Someone defend the other side of this American argument.

[Pimppeter2]

They are trying

Its just that they can't afford schooling. Neither can their friends. The place where they work certainly won't teach them. So stop being such an ass and realize that you can't learn a new language through thin air.

 

[sheic99]

Pretty simple really. Classes to learn English costs money, plus there the cost of the textbooks and whether or not they can fit the class into their daily schedule because god forbid the man would rather spend time with his daughter than a night class after work.

So all the years Americans spend learning English, spending time and money on school, none of that matters? God forbid we should spend our entire childhood learning the language these people ignore.

And people say it's fine because the Spanish speakers are slowly yet surely becoming a majority in the southern states (Most notably California and Florida) and we should therefore be learning their language. And I just have to say no. They're required to learn the language to live here (Which means that those who can't speak a lick of English and live here are most likely illegals, which are also bad for this cause), why do they think that is? So they can convert America to a Spanish-speaking country? No. Just no. English is a required course through High School. I didn't learn this language so that someone else could force me to learn another (Incidentally I know a little bit of Spanish. I know quite a bit more English though).

The only way we can prevent a total conversion is to get more non-Spanish European immigrants in here to diversify the languages more, or make English the official national language. I sincerely hope the latter occurs, otherwise I'm gonna be the one saying "Tu quieres un sandwich de pollo?"

I was going to respond to this with a well thought out answer, but the more times I read this, you just keep appearing more and more like a troll.

 

[scotth266]

It has everything to do with your viewpoint.

You are superimposing your personal wishes onto other people as to how they should behave.

This is in a country where personal freedom is a sacred virtue.

Yeah, I kind of know that, living here and all. But all the freedoms in the world don't help me, and every other English person out there, to magically translate other people's languages.

If I have to hire someone, and the choice is between a guy that can speak English, and a guy that can't, I'm taking the guy that can, because he's the one I can communicate with. So unless the guy who can't speak English is looking for a job with someone that already employs a translator for his language, he's probably not going to get a job.

He can speak his language all he wants, but he CANNOT EFFICIENTLY COMMUNICATE: and that leads to all sorts of problem situations. What if his house is being robbed? How am I suppose to understand him if he's speaking in Hebrew, or Greek, or Russian? I cannot. For all I know, he's just really pissed off with a traffic meter across the street, or he might just be venting about cab drivers.

 

[headshotcatcher]

There are times when a person needs to speak the dominant language. It's not a racist thing, it's just if you're directing planes on landing, everyone needs to clearly understand everyone involved. If someone can't speak English, it doesn't bother me too much. I mean the language is pretty much fucked.

Mouse = mice
House = houses
Moose = moose

I'm surprised WE understand the damned thing.

Dutch is worse, I think our language has the most exeptions of any language..

I would write down some rules but can't be arsed..

 

[Mutard]

I just wanted to add something else about my personal experiences with this issue. I took 3 years of spanish in high school and since have worked and conversed with many many hispanic people. I would consider myself a semi-fluent spanish speaker, perfectly capable of understanding and conveying most anything i need to.

This being said I rarely speak spanish to any non-english speaking hispanic americans. Unless it is important, I tend to play dumb and force them to try to convey what they are trying to say in english. I also will speak only english (usually a basic easy to understand version) back to them, but I always make sure that they understand the jist of what I am saying before I finish.

Now this may seem like a rude and possibly cruel thing to do, but my intentions are quite the opposite. I feel that it is more important for a hispanic immigrant to have the practice speaking and understanding english than it would be for me to convenience them by simply speaking spanish. I also make sure to never ridicule nor try to make them feel uneasy in any way about their broken english and if possible, correct them in a respectful manner. Doing this will help them to feel more comfortable the next time they need to use their english.

I know this technique to be very effective, as I have seen noticeable improvements to the english skills in many of my hispanic friends and have even had several of them thank me for it.

When I meet new latinos that find out how much spanish I speak and ask me why I refrain from speaking it as much as I do, I usually reply "Es mas importante que tu aprendes ingles que yo practico espanol." Once they understanding what I mean (my spanish isn't perfect) they always agree and appreciate it.

 

[Mcface]

snip

To become a citizen, you have to pass and meet the requirements, and i believe you have to take a test.
So if you dont speak a word of English, chances are you are not a citizen of this country, and have no right that a citizen learn your language.

The test is written in nearly every language on earth, you don't need to be able to speak or read english to pass it.

I was going to answer this guy but you got to it first. I'd just like to add that that non-english speaking immigrant probably knows more about the country then most regular Americans do. Seriously I bet most of the people in this thread would fail the citizenship test if they were forced to take it.

then theres the problem right there.
Make the test english only.

 

[Valkraye]

Have the test in real English or 'American' English.

Everyone does realise there is a difference, right?

 

[Supreme Unleaded]

A simple language to understand, i refuse to read past that because you are obviosly an idiot annd I dont want to reasd the rest of your stupid post. The English language is acually one of the hardest and inaccurate languages in the world, next to Japenese and Chinese. There are so many annomalies(sp?) in it, its really acually one of the most unethical languages to have.

PS. Now that I read the rest of the post im not any happier, your a dumbass. Your making America look bad, everyone thinks america is terrable because we're all stupid, and there right.

If im correct in France your required to learn 2 forin languages, So america should be able to do that as well, but no, people like you think that America is America and only American stuff can be said/done our way. No, America is an immagrant country, people from Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Canada, and well pretty much everyone els came to 'the new world', so if you live here then you should learn the 'real' language.

Before i just go nuts over the stupidity of us Americans im going to end this saying your stupid and should go learn something for once.

 

[SultanP]

-Snip-
simply asking for this man to speak a language which is fairly simply to understand?
-Snip-

I stopped here because English is actually one of the hardest languages in the world to learn, because it's spoken backwards.

English isn't spoken backwards. It's spoken like English. True, sentences are structured differently than in other languages, but to say that it's spoken backwards is just silly.

 

[Valkraye]

It is spoken backwards compared to just about every language in main land Europe. I know, Greek and Italian heritage. English is whacky. It is not easy to understand, you learn to appreciate that when you try to learn another language.

 

[Nigh Invulnerable]

Because deep down I can see no logical, feasible, or actual reason as to why Americans should have the Spanish language shoved down their throats. I work at a popular store chain here in America, and I am deeply appauled at how many Mexican individual come over here and don't even bother to learn the language correctly. I was unable to communicate with this one man, was asked if I spoke Spanish, when I replied that I didn't he had his four year old daughter come over and translate between the two of us.

Now really, what am I missing here? Is there something morally wrong with me, as a citizen of the United States of America, simply asking for this man to speak a language which is fairly simply to understand? Is it just me or is this an insult to each and every person who had learned the language, made the attempts to respect the majority of the citizens in this nation and all, or whatnot...

It is not as if I am asking them to learn Chinese or Polish here. Spanish to English an English to Spanish are both very simple conversions which can be made. However, I am honest to God offended at the fact that many of the immigrants from South American countries actually believe America SHOULD be required to speak the language of Mexico and below...just because we're attached at the hip over at Texas there.

And by all means, I've met everybody. People from Chile, Poland, Denmark, Romania, and all. My Romanian friend once refused to order from a Quiznos because he was so offended at the lady not being able to speak English (this was in Las Vegas by the way).

Him: I take the time to learn this language, become a citizen, and this damn ***** doesn't even know a few simple words?

In all modesty, why do the majority of people from Mexico hold a constant disregard for this country when it comes to the language? Someone enlighten me here.

English is one of the hardest languages in the world. We have entire courses on it in high school, heck, you can get a masters degree in English at colledge. Any language that takes more than 10 years to learn is hard.

Very-off topic here:If English is hard to learn, then what is Japanese compared to English? And I mean learning to speak it, write it, and read it.

Japanese is pretty easy. It's just learning how to read the kanji that's tough. You just have to think like Yoda (Empire/Jedi Yoda, not the newer ones where Frank Oz forgot how to do the voice).

 

[axelman92]

You do realize Sony is a Japanese company right?

I know that but I said nothing about Sony. I said that if I went to Japan, and lived there, I would learn Japanese because its part of there culture. Sony makes Japanese games and (I think) Americans translate their games.

I'm not saying anything negative but we have our separate cultures and people wanting to be accepted in a country needs to learn that country's culture.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

. A bunch of rebels kicked you're armies ass.

Not wanting to be one of the hated Brits, but you didn't fight the war of independance by your lonesome. You were helped out by the French and the Spanish. But ah well, we'd have lost America at one point; as history dictates; all empires will collapse eventually.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

I seriously think that they need to learn it and its usually the parents that cant speak it, and their dumb asses are the ones that buy crap and fail horribley and just piss the seller off, i think they should at least learn a little engligh like can a get a big mac and fries it wouldnt even be that hard and i dont care that you whine about its hard just stfu

Good job showing us your mastery of the language sir.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

I think a uniform language is a good thing. Would be nice if everyone in the country could talk to eachother, better the whole world. I dont really care what language, but English seems the one that should be the World's language, since its spread the most around the world.

It might interest you to know that someone did devise a universal language. Amusingly enough, it is incredibly obscure, and hardly anyone speaks it. I've even forgotten its name; that's how obscure it is.

 

[vampirekid.13]

And by all means, I've met everybody. People from Chile, Poland, Denmark, Romania, and all. My Romanian friend once refused to order from a Quiznos because he was so offended at the lady not being able to speak English (this was in Las Vegas by the way).

im an immigrant myself, and i learned the language before moving here. and, naturally i refuse to attempt to communicate with anyone in america that doesnt speak english. i learned the language. its the countries language, if you dont know it you shoudlnt be here.


unless its a tourist, in which case its fine, i dont expect them to know the language.

but seriously, we should have a basic english exam to be in the country for more than 1 year.

 

[vampirekid.13]

I seriously think that they need to learn it and its usually the parents that cant speak it, and their dumb asses are the ones that buy crap and fail horribley and just piss the seller off, i think they should at least learn a little engligh like can a get a big mac and fries it wouldnt even be that hard and i dont care that you whine about its hard just stfu

Good job showing us your mastery of the language sir.

ar fi mai bine daca as vorbi in romaneste inloc de engleza pe acest forum? dar daca as avea pretentia ca tu sa inveti sa vorbesti limba mea ca sa ma intelegi?

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

I seriously think that they need to learn it and its usually the parents that cant speak it, and their dumb asses are the ones that buy crap and fail horribley and just piss the seller off, i think they should at least learn a little engligh like can a get a big mac and fries it wouldnt even be that hard and i dont care that you whine about its hard just stfu

Good job showing us your mastery of the language sir.

ar fi mai bine daca as vorbi in romaneste inloc de engleza pe acest forum? dar daca as avea pretentia ca tu sa inveti sa vorbesti limba mea ca sa ma intelegi?

Someone telling people in an agressive manner to learn the language (reasonable logic is a nicer alternative) whilst being unable to use it correctly himself really annoys me.

 

[vampirekid.13]

I seriously think that they need to learn it and its usually the parents that cant speak it, and their dumb asses are the ones that buy crap and fail horribley and just piss the seller off, i think they should at least learn a little engligh like can a get a big mac and fries it wouldnt even be that hard and i dont care that you whine about its hard just stfu

Good job showing us your mastery of the language sir.

ar fi mai bine daca as vorbi in romaneste inloc de engleza pe acest forum? dar daca as avea pretentia ca tu sa inveti sa vorbesti limba mea ca sa ma intelegi?

Someone telling people in an agressive manner to learn the language (reasonable logic is a nicer alternative) whilst being unable to use it correctly himself really annoys me.

you're wrong tho. because i doubt the person expects them to know each grammatical law in the english language, or even every word in the language, all that is needed is enough to form a basic sentence.

dont pretend there is a difference between:

you want order what?

and what would you like to order? in a restaurant, there isnt. but when the person sais "ce ati dori sa ordinati" instead of want order what? then it becomes a problem.