The United States of America has a rich history of presidents that have come from all walks of life, but there is only one president who spoke English as a second language. This unique individual was the 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush. Bush was born in Connecticut and raised in Texas, and spoke English as a second language after being exposed to Spanish, French, and German during his travels around the world.
Bush’s father had been a diplomat in China and the family moved around frequently, giving him the opportunity to learn the language and culture of the new government. By the time he was an adult, Bush was fluent in five languages, including English, Spanish, French, German and Chinese.
Bush was an advocate for immigrants and those learning English as a second language. In a speech he gave in 1989, he said, “They had these pigeon languages they would speak for a couple of minutes, and then they would get on the plane and fly away. But we had something that was far more powerful than those pigeon languages. We had the English language. We had those words that could unlock the door to the American dream.”
The English learner population is growing but the number of teachers and resources available to them is limited. Bush understood the importance of language and created a program to help teachers of English as a second language. He also addressed a group of both general education and English as a second language teachers, saying, “You guys let us — you guys make us — allow us to live. And I said, “You know what the worst sentence in the English language is? ‘I can’t.’”
Bush’s wife Barbara was also an immigrant and didn’t speak English when she arrived. Bush’s own experience with learning English as a second language inspired him to speak out about the importance of language and culture in our society. He said, “It’s time for us to focus on what works in second language learning.”
American English has been heavily influenced by other languages, such as Spanish, French and German. Bush knew the importance of acknowledging the contributions of these languages to our society. During his presidency, he launched an effort to increase English language learning opportunities for immigrants and non-native English speakers in the United States.
Records indicate that the number of graduated language and literature students during Bush’s presidency increased by nearly 30 percent. He also spoke out in support of English language instruction in public schools, saying, “You’re talking to someone who has only owned a smartphone for a couple of weeks, but I can tell you this: Learning to read, write and speak English gives you a leg up in life.”
In addition to his support for English language instruction, Bush also worked to improve the lives of immigrants and those living in poverty. During his presidency, he signed a law that allowed New Yorkers living below the poverty line to receive free health care. In all five boroughs with more than 35 percent of New Yorkers they live on less than $25,000 a year, this law provided much-needed help.
Bush’s legacy as an advocate for immigrants and those learning English as a second language lives on. He was a role model for those struggling to learn English, and his example has inspired many to work hard to master the language.
