We all know what he was saying and its amazing how when he goes off script he says what is truly in his heart and then when he realizes his feelings are not shared by the majority of Americans he has to come back and twist himself in knots trying to recraft what he really feels.

Obama thinks that Americans should be more willing to assimilate to immigrants and that we must accommodate them. But if any American were to emigrate to another country, we would be expected to adopt that country's language and customs. It is not some ghastly sin to expect a person to adapt to the language and customs of their adopted country. In fact, its the only way to keep their new country a place they still want to live.

Of course, democrats like Barak Obama feel there is something wrong with America that needs to be changed. They don't like her because of what they perceive to be her flaws.

Obama has offered a solution where a problem does not exist. We already expect our students to spend 2 years learning a foreign language. The truth is that because it is not necessary, they may choose to forget that language once they leave school. If they needed it, they would keep the skill fresh.

That's why English should be the official language of the US. Immigrants should feel it is necessary to learn and retain English in order to live and succeed in this blessed nation.

Obama: Never a specific solution to anything!

Just Curious: Did you take Logic and Critical Thinking in college? Culture (of which language is a part of) and mathmatics feed off each other. Where is the calculus without human beings?

Just Curious: One more thing, were you an expert at calculus you'd understand how important learning another language is to our economy right now. You obviously don't live in the "real world."

Jackie in case you didnt notice, the land above us all speak english/french

the land directly below us speaks spanish...

lol... ummm so why would we ever learn spanish?

i dont know maybe you want to make some decent money being able to speak a second language will def get you jobs and get you some extra cash

lol pathetic american

lol

i love the people who are anti learning another language

it really shows how intelligent you are lol

and then to criticize obama

hes always explaining himself

he has to obviously some of you morons need to really go back to school

why would you be anti learning another language

lol god you can tell the people who voted for george bush and will vote for mccain cant you

Janie

Actually, I speak Spanish fluently and can get along nicely in German. I also know calculus. Now, stop criticizing and making nonsensical inferences and slither away.

Obama speaks one language.

He should take a decade or two off and learn another one.

obama wants us to learn another language

WHAT A TERRIBLE PERSON

HIS FOLLOWERS DRINK KOOLAID THEY ALL WANT TO LEARN AND BE SMART

WHAT IDIOTS!!!