Do you agree or disagree?

Before any American gripes about someone from another country learning our language they should make sure they have a working knowledge of it themselves.
Do you agree or disagree?
Additional Details
What I mean is ....at least some grasp and understanding of words and how to string them together.Pet peeves of mine are the misuse of their,there,and they're.Very basic English.There are more but those were examples.Sometimes I have to reread a question several times just to make sense of it.Would that be sense or since,see what I mean?I often spell receive and receipt wrong so spelling isn't the biggest deal.I just get very annoyed when someone asks a question about language and mis-uses words.Example...Don't these immigrants have since enough to speak the language?I always want to ask Since when?

Marilyn T

Both. I depends on who is speaking to me.
If it is a boss or a doctor I hope they can speak clearly to me.If it is just someone on the street,then I can let it slide.I have met some very rich and sucessful people in the casino industry (customers) who couldn't even put a sentence together.i found that amazing.

thehermanator2003

I disagree! Strongly. The less-than-literate among us are still "born" American citizens. The fact that they may speak in an un-sophisticated way has no bearing on the fact that they belong here.
Any Greaser,Rag Head,Camel-jockey, or Euro-trash scumbag that chooses to come here should have a working knowledge of English.
They should at least know a few helpful phrases, such as "Where do I pay taxes", "Who do I thank for this great privilege?" and "When must I return to my native land"

Shaz

agree to a point. I think local slang and accent is fine.

grumpyoldman

Disagree. What is a working knowledge? I don't give a rat's @ss about a working knowledge, I just want to be able to understand what someone is saying to me if I have to talk to them. IS that too damn much to ask?

anon

How do you know if it is an American with bad spelling and grammar?

DAR

Define working knowledge.

Spelling doesn't count.

(Can't spell.)

Ricky D

Probably, but it sounds like a loaded question. What is behind it?

Marsz

not agree.

Angelic Valentine

Of course they do. That is like 'the pot calling the kettle black'.

ash

im pretty sure they mean be able to speak understandingly not so much as grammar cause a lot of people have trouble with grammar we just want to be able to understand them

Micky

I agree to a point. They should have a good working knowledge but the little things should slide like slang, a bit of mispelling.etc.....
Many times on here though I see new Americans(legal immigrants) who seem to have a fairly good grasp of it but make a lot of mistakes. That I don't mind at all because they are still learning and atleast trying.

GoodJuJu2U

Disagree.

Sweet Tea & Lemons

disagree.

Ms.L.A.

Wow, do I ever agree! I have lots of problems regarding the misuse of our language. I'm a bit OCD about it. I love language and it's such a buzz kill to read an answer that screams about learning English and the person who asks it is totally devoid of a clue that they are butchering English themselves! Don't they teach the methods I learned anymore? I took National tests in English and I did really well,later learning that my husband actually did better on those tests than I did!!! Of course, we didn't know each other then.LOL It was a bit humbling, but at least we have great communication in our lives!!!! Most people don't know the parts of speach or the tense of verbs, proper pronouns and adverbs. It makes such an impact on what you're saying if you say it properly!

divers_godeeper

agree to a point....as long as you can read, speak and understand english I cant gripe. Americans themselves misuse the english language.

Thats almost saying they must take and pass basic english when some of the americans sturggled with this. We cant gripe if they are speaking and reading our language.....thats more effort than most take, some simply refuse to learn.

antiduff6678

definitley agree

chuck_junior

Eye thinkk ewe ar probubley rite.

Eye sea peepel onn hear daley that seam too havee know grassp uf thee engleesh langueagee.

(Man that's hard to do.)

Agree completely.

Nameless

Disagree

brittany

both

SpiderPig

I strongly agree...double standards tsk tsk

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