There is nothing wrong with people moving here from
other countries. As long as they are not terrorists or have any threat to the
United States. When they do move here they should be forced to learn English so
they can start to blend in and live in our country. If they are being allowed
to live here in our free country it is the least they can do to learn our
language.
When Americans travel to other countries it is the
same deal. While in a different country you need to speak their native language
in order to communicate with them. How annoyed do people get when they are in
their own country, speaking the native language of that country, and foreigners
come in and try to continue living their lives without having to learn the
native language? Let’s just say I get pretty annoyed when someone comes up to
me asking me something in Spanish or a different language and I have to try and
answer them with the Spanish that I remember from high school. It is so
frustrating. When people travel to a foreign country they at least try to speak
that native language instead of going there expecting everyone to speak their
native language. Just like the expression “when in Rome,” well when in America
speak English!
Taking a language in school is a requirement. Yes, it is somewhat difficut but it is education. In school you should gain more knowledge; learn about new things. A language is just like any other class. It will help you get a job. Being able to write and speak a two languages gives you the advantage to a better paid job. For the simple fact you can talk to more people and make businesses more money. If "they" should have to be "forced" to learn English because of their culture, why shouldn't we learn another language as well? ... But then again people could just not want to learn another language. You can only bring the horse to the water, you can not make them drink it.
ReplyDeleteGoing insofar as to say that America is 'for Americans' is a bit of a misnomer to begin with. The United States of America was born from the diffusion of immigrants, from Germany to the speakers of the Queen's English. The idea that the United States should 'force' anybody to learn a single language is against both the Constitution and the simple rights of human being. Now, I, personally, do have something of an agreement with you. The established language of the United States should stay American English. However, elminiation of the language of a single country is destroying cultures, and going against the idea of the American 'melting pot'.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you, personally, going to do to solve this problem? There's always a need for volunteer ESL tutors.
ReplyDeleteI do somewhat agree with you, but I do think you should take into consideration the people that are trying to learn the English language but are struggling, and revert back to their native language in order to try to communicate their needs. English is known as one of the hardest languages to learn,due to the many variations of words, including different spellings, and meanings.I do agree that people need to put in the effort to learn the language, but I think the U.S. needs to get some more programs going to help these people.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, I asked a former boss of mine which language was the hardest for him to learn (his native language is Portuguese, he is fluent in both Spanish and English and can speak French conversationally) and he told me he found English easier to learn than Spanish and French. This is just one person's view, there may be many others who find the English language difficult but I found that interesting.
DeleteI think it is a bit ethnocentric to say "This is America! We speak English!". There are people in this country from all walks of life, and you cannot constitutionally "force" someone to learn English. That would be like me forcing you to learn how to do something. You probably wouldn't respond well to it.
ReplyDelete"While in a different country you need to speak their native language in order to communicate with them."
Have you been to Italy? Or Germany? There, MANY people speak English when it is not their native language. For native-speaking Americans, we really wouldn't have to learn another language unless we went to certain countries where English is not common at all. This argument, along with blanket statements such as "This is America! Speak English!" weaken your argument. The fact of the matter is that people who primarily speak English have it much easier than those whose native language is, say, Spanish. That must be considered as well.
I guess being Canadian my point of view is a bit skewed. Here we have two official languages (French and English). You can learn both (many do), or you can learn one or the other and never have to expand upon that knowledge. Never have I seen a major language issue arise in everyday dealings. If someone speaks only french, you're 99% certain that there is someone there who can help you (if you're an anglophone), and if you're an anglo and you're in a french speaking area, chances are you can make yourself known anyway. I feel that my life has been enriched by learning two distinct languages, and feel no resentment towards anyone who asks that I speak one or the other to help them make themselves understood. If I'm in a foreign country and someone speaks my language, I feel a heck of a lot more at ease, because I know that I'm not accidentally saying "I'd like to throw that lamb off a cliff" instead of "I can't find the rental car place."
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