Against English as Official Language - Michaela, Megan, Laura

For an official language - Emily, Jen, Kevin

Judge - Sarah
Sarah: At the University of Scranton education department, language-based offenses are
considered especially heinous. In McGurrin Hall, the dedicated students who discuss these
crucial issues are members of an elite classroom known as ELL. These are their stories.
[GONG GONG]
Opening Statement:
Sarah: We will begin with the Opening Statements. Those for an official national language, you
may begin.
Emily & Jen: Historically, the majority of the United States has been an overwhelmingly English
speaking nation since it was created and its constitution and foundational documents are in
English. We value diversity, but English should be preserved as our nations primary language
and immigrants have the responsibility to learn English. All of our ancestors immigrated from
someplace and they were required to learn a new language. In an official setting, the national
language should be used, however their primary language can be used in their own personal
lives. 31 states have made English their official language.
By having English as the national language it is less costly to implement within the school
systems. Students can be immersed in an English Only system and will be more likely to adapt
to the American culture. Bilingual education can segregate non-English speakers from other
students. According to a May 2010 survey, 87 percent of Americans believe English should be
our official language. Most states already require English as their official language and it should
be made a standard across the country. English is something that people who live in the United
States need to learn and if it is not the official language then they will be less likely to learn it.
Sarah: Thank you. Now we will turn to those against a national language.
Michaela: There should be no national language. America is built as a nation of immigrants.
When this country was founded, there were a multitude of languages spoken around the
colonies. We continue to be a nation of immigrants. 61.6 million Americans speak a language,
other than English in their homes according to the Center for Immigration Studies. This number
continues to rise. America is a melting pot and the home of the free, where we are guaranteed
our first amendment right to freedom of speech. Implementing a national language would be like
implementing a national religion. It would be a violation of our constitutional rights. A national
language supports segregation and a culture of discrimination and intolerance. It destroys any
efforts to preserve and protect individual cultures.
Megan: There are those who suggest that when a person moves to America they must reject
their native language and culture in order to speak English. This is not correct. Those of us who
do speak English still retain the cultures of our ancestors. With each new wave of immigration,
we come up with different ways to discriminate against them. The English only movement is an
example of this discrimination. It is a violation of civil rights. The ability to speak another
language is not a detriment; it is necessary advantage to competing in the growing international
market. Additionally, to teach English teachers need to integrate the students native language.
Otherwise, they either sink or swim and cannot succeed in society, school, or the work force.

Cross Examination:
Sarah: Thank you to both sides. Now, we will transition into the Cross Examination. Those for a
national language, you may begin.
Kevin: Hola me llamo Kevin Williams, Gracias por su declaracin: en un intento de mostrar por
qu Ingls tiene que ser la lengua nacional de los Estados Unidos, voy a hacer preguntas al
azar en espaol: por qu crees as? Esto har mucho ms sentido si hablaba en Ingles?
Response: what?
Kevin: see, wouldnt this statement I have made be more effective if I has spoken in a language
we could have all understood? If we had a set national language it would make sense to
everyone. English is most widely spoken language in the United States, if everyone spoke and
understood English, we would not have such communication errors.
Let me ask you a few questions about your argument:
Have you considered that millions of immigrants whom came to the United States seeking a
better life were more than willing to learn the language, while still keeping their own native
tongue?
(Response)
We are not arguing that these people need to give up their native language socially, simply that
all legal documents, information, street signs, and pretty much everything else will be in English
On the education front, you mention that students will either sink or swim when immersed in
English. Have you considered that simple immersion into the English Language is a much better
option for students to learn the language?
(Response)
Wouldnt the standard of having English only unite our country, make it stronger, avoid
confusion, and create a new American identity?
(Response)
In regards to your claim of discrimination, and the idea that a National language will infringe
upon our first amendment rights, it seems that 31 states find that it does not infringe on these
rights as they have adopted English as their official language, so why shouldnt the entire
country follow suit?
(Response)
Final question: Money and maintaining a strict budget is of the upmost importance for schools,
the states, and the National government. How much will maintaining a bilingual system cost
taxpayers? And is it worth the cost?
(response)
Sarah: Thank you. We will now move to those against an official national language.
Laura:

-You opened your statement saying that English was the founding language of our nation. What
about native Americans that were already in the United States before it was founded? Also,
wasnt our nation founded by immigrants from all over Europe?
-You said that you value diversity, well how are you really valuing diversity if you are forcing
individuals to learn a new language? If we were really living in a diverse country or society,
wouldnt you want diverse languages?
-Immigrants to the United States have never been legally required to learn English. Many official
interactions require the use of a translator. By implementing a nation language, wouldnt you be
taking away jobs not only from immigrants, but also, from native English speakers?
-You spoke to us to in Spanish and claimed that our lack of understanding validated instituting a
national language. However, if our nation instead was accepting and encouraging of diverse
languages, wouldnt everyone in this room not only understand what I am saying now, but also
the Spanish you were speaking earlier?
-Are you saying that money is more important than the education of children? Dont you want
your students to be well-rounded, accepting of other cultures, and have the opportunity to
participate in the international market?
-By forcing students into English-only educational environments, arent encouraging a sink-orswim system? Isnt it possible that some students will lose motivation and perform poorly in the
classroom because they are not receiving the supports they need?
Closing Statement
Sarah: Thank you both for your cross examinations. We will now move to closing statements.
Those in favor of an official national language, you may begin.
Emily & Jen: We need to recognize the historical fact that the United States has been an
overwhelmingly English-speaking nation since it was created. Even though the people in the
United States value and respect diversity, we should preserve English as our common language
and therefore immigrants have the responsibility to learn English. Speaking English is a
guaranteed way for new immigrants to succeed in school, increase their earning potential, and
enhance their career options. It is a language that brings people together from different
ethnicities all over the country. In countries all across the world, English is essentially required in
the school systems and in order to obtain a steady job. A whopping 60 of the worlds 196
countries have declared English as their official language, including Australia, Canada, and New
Zealand.
Both the courts and America's citizens and immigrants have sent a clear message: We must
unite our country behind our proud national language, help new immigrants advance by learning
it, and save taxpayer dollars by making English our national language. While we respect
diversity and every individuals right to speak their native language in their homes, learning
English is necessary to succeed in the United States. If we want to ensure the success of our
students in the United States, we need to make English the common language.
Michaela: Implementing English as the official language of the United States would be a
detriment to this great nation. As we mentioned earlier, America is a nation of immigrants and

we should be proud of this heritage, rather than trying to hide it. Also, according to
pewresearch.org, there are more than 37 million speakers in the United States today that speak
Spanish among people ages 5 and older. It is considered one of the fastest-growing languages,
with the number of speakers up 233% since 1980. This shows that the language changes and
that English may not always be the predominant language in America.
Megan: We should embrace our cultural diversity because it is what sets us apart from other
nations. It would not segregate individuals, but rather increase acceptance of different
languages and cultures and would encourage education and the learning of new languages. It
would promote individuals ability to participate in the international market. It would also promote
brain activity and allow for individuals to increase their adaptability and level of function.
Laura: If English is the official language, it would segregate those who cannot learn English
from the rest of their society. We want all of our children to succeed and become participants in
the world community. Allowing for a diversity of languages is necessary in order to make this
happen because students recieve the supports and encouragement they need.To sum up our
argument, implementing an official language is discrimination and against our constitutional
rights.
Sarah: The jury has delivered the verdict. By an overwhelming vote, they have decided to vote
against instating an official national language. Thank you all for your time. Court dismissed.