It IS much more difficult for an adult to learn a language than it is for a child to learn a language, that's for sure! I'm amazed at these tiny children I see here ... four or five years old! ... translating what is said to them in English into Spanish for their parents.

I think requiring a second language in our school system is an excellent idea. I personally think everyone should be bilingual, no matter what country they live in. Of course, I think we should all get to choose which language we learn, not have it a requirement, made by our government.

I also don't think any country should be required or feel obligated to teach a parallel school curiculum to imigrants in their native tongue.

My son's father's family is Hispanic. My son speaks no Spanish whatsoever, although he will probably take it when he enter junior high. My son's father speaks no more Spanish than I do ... pertinent phrases and basic nouns and verbs. His parents speak a little more. His grandparents are fluent, but also fluent in English. His great-grandparents knows pertinent phrases and basic nouns and verbs in English, but basically speak only Spanish. I think that is common, each generation that is here speaks English better.