Problem 1: Based on the materials you reviewed, what assumptions are the authors making about the role of language in assimilation? What stage of Gordon's model are they discussing? Do the authors believe that a group can adjust successfully to U.S. society without learning English?
Problem 2: Can you identify some social class aspects of the issue of bilingualism and multilingualism? Which economic classes would benefit from an English-only policy? Which economic classes are hurt? How? Why?
Problem 3: Would making Spanish an official second language threaten societal unity, as U.S. English argues? Is the "English-only" movement a disguise for prejudice and intolerance? Please take a position and support your position with evidence from the assigned readings.
Problem 4: Based on your reading and research, share a question with your classmates that they can comment on. The question should be related to the main topic and the concepts discussed this week.