Schwarzenegger: Turn Off Spanish TV

[madeline_con]

This guy just DOES NOT get it! :eyes:

Schwarzenegger: Turn Off Spanish TV

(06-14) 16:29 PDT San Jose, Calif. (AP) --


Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told a gathering of Hispanic journalists that immigrants should avoid Spanish-language media if they want to learn English quickly.


"You've got to turn off the Spanish television set" and avoid Spanish-language television, books and newspapers, the Republican governor said Wednesday night at the annual convention of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

more...

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/06/14/national/a162328D73.DTL

[Maestro]

1. Man, this guy's brain cells do not work.

I really do not know how to comment on this because it is so stupid.

[EFerrari]

34. Maybe he's selling the Encyclopedia Britannica on the side.

:rofl:

[roody]

2. Yeah, especially since it has better world news

than English tv. He would not want you to know what is going on in neighboring countries.

[EVDebs]

3. Only if you don't veto SB840 single payer healthcare bill ! nt

[pnwmom]

4. You do realize that when he came here he didn't speak English?

He's advocating for the "immersion" method of learning a language, and he's speaking as an immigrant himself.

[rocktivity]

5. Why doesn't he spring for English subtitles?

I think all foreign language programs should have English subtitles.

:headbang:
rocknation

[roody]

6. Too bad he is ignorant about language

acquisition even though he acquired a second language.

[Dogmudgeon]

8. Right suggestion, wrong emphasis

Watching TV in the language you are trying to learn is an excellent suggestion.

But Arnie is dead wrong to say "turn off the Spanish TV".

The idea is to add to what you know, not replace it.

--p!

[RB TexLa]

7. Enter the "They gotta learn English now" wing of DU in 5. . 4. . 3. . 2. . 1 . .

[ben_meyers]

9. Ya think what he is saying

Is that to take full advantage of the educational, employment and political opportunities that this country has to offer, a good working knowledge of English might be helpful? One way to become proficient is to use the language at all times. I don't think he means to forget spanish. Arnold himself claims he improved his english by watching american media. At one time it was illegal to educate slaves in this country to keep them "stupid" and out of the main stream.

[madrchsod]

10. i love spanish speaking television channels

i have no idea what they are saying but the women and soccer are no problem when it comes to language..actually i would like to know what they are saying on the news.

[murielm99]

11. I used to work for

Literacy Volunteers. I worked with ESL adults. Some were Korean, some were Vietnamese. One was a German lady who spoke perfect English with no accent, but she could not read or write English.

Many of them learned to speak English by watching television and listening to the radio. It was a good form of language immersion for them. Most of them came to me or a volunteer like me to learn to read and write in English after they had developed speaking skills.

I think that Arnold may not have put this well, but he meant it well. I think he meant that people should move away from the comfortable and use their TVs to get used to English.

My daughter speaks Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese. She likes to watch Spanish TV. It helps keep her language skills sharp.

Arnold may be speaking from experience here. There are plenty of other reasons to criticize him.

[silverweb]

12. Actually, he's got a point.

I generally can't stand Ahnuld, but language immersion is a very good idea for people who want to learn.

I'm trying to learn Spanish because I live I Mexico now. Since I work at home and don't interact in the community all that much, it's kind of tough to practice enough.

A friend who teaches ESL suggested I break my anti-TV taboo and get a little TV set, then watch the news and familiar programs in Spanish. He also said to just leave it on in the background frequently to become familiar with the sound and cadence of the language. It's supposed to be a great way to learn the language.

Suggesting that people who want/need to learn English focus on English-language programming and publications to help themselves learn is actually quite a good idea.

[DBoon]

16. This is good personal advice

But I would expect Arnold to talk about public policies to encourage immigrants to learn English. Like maybe some more funding for ESL programs?

After all, he is governor, and that is part of his job.

[silverweb]

26. Of course.

But I can't comment on that at the moment, because I don't know what he may or may not be doing in that area, or whether or not he may have commented on other means of learning in this particular interview or speech or whatever it was.

The problem is a huge one and needs a multi-pronged approach, and I see his suggestion of using the English-language media, both airwaves and print, as a very good one. That certainly doesn't mean that ESL classes/funding, etc, should be neglected.

[nerddem]

43. cuidado

a veces ese tipo de razonamiento logico no esta tolerado. hay tiempos que por aqui, si no sigues una ideologia dura y francamente inconsistente, estas cagado.

y como aparentemente no apoyan la imersion idiomatica, mi mensaje sera perdido en el olvido, deshecho por todos aquellos que se estan autolimitando cuando dicen que uno deberia dedicarse a solo el periodismo de su idioma.

[silverweb]

44. Gracias.

Mi español es terrible, pero podía entender (con la ayuda de mi computadora).

Los idiomas son importantes aprender la lengua. No cada uno entiende eso. He estado aquí no seis meses, pero puedo comunicar -- con un cierto humor y mi libro español. La gente es muy provechosa y divertida. Pienso que ella aprecia que estoy intentando.

Los comerciantes y los taxistas son los profesores muy mejores. Son paciente y buena y graciosamente. Quizás en seis meses más, seré semi-fluido. :D

[DBoon]

13. I understand most immigrants are very motivated to learn English

As Governor, perhaps Arnold could suggest applying some of the state's resources to support this goal? Or maybe RAISING TAXES?

[Decruiter]

14. Can't you just imagine, VP Schwarzenegger. Soon to be Prez. Scary as all hell! n/t

[Decruiter]

17. Imagine the ticket: Thompson, Schwarzeneggar

Editing after Mrs. D....
Actors for everyone!
Then the prez gets assassinated, and Ahnold gets the throne!

[EFerrari]

15. What kind of priviliged @sshole do you have to be to suggest

that working people avoid the media that they can understand?

Oh, thanks, Ahnold. After I finish up at work and take care of my family, I'll settle in and watch teevee that I don't understand with my leftover energy and time. If I don't fall asleep first.

So, I may not really be informed but I won't be informed in English! Voila.

[MadBadger]

18. The priviliged ass hole who wants to help people learn english?

[RB TexLa]

19. Because free human beings should be told what language to speak

right?

:crazy:

[MadBadger]

20. He said "If you want to learn English quickly"

Do you see the word "want?"

[EFerrari]

22. And that word shows you how out of touch he is with most people

who would like to learn English. It's not a matter of "want" but of scarce resources.

[MadBadger]

27. I think this conversation is just showing how close-minded you are

To me, the guy is trying to help, but you cant get past the name Arnold.

[EFerrari]

28. No, I think this conversation shows how little most people really know

what's it's like to be a worker who isn't fluent in English.

And I'll just ignore the insult, thanks.

[roody]

50. I am close minded about Arnold.

He is a liar, and I am embarrassed that he is governor of my state. He also is ignorant about language acquisition. I can watch Chinese tv all day long forever and it will continue mean nothing.

[EFerrari]

21. Maybe he should teach by example?

And since when is El Grope an expert on language aquisition?

Why isn't he funding ESL in this state instead of dissing the Spanish language media?

[MadBadger]

25. Well he did come to this country speaking very little english

maybe just maybe he is leading by example and saying what helped him learn best.

[EFerrari]

29. Him and his team of handlers?

[freeplessinseattle]

46. there was an Austrian tv channel when he moved here? n/t

[riverdale]

45. a person who is wrong about one thing can be right about another

Jesus Christ. He is an expert on language acquisition. He came over from Austria and learned English. Perhaps you have noticed, he has an accent...

[EFerrari]

49. No, he's not an expert on language acquisition. n/t

[nerddem]

41. maybe the kind of [nonprivileged] asshole

that understood to take care of the two most important things when immigrating here as quickly as possible, one of them being learning english.

i know someone who's been here for decades, and who continues to learn american english mannerisms, idioms, and slang by watching english-language television. how is this person going to get that from univision or telemundo? as for the elitist remark about "working people"--where you implied that somehow these people are supposed to have a lesser or more simple comprehension or motivation, or god-knows-what--such that they can't handle english-language television, my econ professor from argentina with a phd has a ridiculously strong accent, that, because i'm a native spanish speaker can decipher, while a lot of my peers can't. my mother, however, is one such purportedly privileged asshole for finding that english exposure helps.

i guess while i'm at it, i should apologize for myself as well. seeing as i'm just another privileged asshole (working a decidedly stereotypical latino job in construction) coming from two other privileged assholes (both of who spent the majority of their careers in america in the hotel industry), that would pretty much doom any suggestions i could provide for other people in my situation. although i should mention that my job is only part time while i'm at school, i should also mention that my family is so privileged that we have to take out massive loans for me to study in a private university, to which you may reply, "well, you willingly chose to go to a private school."
to which i'd reply, "ah, yes, indeed, well since i am privileged, i have to go private."
i mean, goddamn, i was lucky enough to be ridiculously privileged in 1st grade when my parents both worked two full time jobs and i had to immerse myself in english-language media, otherwise I wouldn't have developed such a vast vocabulary and linguistic prowess: clearly with my highly-above-average english skill i'm encroaching on the god-given advantages to native english speakers. my bad.

but thanks for reminding me that my family are a bunch of privileged assholes, i do need to chastise my dad for buying a nissan instead of the 3-series i suggested. after all, bmw's xenon headlights would have illuminated the road better when he has to leave the house at 430 in the morning to go to work and come back at 6.

[EFerrari]

48. I was speaking about the privileged asshole in our State House

who billed us while he lived in hotels because he was too special to live in the Governor's mansion. That privileged asshole. So please untwist your knickers.

I learned how to speak English watching television, btw, and I was certainly not casting asparagus on our Latino community.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

23. I think what he means is that you don't learn a new language until you

move out of your comfort zone.

It's surprising and discouraging how many American expatriates in other countries don't speak the local language. I used to know an American couple who told me that one didn't need to learn more than a few words of Japanese to get along. The saddest thing was that their children, who were five and seven when they came to Japan, didn't speak Japanese either. There is an English-speaking golden ghetto in Tokyo, and a person can move around entirely in the English-speaking community.

I've also seen American students who went on study abroad programs in Japan and spent all their time hanging out with other English speakers. I'm glad that I went to a university where there was only one other English-speaking student, an Australian. I hung out with Chinese, Thai, Korean, Brazilian, and Malaysian students instead, and our common language was Japanese. I took all my classes in Japanese, and on the advice of my professor back home, I became a couch potato (or futon potato :-) ) in front of the TV, watching the news, dramas, variety shows, and documentaries. On the subway, I read manga and Japanese murder mysteries.

I was totally immersed in Japan except on Sundays, when I attended the English-speaking Lutheran church.

Even when I went back to the States, I kept studying by renting videos of popular Japanese TV shows. It's how I kept my language skills sharp in between trips to Japan.

[EFerrari]

24. Most of my friends struggling with English can't afford to have

a comfort zone.

[ben_meyers]

31. But I'll bet they have access to English media

And maybe they should take advantage of the opportunity to improve their English skills in order to improve their comfort zones! Or would that be too much to expect. After all, I'm sure you had everything handed to you on a silver platter.

[EFerrari]

33. You don't know anyone who doesn't speak English, do you?

[ben_meyers]

36. Hell, I live in Arizona

Half this state struggles with English, I deal with people every day that don't speak the language, and they suffer for it!

[EFerrari]

37. Then you know as well as I do how hard it is to aquire a second language.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

56. I'm not saying that it's easy to learn a second language, but I think that

what Schwarzenegger was trying to say (as one who had to learn English as a second language himself--and I can't believe I'm agreeing with him here) that there is a natural temptation to cling to people who speak your native language and that it takes a conscious effort to get out there and learn.

I'm not talking about the racist stereotype of "Mexicans refusing to learn English." I'm talking about maybe not being aware how much language you can learn by watching TV.

Most immigrants do learn English, and TV, for all its other failings, definitely helps the process. When I was trying to improve my Japanese, I found that soap operas were the easiest to understand, followed by other types of dramas, then variety shows, then newscasts, and worst of all, comedies and talk shows, because I didn't "get" the Japanese sense of humor.

[EFerrari]

57. I learned English from the teevee, Lydia. That and in kindergarten.

:hi:

[bumblebee1]

30. I saw the same thing while I was serving abroad while in the Navy.

The housing area across the road from the base was nicknamed "Little America." Luckily while in Greece, I worked with our Greek interpreters. I learned enough Greek to get around and to read a menu. I also got good enough to translate the names from Greek to Latin letters. I only spent two years in Greece, so I'm not very fluent in Greek.

[EFerrari]

32. Someone needs to read the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to this idiot.

That little doc that makes Spanish the co-equal language in all the territories we took in the Mexican American War. I bet there's even an English translation out there somewhere. :sarcasm:

Earth to Arnold: you are an ignorant disgrace to the state of California.

[Initech]

35. Aw man, I love my Telemundo!!

:popcorn:

[EFerrari]

38. Turn it off or you'll get kooties!

Ahnold, our leading intellectual, says so.

lol

[ben_meyers]

39. Wow, that's kind of racist

Arnold, and I agree with him here, is saying that in order to succeed in America it might be a good idea to learn the language. I don't know where you live, but here in Arizona I wouldn't even consider that a Spanish speaking Mexican American would have kooties. Holey Smokes, they seem as clean as everybody else. What do you know that I don't?

[EFerrari]

47. We seem clean to you, ben? Good to know that. n/t

[Starbucks Anarchist]

53. And so articulate, too!

:rofl:

[EFerrari]

55. We don't really know how to have this conversation, do we?

lol

[MisterP]

40. doesn't this blockhead have a chimney to push over?

or a student visa to work on, or Nixon-Humphrey TV debates to fabricate (that even made its way to a Nixon Library t-shirt), or Russians to cry about, or tongues to force up assistants' God-only-knows-what?
I speak German and don't know what the hell he's mumbling about most of the time

[saltpoint]

42. I don't think any immigrants should pay a whole lot of attention to

Arnold Schwartzenegger. The less they pay, the better off they'd be, is my guess.

A lot of Republicans can't even speak English. Has anyone ever heard Sen. Jim Bunning complete a sentence in the last 20 years? And if they have, was it even remotely coherent? Why would anyone take Republicans' advice on Spanish television?

Or any other topic, for that matter.

The GOP is really off the charts on the immigration issue -- they're not getting it at all. Now Schwartzenegger -- in a state vote-rich in Hispanic culture and community -- is telling an entire people to ignore the linguistic glue that binds them and makes them feel identified and self-supported.

What Hispanic immigrants should turn off is any newscast featuring Republican candidates for public office.

[EFerrari]

58. I think that's about to happen. Seriously. The obverse of

all this xenophobia the Thugs are fanning is the rest of us Latinos who are citizens and who are watching this. A lot of our families have members with different kinds of status -- citizens, residents, undocumented and so on. So, the Republicans have basically just thrown away the Latino block. They'll have to go back to suppressing the vote in any way they can because the community is pissed.

I bet Latino voter registration goes 'way up for this next election and it will be ours.

[saltpoint]

59. I love your prediction and I'm betting on the same horse.

I look at our line-up of Democrats and see a much more diverse group than the GOP's offerings.

Howdy-do you good person you.

[EFerrari]

60. They have my 75 yr old Mom out registering voters in East San Jose.

Oops!

TGIF, Old Crusoe. :hi:

[saltpoint]

63. Tell your Mom to register as many Democratic-leaning voters as

humanly possible, and good for her to be out there providing fuel for Madison & Jefferson's on-going government. Tell her thanks for me.

[roody]

51. Where do you get a Spanish tv set?

How many Mexicans and Central Americans that walk through the desert and risk their lives to get here have completed elementary school? Your second language is built on your first language. You do not take away the first language to learn another. F^^^ Arnold. This is a classist debate.

[Bridget Burke]

52. Schwarzenegger's English still needs work.

It's great to encourage learning English. But Spanish language media are not the enemy. Sometimes you need to hear details of the news in a language you can understand. (Yes, Spanish language news has better international coverage.) What if you want to follow your favorite telenovela? What if you want to follow futbol?

Immersion learning is a fine way to learn a language. But it's a bit exhausting & generally not done while one is holding a full time job. Why not fund more ESL classes?

Schwarzenegger still makes excuses for his failures to communicate:

In the past two elections, Schwarzenegger has garnered more Latino support at the polls than most Republican governors, despite some seemingly anti-immigration blunders, such as the time when he praised the Minutemen border militia group on a talk radio show.

He explained away some of these statements as slip-ups made by someone who hasn't always been in public service.

"When you're not brought up in public light, being a politician, you sometimes don't say things that are politically correct," Schwarzenegger explained. "Like when I said 'close the border,' when I meant 'secure the border."'

www.thecalifornian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070615/NEWS06/706150324/1050

And he believes these immigrants are different from all the earlier ones:

The governor said it can be more difficult for Latinos because they may have many Spanish-speaking peers, so they are not forced to learn English as quickly as other immigrant groups.

He missed the great wave of German-speaking immigrants. The neighborhoods filled with German speakers have been filled with newer immigrants--as the children & grandchildren learned English & moved to suburbia. And the German newspapers went out of business.

Schwarzenegger "immersed" himself in English by working out at a Gold's gym under the "patronage" of Joe Weider. (No job required.) And his first lover here was an English teacher; he lived with her for five years. Hardly the typical immigrant experience.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold_Schwarzenegger

[brook]

54. What a bonehead.

Time for Maria to jump in and pull his size 14 out of his Austrian mouth again.

[AandP]

61. Actually

immersion is the best way to learn a language, is that what he meant? or is he just being a typical repug?

[EFerrari]

62. Welcome to DU, AandP.

:)