Why most latinos don't want to learn english?

Anna

I can not admit the idea that a country as surprised as us to have people with as little thought as to discriminate against immigrants the way they do.

biwagirl20a

LAZINESS.

PERIOD

AND THE unwillingness to assimilate.

Just another example on how ILLEGAL INVADERS are taking control of our country right in front of us.

Instead of spending all this time on Yahoo Answers and surfing the net, why don't all these people do like I do and send letters to their congressmen, senators, govenors, mayors, etc.

Quit sitting here on the net complaining and do something about it!

enviroman

Why assilimate when you can take over? We're giving them the country and we think it's so politically correct to do so! We need to wake the heck up! They won't learn English until we force them to do so, just like the other immigrant groups were forced to do before them.

Roflcopterman

In my opinion, it's a matter of 'why buy the cow if you can get the milk for free.' They can live their day to day lives in America because there are so many of them, so there is virtually no need for them to learn English.

americansneedtowakeup

Many live in bubble communities, have their own local shops and are able to watch TV in their own language, so there is little need for them to learn a foreign language. Personally, I could never live that way - I would find it way too limiting.

I lived in the Netherlands for 1 year and learned to speak Dutch fluently in 6 months. How so fast? This is how:

1) it is easier to learn another language when you are young
2) it is easier to learn another language when you are already literate in the first language (some alien Latinos are not literate).
3) you must be motivated to learn. I wanted to learn so bad, that I read children's books in Dutch and looked up words in the dictionary to help me learn more quickly.
4) stay away from those who speak your native tongue - you need to mix with others in order to practice the new language. If you only stay with those who speak your own language, you will NEVER master the new language.
5) watch tv in the new language.

Razor Jim

Because the US makes it too easy for them. No other country goes out of its way like the US does to allow a dual society.

bob t

I agree this country cow-tows to them they have esl programs, free interperters for court, legal materials in spanish...why learn another language when the politicos bow down to you. I remember when I was young a woman who did not speak english very well had to ask my mother to help her because there were no italian interpeters.

BAKER

Well, they don't have to. They get all the help they need. When I came here I didn't have an option button or signs in the stores in my language. They would learn very quick if they had to.
By the way my parakeet learned many words and sentences just by hearing them over and over.

Captain Feathersword

They are being defiant ......no ONE is going to tell them what language they will speak.

These ppl are not immigrants, they are invaders.

Joe Iwojima

Same reason they ruined their own country which they are just too lazy

boogaloo

they wont learn because they are lazy, want things to be their way and they are going to show us they will have it their way. i wonder why its so easy to teach a baby English? people are just using the excuse that it's hard to learn. if baby's can learn to speak English then them lazy illegals can.

NSA

They are too lazy and incapable of learning the language my 7 year old can speak.

Green is the new RED!

All people should learn English who want to live in this country. The problem is they don't want to assimilate into American society. It should be mandatory that a person be able to speak and read English and pass a test before they can be granted citizenship.

PATRICIA MS

The ones that won't learn our language don't respect us!

Lynnie F

Most of the immigrants in my town want to learn English, they ask me to help them (i speak Spanish) and my sister-in-law and i talked about setting up a school that could be very lucrative because of the want to learn English and no one helping them... we are just working on how we could start it, space, taxes and such... i feel as if they are going to be here and the government isn't going to do anything about it I'm going to try to gain from it as much as i can... i pour my taxes into most of the aid that they get im going to get as much of it back as possible... maybe its just in your area but here they want to learn but lack the resources.

JUSTME

No, they do not want to become part of our society and the government is making it easier for them not to.

There is no reason for them to speak anything but their native tongue.

Joel W

English is considered one of the most difficult languages to learn to deal with. I feel you need that ability to deal with our country.

The Immigration Naturalization Services is providing ten or twenty questions in English and asking for an English essay form all potential citizens. I feel that is hardly adequate to determine that ability with English and that demonstration of fluency be extended and made far more rigorous.

But it is a fact... this language is very difficult to learn.

Jamie Lee

i know somebody who lives in the US for 20 yrs and still dont know how to speak english...hmm thats freaking awesome aye

bold

most of them are happy with some dollars, a sixpack of beer, and a soccer game. they have no time for English.

As a latino, from my experience there are 3 reasons why illegal/legal immigrants do not learn english:
1) They are working all the time and have no time to learn.
2) They refuse to assimilate into US culture and live in heavily populated latino areas so that they don't have to learn english.
3) They're lazy.

I rarely see #1. If you live in the US, you sould learn english, don't expect the govt to cater to you.

sundevilcajun

If you live in a society for an extended amount of time it is impossible not to learn its language, heritage, and its' way of life. Unless you just don't want to assimilate.

That is the case here with immigrants from Mexico. They want the money to send back home. Other than that they could care less about the USA.

I live in Arizona, so I see everyday what this is doing to our society. It has put an overwhelming burden on our health and justice system. These immigrants don't care about us. Its all about them!

C.S.

I hope you were being ironic...please tell me you were being ironic. But people are answering it seriously, so....

Alright, first off, grammar: "Why don't most Latinos want to learn English?" is the correct phrasing of the question.

Second off, Latino is an ethnic group, not a language, social, or citizenship status. Thus, most Latinos in the U.S. speak very little to moderate Spanish and a majority have actually grown up with English as a first language (check the census). So, maybe you want to make this about Spanish speakers or immigrants from a specific region, rather than about an ethnic group.

Third off, immigrants from Latin America do want to and often do learn English as soon as is possible. There is massive integration into communities and this can only be assisted by making more programs available for this population to learn English. However, these programs have to have no links to immigration services (or risk fear of deportation) and also need to be available at various locations and times. For instance, when most migrant laborers are working (late summer) is also the time when there are the most language programs...isn't that silly? Maybe other seasons should have programs significantly increased.

Forth off, please tell me this was ironic.

samiam

It is a myth that Latinos(Mexicans)refuse to learn English.

master

they like being here and we dont make them do it they get everything for free

peanuthead

To be honest....I think most know alot more than they let on to. They love to use their language as an excuse and a means to control and continue to play the abused victim roll.

I have never taken Spanish, never traveled to their country, never wanted to learn the language, but by watching simple old western shows and childrens cartoons I can atleast understand thank you, how to count to 10 and more. The difference between Mr and Mrs and male and female children, aunt, uncle, grandparents, yes, no, a kids song or two, some different foods and a few cuss words. I believe it would be impossible to live in a foreign country and not learn SOMETHING. Not to mention gone through school and can't muster a sentence? Please. I never left and know more than many claim to know. No...I can't spell it or read it or speak it fluently but I could atleast muster a thank you. I know what taco is, while some are playing stupid not knowing what "hamburger" is.

When I went to college there were alot of foreign students. I knew alot of French Canadians. They spoke English better than me. But boy that French was flying if a cop stopped them or there were some girls they wanted to pick up. Suddenly they didn't "understand" a word of English if it ment getting let go or getting a leg up with the girls.

My daughters went to school with alot of Mexicans. I remember them as children learning the language and helping their parents know what money to give and what questions to ask and answer......but then Jr. High and Highschool came along and suddenly many of their "attitudes" changed and they wouldn't speak English anymore. There's a difference between can't and won't. I'm seeing more won't than can't. And using it as a weapon when it suits them.

We had a caller call into our local radio station. There was a factory they worked in and there were increasing problems with Spanish speakers using their so called ignorance of the English language as an excuse. This particular group was Polish and learned English and some weren't totally fluent in English where it would have been easier for them to just speak Polish. So finally they did. They just stopped speaking English all together and spoke Polish. The Mexicans filed a complaint that the other employees quit speaking English and didn't know what they were saying!!!!

I had an anthropology teacher that spent some time in the Amazon. Her husband was a missionary and it was like a first contact thing with this one tribe. She told us about the different customs etc and problems she faced. Then she told about when they came back to the US for a bit and her husband was doing a talk at the church about their travels. Then they wanted to hear from her. There was a question and answer time and someone asked her to please say something in their native language. She really didn't know much except some things totally inappropriate for church. Her husband looked panicked sitting in the front pew.....so she said in her most etherial voice the most foul things coz it was all she knew....her husband was sinking in the pew and everyone else was going "Amen...Amen"...not having a clue as to what she said. Makes you think just how easy language can be used as an additional divider when there isn't 1 common language to go by. There's a difference between can't and won't and when using it as a weapon is more beneficial than giving it up.

aguilar_laurita

Actually, most Latinos DO want to learn English! Telemundo(and other TV stations) are advertising many ways to learn English! They speak Spanish because it is their native language...like you speak English because it is your native language!

Dr. Evil

Maybe they're just too lazy or not smart enough to learn it.

bloodredchylde

Dahilings my american neighbors, why are you letting people from other countries tell you what to do? it is your country, you should tell them to adapt to your customs and traditions or get out! you do not go into thier countries and make them adapt to you right? of course not. this country has a lot of immigrants from many different countries, soon those "little" mexico, china italy, tokyo, etc, will grow and soon there will be no america! First Nations have gone through this once.

ppe

Because their learning ability is different some slower then other example
Mexican will take about 40 years to speak English
Italian about 39 1/2 because they in love with their accents
Asian about 6 months if they want to, if they don't it will take then 50 years

Edge Caliber

Because they don't need to, to get by?
There employers are not needing people to speak English it seems. Just need them for manual labor.

I speak 4 languages and know Spanish because I HAD to learn it for a job when I was traveling. I HAD to learn French for work too.

/\/\ /\ /\/ U?

I am Latino and I speak, write and read Spanish, English, Italian and French. Instead of using the word "Latino" in your question, why don't you try to be more specific, maybe Mexicans?

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