English language learners in U.S. K-12 public schools are a diverse group from many different states and native language backgrounds.
A median of 92% of European students are learning a language in school. Far fewer K-12 students in the U.S. participate in foreign language education.
The share of Latino parents who ensure the Spanish language lives on with their children declines as their immigrant connections become more distant.
High intermarriage rates and declining immigration are changing how some Americans with Hispanic ancestry see their identity. Most U.S. adults with Hispanic ancestry self-identify as Hispanic, but 11%, or 5 million, do not.
Spanish speaking at home has declined in the top 25 metros with the largest Hispanic populations.
The share of U.S. Latinos who speak the language has declined over the past decade or so: 73% of Latinos spoke Spanish at home in 2015, down from 78% in 2006.
There were a record 43.2 million immigrants living in the U.S. in 2015, making up 13.4% of the nation’s population. This represents a fourfold increase since 1960, when only 9.7 million immigrants lived in the U.S.
In a number of countries, people place a low premium on the importance of being native born to national identity. However, many
say speaking the dominant language and sharing customs is important to "truly" be considered a national.
New census data show that 263 counties, cities and other jurisdictions in 29 states will now be required to print election ballots in non-English languages.
In 2020, census questionnaires may for the first time be offered in Arabic, now the fastest-growing language in the U.S. But the Census Bureau faces a challenge not only in translating the language but also in adjusting the appearance of the questionnaire for those accustomed to reading and writing Arabic script.
