Really who cares if they Learn English or not?

thingy

To all the RACISTS here. Just because somebody is speaking another language doesn't mean that they can't speak ENGLISH! Overseas, speaking more than 1 language is the norm. And all the immigrants I've met have a very good command of English. In fact a lot better than many Brits who just seem to grunt & use foul language all the time!!!!

Yorkshire Viking

It matters because of the translation costs which are then incurred to enable the authorities to speak with immigarants who often have no English. Translation and interpretation services have to be provided by: immigration authorities, police, courts, probation services, prisons, hospitals, local authorities etc. No one seems to have measured this cost.

TLB

No, it does not offend me that some would rather speak in there native language, for whatever reason. It really doesn't bother me that I have to press 1 for English. It is more annoying to me that I can hardly ever talk to an actual person on the phone without pressing several #'s first. The fact of the matter is English is, by far, the most common language spoke here. It seems to me that it would be in a persons best interest to be able to speak it, or at least try to speak it.
Lets be honest, the language barrier is not the real problem. The real problem is the lack of wanting to be an American. I would not want anyone to forget were they have come from. However, if you are here, in the U.S., and you would like to make it your home. Then what is the problem with learning the language?

ROIHUNTER

I do, when I work in other countries, I learn their language. If I lived there, I would learn their language.

I expect the same from those coming into my country as well.

Amy B

Hearing another language does not offend my ears at all. I know it's really hard for school teachers who get children in their classes that don't know ANY English and they're supposed to help those children get to the same level as all the others. How is that supposed to be possible when they can't even understand the language the teacher and most other students are speaking? There's no way that teachers get paid close to enough to have to learn another language! Just one example of how a language barrier makes things very difficult!

Bill H

I have no problem with people speaking other languages. But on the job, one should speak English.

Freethinker

I care. Issues of national pride aside, English is the language our laws are written in, the language we do business in. It's expensive to hire translators for courts, expensive to have both spanish and English in our schools and on our signs, etc. These things are a huge drain on our taxes, something that illegals don't help us pay, and in my experience legal immigrants WANT to learn our language.

Addendum for s_j_m - better check your history kiddo, you were by no means the first people here. And if I, and others like me, get my way, you certainly won't be the last.

10 out of 10

you can speak your own language in another country if you live there but you should still know English and if your on the job you should always speak English

Adrian N

Nope, it doesn't offend me. It saddens me. Why come to a country with so much opportunity, only to isolate yourself from it? Not learning English limits one's opportunities greatly.

Another problem:
(Hypothetically) What do you think would happen to a country that had a sub-culture of millions of immigrants, many illegal, all from the same place, all refusing to learn the new language, all maintaining loyalty to their country of origin, and all holding their new host country in disdain?

Who said ANYTHING about force, Joe? If they want to keep themselves in the underclass, no skin off my nose. Still sad, though.

My ideology? You disagree that people would have more opportunity if they learned English? How can you disagree with that?

------------------------
I noticed you Question is about LEARNING English, but all your arguments are about SPEAKING English. Learning and Speaking are two very different things.

I have never cared what people speak, but I still believe people should learn (not "must' learn...should learn) English if they choose to live in an English speaking country.

Coasty

Your attitude is so incredibly prissy. Who gives you the right to judge others in this manner. Who cares if the learn English or not. I do and I have had the courtesy to learn Spanish, German, some French, some Chinese and attempted to learn Arabic when visiting nations who spoke those languages. Why should those who come to my country learn my language?
Simple courtesy for starters and if they are going to work here then they need to speak the language that 80+% of commerce occurs in..... Is that beyond your capibilities for comprehension???

michael m

I am not offended, but people should learn to speak the language of their new country.

Herb W

I have no problem with other languages being spoken here. When we travel to other countries many of us expect everyone there to speak English. That isn't fair either. If someone comes to our country and we are able to speak their language it makes us look so much smarter. If they speak more than one language it makes them look smarter. My grandparents came here from Germany and they learned English. They didn't expect everyone here to learn German. Seems like that's how it should be.

Ricky T

I care. The reason I care, is that I only want Americans to be American citizens.

I'm not against immigration, immigration has made this country great.

But when you immigrate, you stop being what you were, and become American. Part of that is learning English.

nandra k

I care.
Yes it offends me that they sneak into the country illegally and refuse to even learn the language. Want profound? DEPORT NOW!
(although I'm truly sorry you are flaccid)

Thomasina Paine

There is no need for them to learn English since they will be leaving soon.

Although it is somewhat amusing when they all perish in a fire because they couldn't speak english to call 911 or be bothered to put their street address on their business.

B.Kevorkian

Immigrants come to America from all over the world. That's hundreds of languages being spoken here. There's no practical way to deal with that other than getting them all to speak a common language. In theory, it doesn't /have/ to be English (it could be Esperanto or Klingon, as long as everyone agrees on it), but, as the 300 million Americans already here happen to speak English, it'd be convenient if it were.

kysteelgirl

It absolutely offends me! A nation that does not have a common language is very vunerable! When I hear spanish in the stores I always say, English! This is my country we speak English.....

ATTRITION THRU ENFORCEMENT ONLY

Yes, I care about the tradition and solidity of this great Nation.

I agree with this poster:
"It absolutely offends me! A nation that does not have a common language is very vunerable! When I hear spanish in the stores I always say, English! This is my country we speak English....."
Here, Here.

JeJe

i was in a ross dept store and the 2 employees were yacking in spanish with the occasional english (clearly they knew english). pissed me off that they would purposely try to intimidate me with their foreign language.
im sick of mexicans trying to abolish english.
yeah it really pisses me off

Seth D

If They illegally come into our country, take money from our social programs, the least these criminals can do is learn the language of our country.

oh and native americans were hear first, get your history straight

NSA

It's my country, speak my language.

Amanda h

I agree with you. I don't know what it matters, and, in many places you hear a myriad of languages, not only Spanish.

I agree that most "official" documentation should be in English, except criminal matters. Obviously victim/witness needs to be able to get any victims the services they may need. And, police should be able to get a competent statement from someone in their native language. Without such, criminals could go free.

The greater impact of the undocumented is economic, cultural, and, safety related. When people focus on the language aspect it seems like they are missing the greater picture.

The above poster is correct. Courtroom interpreters are very well paid, so, I guess from that perspective it is costing money.

Celtic lord

As long as they don't bother you,Who really gives a ****??If you were holidaying in Italy for example would you expect yourself to speak Italian in front of them?..Everyone has there own language if everyone spoke english the world would be very boring.English is my first language and i couldn't care less what language people speak..

William

The whole world HAS to speak English, we organised it that way; now all that is needed is for Indians to learn a little grammar.

Anais

Thank you! Finally some sense!

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