In article ,
"Morgans" wrote:

"Hamish Reid" wrote

In what sense is Spanish a foreign language in the US? It's the dominant
language in the part of the US I live in...

Just because it is so, does not make it correct.

The United States was made great because of the immigrants moving here, and
the US becoming the "melting pot."

Although there were neighborhoods of native language speakers in large
cities, for the most part, people all learned English, to advance themselves
in our common culture.

Now it does not seem to be fashionable to do so, and is enabled by our
government. Sad.

Youngsters coming into school should be taught English, ONLY, until they are
able to communicate within the classroom setting. Night classes for adults
should be set up, and incentives set out for attending, and becoming English
speakers.

Perhaps no handouts after 6 months, without being functional English
speakers and readers? That would be a start.

There need to be some reversals on policy, soon. I don't see it, though.

None of that really answers the question: in what sense is Spanish a
foreign language in the US? As several people have pointed out, it
predates English in these parts by a long way, and has been spoken
continuously 'round here by immigrants and native-born citizens alike
for all of that time.

Would you call Lakota a foreign language in the US?

Hamish