I've been lucky enough to travel to many countries throughout Europe. I know first hand how hard it is to visit a country and not know the language. But I think it's wrong to move to another country and not even attempt to learn the language. Every Walmart I go to has spanish below the department names, When ever I order something at Wendys they always shout it back to the cooks in spanish. This is wrong because it doesn't help the immigrant to learn english. Until they learn to speak our language it will be impossible for them to get a good job to support their family. I don't want it to seem as though i'm only picking on hispanics because its not only them who refuse to learn our language. I understand that its not easy to learn another language, i took five years of Spanish and it still doesn't come easy to me, and I sympathize with those who try but cannot comprehend all the unique rules of our language. But at least attempt it, we need to stop making it so easy for those who don't speak our language so that they have some motivation to learn english!!
No habla ingles
By last republican... - Posted on November 5th, 2006
Tagged: Society
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I agree with you wholeheartedly! My mom is a nurse, and often the six-twelve year old children of patients have to translate to their parents because they have chosen not to learn English. Lazy, innappropriate, and unfair.
How are they suppose to learn English? Just pick up a book one day and magically start reading.
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I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
What if they shout to the cooks in English and then you get your orders wrong?
"You are narrow-minded because you disagree with me."
yes, there would be a lawsuit for every meal.
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I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
I really get annoyed with people like that, if you want to come to America for a better life for you and your family learning the language is a must, to me at least. It isnt fair to me, that I need a translator, a 10 yr. old to speak to someone who asks me a question at work.
If you want them to learn English, help them, make them feel welcome, help them make the transition between their old life and new life harder. Don't complain do something.
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I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
Perhaps some of our tax dollars that we pay to provide translators at hospitals should go towards creating an English class for these immigrants to attend.
For some people, they just don't want to learn English and quite frankly, they don't need to. In the U.S. we cater to other languages. Signs in stores, directions in multiple languages, translators and many other ways can be found everywhere. It's amazing how quickly one can become fluent in another language when they immerse themselves in it.
How do we expect them to learn when we do not help them in the transition process. If everything is handed to you, there is a good chance of you never doing anything. They already have heard as it is, and when you bitch about them not knowing how to speak English; what are they suppose to do call the genie?
Dont judge a person, when you do not know their situation?
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I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
I'm not pretending to understand their situation; I have no idea what they're going through. I'm proposing that they try a tiny bit harder to learn the official language of the country in which they reside. I'm also saying that the U.S. makes it too easy to encourage them not to learn English.
We have foreign exchange students that come to my school. At the beginning of the year, their English is very simplistic, by the end of their stay here, they're nearly fluent. They learn more by immersing themself in the English culture. We don't have signs up in Danish, don't have television programs in Danish, don't encourage them to speak Danish. That is what we need to do with Spanish and Hmong. We encourage them to continue speaking their language and that is what I believe we need to change.
Maybe that is because they do not work full time, try to support a family, try to be their for their kids. Give these people a break. Just because you may have an easy life, does not mean everyone does, and not everyone is presented with the same opportunity.
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I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
I like the way you jump to the conclusion that I have an easy life. I don't. I'm considered white, therefore I won't be getting as many scholarships as any of the immigrants I've been speaking of would. I work a 20 plus hour week, have ten classes and do my co-curriculurs. My parents don't make much money as a truck driver and teacher's aide, yet, I won't get much financial aid, because once again, I'm white. I don't have an easy life and don't appreciate you presuming to know anything of it.
How can they work full time when they can't even converse in proper English? What do they do?
I am giving them a break, I don't expect people just coming into our country to speak fluent English. I expect those that have been here 3, 5, 10, 15 years to speak it. I don't think that's too much to ask. If they reap the benefits of this country, then the least they could do is speak the language of the country.
I do not know what you are talking about. There are thousands of need based scholarships that do not look at your race, ethnicity and religion at all. There are thousands of scholarships out there for merit based students; not to mention thousands of private scholarships that simply require essays. You can easily get one of these schoalarships seeing that it is not based on any ones race.
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I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
You're right, there are quite a few need based and merit based ones. However, there are thousands more for ethnic "minorities." I put minorities in quotes because they outnumber the "majority" whites in my state of residence. Plus, the needs and merit based ones are up for competition between all races, therefore narrowing my chances even more. It's a well-known fact that it's hardest for the white male to receive scholarships, followed quickly by the white female.
I notice you didn't respond to the second part of my previous response. Is that because you agree or just decline to respond?
Sorry, I didnt read it all the way through. I dont think you are asking for much. HOwever, without the resources and the help they are handicapped.
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I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
Heh. I love how skinny our little conversation has gotten, I find it amusing. From reading previous posts, I find you have firsthand experience of this and because of that you offer a unique perspective.
I don't mean to be as forceful as I come across. I just believe in the U.S. we make it far too easy for immigrants to just settle and continue speaking their language. They have no incentive to change and that's what is wrong.
I hope I have not offended you in any way or form. That is not what I meant to do. You should read my blog on Affirmative Action (cont). I went to a tech day and was very offended, and I guess it came out in my blogs.
However, I can show you a lot of different perspectives in the situation you give me.
1. Some people just do not care(there are people like this in every race, ethnic group, religion).
2. They have tried, not received helped and have given up.
3. They are too busy in their everyday life to give a damn what the Americans (sorry do not hope to offend anyone) care.
4. They were forced to live in low income area, where there were a lot of minorities, and did not need to learn the language.
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I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
More tax dollars I don't think so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Maybe some of the money they make from working ssssooooo hard for they them selves should invest in thier own learning material.Why should my tax dollars support them?Dont welfare get enough.Hell instead of sending all the money they earn back across the borders take 10%out to futher themselves.
I could have sworn that before an immigrant becomes legal in the U.S. they are required to know the language. If that's true then they must not be legal if they're here without knowing english. I love people from all countries of all races but this is America and English has been declared the national language. I just hate it when I go into a store in America and nothing is in english. How are Americans supposed to survive and get around in their own country and nothing is in english anymore?
I was thinking the same thing yesterday when I was at a local college and the signs in the parking lot were in spanish. I live in Arizona, so there are many people who have lived here for twenty to thirty years and never bothered to learn English. I think having signs in Spanish just make it easier for them.
So have you also complained about those Chinese and Japanese characters tattooed on people who don't even know what they mean? Cause it's unfair if you're just complaining about Spanish signs.
"You are narrow-minded because you disagree with me."
I agree! It pisses me off when people don't know english yet they want to live in America?
::Steph::
Stop bitching and help them learn. Have you ever wondered how heard their life is? How hard it is to live in a country where they no nothing; and there are no resources to teach them English.
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I never let my schooling interfere with my education. - Mark Twain
I think there are plenty of resources out there. And just as many for us to learn other languages-DUH, the internet! You can always go to Wal-Mart and get an English-Spanish, English-French of English-any other language Dictionary. Being small-minded is not willing to change your ways or thinking ie, learning english!
That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. There are plenty of resources to teach them English. These resources are called my tax dollars. There are classes to help them, there are plenty of things on the Internet (access at the public library), ESL tutors, and people who befriend immigrants and help them with their English. It's up to them to try.
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view my blog! http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/49917
And why should people get paid more or hired for a job if they speak Spanish
I can understand why certain positions may offer more money to those who can speak Spanish and English. If a business does a fair amount of international trade, speaking a foriegn language can be a tremendous asset. If you are talking about lower-paying positions such as fast-food restaurants, I understand that speaking several languages is not neccessary.
People really need to be able to speak english if they are going to have a job in the united states. What use are these workers going to be if they cannot communicate with customers or co-workers?
Yeah, I really think people who move to another country should try to learn the language. I don't care what country you move to or where you come from, you should try to learn the language. I see no prob w/ helping them learn the language, but they shouldn't expect the natives to be the ones to adapt.
~pyrochica
Amen to that. I work at a grocery store and frequently use hand signals to communicate with people because yo habla espanol pequena...or something like that.
SPEAK ENGLISH!!!
Have you taken a foreign language? It's really hard, and English is really complicated. Cut people a break. Also, languages get much harder to learn as you age, even in high school, languages that were (briefly) covered in elementary school, such as Spanish, are so much harder to grasp. Some people just don't understand. Also, a bilingual society is also positive economically because more people are able to participate if they understand what it is they are spending money on. Also, I think most people do try, it's just very hard. It's so much easier and more comfortable to use your first language when possible.
It takes the average adult approximately seven years to become fluent in another language. And English is especially difficult.
"Never go with a hippy to a second location."
~Jack Donaghy
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
I agree with you. It is harder to learn a language as you age, and English is an especially hard language to learn.
Also, Spanish speakers tend to have a cultural connection to their language that other immigrants don't. There is a much, much greater number of third-generation Spanish speakers than there are of people whose families came from a non-Spanish speaking country. They tend to continue speaking Spanish.
I have to admit, helping someone learn English while they help you learn Spanish can be really rewarding, and can help both parties out tons. :]