Foreign-language study should be viewed positively

“In the new study, Missouri and Kansas showed some of the lowest numbers of foreign-language speakers in the nation. Still, some legislators in Missouri have discussed measures to make English the official language of the state. Such unnecessary projects are often based on the mistaken impression that immigrants resist learning English or that they lack loyalty to the United States.

Immigrants are a self-selected, highly motivated population. It takes drive and courage to leave all that is familiar: family, home and country. These immigrants, like those of previous generations, have generally understood that success is tied to learning English. American society can help them by offering adult English classes and funding public schools so children can become fluent in several languages.”

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