Immigration and the language issue

Nancy Foner, in her book From Ellis Island to JFK, describes how there is a widespread misconception that the immigrants of the past are very different than those of today. The immigrants of the past are thought of being educated and superior in nature to those of today. This is inherently false, as many of them lacked any formal education or skill set. What these two groups of immigrants share is their shared determination to make a better life for themselves in America. However, there is one significant way that the immigrants of the past differed from those today. This difference is how American society views them and adapts to their immigration, specifically in terms of language. Although you may hear people criticize immigrants for not speaking English, these comments reflect an important and valid aspect of immigration that has been defiled and become racist in nature. In the past, immigrants had to come to America and struggle to learn English in order to function in American society. Although this is unfortunate, it seems more appropriate then some of the steps America has taken in recent years to acclimate immigrants to their new homes. Immigration has been made an easier transition by making government forms available in several languages, encouraging employers to be multilingual, and instituting bilingual educational programs. The reason that this is a problem is not because one language or one culture is better than another, but rather because it’s impossible for a country to function properly when there is no uniform language in place. Language is the basis for political activity, the economy, and most importantly the educational system. Without it, confusion increases as everyone is living on different wavelengths. Making it easier for immigrants to come to America and neglect to learn English only makes the functioning of the country more difficult and less efficient for all parties involved. It sounds “accepting” to allow foreigners to immigrate to America and remain dependent on their native language, but in reality it is hurting their ability to participate in society and for society to reach its potential. There are better ways to assist immigrants in learning the English language, like creating better English classes provided by the government that will fulfill both of its objectives; helping immigrants learn English so they can function in society, while still ensuring that the country functions optimally. Although America was built on immigration and should not turn away from that source of greatness for the country, it needs to find a balance regarding its attitude towards immigration and the language barrier.