Speaking out about bilingualism

Re “A bilingual message for Ms. Xenophobe,” Opinion, Sept. 22

Bravo to Andres Martinez for his persuasive anecdote and argument in favor of bilingualism in this country. As a high school Spanish teacher, for years I have tried to impart a similar message to my multicultural students and their parents, occasionally with success, as evidenced by the number of former students -- primarily Anglo -- who take a college semester abroad either in Spain or Mexico.

Now I will be able to require that my students read Martinez’s column to provide them with the perspective and inspiration they need to achieve long-term personal and professional success.

PAUL TORRES

Altadena

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Perhaps Ms. Xenophobe isn’t against American children learning a second or even third language while they are young.

Perhaps she, like myself, believes American children should at least master English while preschool age.

I had a neighbor who was bilingual but raised her children speaking only Spanish. When asked when she was going to teach her 4-year-old son some English as he was approaching school age, she replied, “Oh, the school can teach him English.”

And we wonder why our state’s test scores are so low!

CHRIS CHENEY

Santa Ana

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Every child in California, at least in Southern California, should speak both Spanish and English. It is a crime that they don’t. I taught in Peru, where all the children in the American School of Lima spoke both languages. They could chatter in both languages.

We place our children at such a disadvantage when it is “English only.”

LORETTA M. LANGLOIS

Irvine