2006-06-08 13:42:35 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Studying Abroad
Don't overgeneralize. I have known many people from many countries, and I have lived in another country on the other side of the world.
The truth of the matter is that the majority of people in any country do not want to learn another country. Most often, people who have not learned a second language equate that with a lack of education -- those uneducated people will not have a job that brings them to the notice of a foreigner.
Many people learn a second language to a point, in order to survive in their own mult-lingual environment. Americans are no exception to that rule, with the international areas of the country.
However, specialists in many fields, in many countries, are limited to one language themselves. This is because a careful study of one field, such as physics, will preclude the type of careful attention needed to become fluent in another language.
2006-06-08 14:34:42 · answer #1 · answered by weilder 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, we are not ignorant, (and you are showing your ignorance by this type of generalizing) it is because the best time to begin to learn a second language is when you are young. And the good educators, in all of their wisdom (yes, I am being sarcastic) decided that the best time to start teaching a 2nd language is after, we have passed the best time (brain development wise) for us to learn.
As a result, learning a 2nd language has been made much more difficult then it should be.
I would love to learn a 2nd language fluently, but I do not have the time or the resources needed or a person to practice with. Therefore it would just be one more exercise in futility.
2006-06-09 01:56:15 · answer #2 · answered by starting over 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not ignorant, per se, but a bit close-minded. learning new things in general and being willing to see the positive aspects of other cultures is important and learning another language is part of that.
we should try to get out of our comfort level, our little bubble, expand our knowledge and learn that there is a great big world beyond america. learning a new language could be that first step. plus, with all of the immigrants that are coming into this country every day, it would be to one's advantage to know one of those new languages; it gives one an edge above one's colleagues.
then again, perhaps we Americans should first work on learning our own language properly before moving onto others...
::Sigh::
2006-06-09 07:05:23 · answer #3 · answered by luckyduck74 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't think so. let us not categorize them from where they are from. other students from other countries do not want to learn a second language but they are not ignorant. and same is true for everyone including americans. maybe they don't study a secong language because they won't need it.
but if they were thinking that english is the most important language and other languages are not useful, then they are arrogant.
2006-06-08 20:51:08 · answer #4 · answered by Tezuka 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO English is the best language on the planet. Why would I waste my time learning a second rate, low class, unimportant langauge.
2006-06-08 20:47:46 · answer #5 · answered by zqx357 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. I believe that if they choose not to, then they most likely have a good reason... such as a job or some other occupation that takes a lot of tim.
2006-06-08 20:49:08 · answer #6 · answered by killer01 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I'm an American since I was born here and I know my parents' language fluently. (Arabic)
2006-06-08 20:46:35 · answer #7 · answered by anonymous 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am an american and can speak spanish fluently
2006-06-09 16:03:21 · answer #8 · answered by xadralix 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's one sign of their ignorance.
2006-06-08 20:46:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋