New Bedford Urges Businesses To Fund English Learning

Leave it to the officials in the city of New Bedford in their infinite wisdom to hatch a plan as discussed in you article “New Bedford Urges Businesses To Fund English Learning” New Bedford, where I was born and raised and lived until about two years ago has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state of MA. A plan that would require businesses to fund the teaching of English as a second language sounds like a huge deterrant to setting up shop in New Bedford. Moreover, why should current business owners, many of whom are struggling to stay afloat, be required to fund such a program. I understand that it could be to their benefit in the long run to have a workforce that is fluent in English, but who’s to say that once these people are taught the language they’ll stay in New Bedford anyway? The program would need to be set up with stipulations that require graduates of the program to remain in the city. Meanwhile, who would be footing the bill for their living expenses while they are enrolled in the program?
This brings to mind another topic that I think of from time to time. Why do today’s immigrants, specifically Hispanic immigrants, have such a hard time assimilating to the American culture…specifically the English language?
I returned to the US last week after a three week stay in Europe. I won’t say that I’m fluent in that particular country’s language…but I learned some key phrases, including niceities. I also was only on vacation…not seeking employment.
It bothers me that so many of our ancestors struggled to learn English when they emmigrated to the US in the late 1800′s and early 1900′s, yet today’s immigrants seem to need so much more assistance. Did the immigrants of the past try harder to assimilate? Are today’s immigrants not trying hard enough?
Visit your local Wal-Mart and take a look around at the signage in the building. The sign that marks the “mens” department is also labelled “hombres”. Bathroom signs are also labeled in the Spanish “banos”. Is corporate America making things easier for non-English speaking people by displaying signs in two languages? Or, will this make it harder for non-english speaking people in the long run? I am of the opinion that the more you do for someone, the less they do for themselves. I guess we’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime…does it really make sense for the private sector to involve itself in public matters? Does it make sense for businesses (especially in an economically depressed city like New Bedford) to have to pay their employees to learn English before they can even become productive members of the workforce?
We’ll have to wait and see