How proficient should an immigrant to the US be in English before it would satisfy Americans who say "If you are going to live here, you have to speak English"? Like, if a Mexican lives and works with other Mexicans, does he have to be able to discuss the works of Geoffrey Chaucer so he can shop at the supermarket? What exactly does it mean to "speak English" in order to live here? I know plenty of Americans who say "ain't" and use double negatives and have little concept of subject-verb agreement, and no one has suggested they leave, so what exactly is the standard immigrants should be held to? And would Americans be willing to be held to the same standard--i.e., whatever test a Spanish speaker has to pass to live here, would you be willing to pass it to get your high school diploma? No flames, please. This is a question that should be addressed.
2007-02-10
02:35:47
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12 answers
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asked by
Anonymous
in
Immigration