Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Languages and Linguistics

raccoon

(31,984 posts) Mon Dec 10, 2012, 04:49 PM Dec 2012

IME, American public schools tended to teach French more than any other language. [View all]

(not counting English).

I'm referring to, like the 1950's - going into the 1970's.

I believe I read somewhere that because some schools stopped teaching German because of WWI.

But even so, what was the big deal about French? Even in the 1950's there were far more Spanish speakers than French speakers in the Western Hemisphere.

So...why was French so often the foreign-language-of-choice?

8 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

IME, American public schools tended to teach French more than any other language. [View all] raccoon Dec 2012 OP

It was the prestigious foreign language and the language of international diplomacy Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2012 #1

Incredible! " ONE Mexican restaurant in the entire Twin Cities metropolitan area" raccoon Dec 2012 #2

Was the restaurant "Little Tijuana"? geardaddy Dec 2012 #3

No, it was La Casa Coronado in St. Paul Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2012 #4

Yep, that makes sense. geardaddy Dec 2012 #5

Maybe social class matters? JennyD Mar 2014 #7

I have encountered snooty attitudes against Spanish Lydia Leftcoast Mar 2014 #8

When I was going to high school AsahinaKimi Feb 2013 #6

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Languages and Linguistics»IME, American public scho...»Reply #0