Mexican Americans and Language

As was mentioned in previous blogs, MA are one of, if not thee fastest growing Spanish speaking segments of the population in the United States. With so many non-English speaking individuals it can raise the problem of these individuals not being able to assimilate as they struggle with a language barrier. This problem is only amplified as those who fail to acculturate become older Americans. In a report done by the U.S. Senate done in 1989 it was estimated that there would be a 500% increase in the population of those individuals of Spanish speaking origin. (Olson) Without having learned English by this time, older MA education will continue to stagnate."...57% of people 41 to 64 years old and 65% of Spanish speakers 65 years old and over reported their English speaking ability as less than very well." (Shin, and Kominski) As has been shown, lower levels of education leads to a life at a lower socioeconomic level which has been shown to be associated with increased levels of risk for chronic diseases. (Hamman) It shouldn't be surprising that this is the case since much of life's navigation require that you are informed. Without adequate information on health risks, lifestyle adjustments, theories of aging, and access to higher education regarding theses matters, people will remain uninformed. MA and other Spanish speaking individuals need to have access to classes that allow them to study the language of which much of the information is disseminated.

Works Cited

Hamman, R. F., J. A. Marshall, J. Baxter, L.B. Kahn, E. J. Mayer, M. Orleans, J. R. Murphy, and D. C. Lezotte. 1989. "Methods and Prevalence of Non-Insulin_Dependent diabetes in a Biethnic Colorado Population: The San Luis Valley Diabetes Study." American Journal of Epidemiology 129, no. 2:295-311.

Olson, Laura . Age through Ethnic Lenses. Oxford: Rowman $ Lettlefield, 2001. Print.  

 

Shin, H. B., and R. A. Kominski. "Language Use in the United States: 2007." U.S. Census Official Website. U.S. Department of Commerce, 2010. Web. 20 Feb 2012. <http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/acs-12.pdf>.