Do you think there are to many Spanish speaking people in the USA that refuse to speak English?

Answer 1

Absolutely!!! Many people don't bother learning when night school is free. My dad learned it, he may not be a scholar in the English language, but he learned it.

We have Spanish in radio, television, newspapers, magazines, books, movies, public services (gov't), banks, attorneys, restaurants, grocery stores, bus terminals, and the list goes on and on. In Southern California, there is a Spanish speaking version of almost everything. Unfortunately, this doesn't create an environment where learning English is a necessity. So soooo many people live most of their lives here while not being able to speak English. This is frustrating, because everyone at some level should be able to communicate with one another. We can't do that in a multi-lingual society.

If people wanna speak Spanish in their private lives, that's fine, they can speak whatever language they want. However, in public, everyone should be able to communicate on a basic level so that there isn't confusion or frustration. Other immigrants learn English, why aren't "my cousins" out there doing the same? I live in an area with many Armenians, and most of them speak English. Many are not scholars, but that's not necessary, all that's asked is that people are fluent on a basic level.

Basic fluency should be a prerequisite of citizenship. This country should keep English as its official language, and not adopt any other language. Let's keep it at just one please, any more will make chaos!

I'm Hispanic, and I don't take offense to this question at all. I don't believe it's meant that way. Everyone should get with the program, bottom line.

P.S. This is not a racist question, I wish people would stop seeing it that way. Look, if someone is in the States for let's say, 10 years, and s/he still doesn't speak a lick of English, what do you call that? How about 20 yrs? 50, and still no English? Let's call it what it is people, it's laziness, pure and simple. No, I'm not saying that Hispanics are all lazy, I'm one of them. But how can you justify going to a country and not learning the language of the land, especially if it's for years and years? I'm sure they don't like being poor, I'm sure they don't like not being able to speak with everyone, I'm sure they don't like the inconveniences of not being able to speak English. And yes, I'm 100% dead sure they are very kind and hard-working people, taking jobs Americans would never consider. But when it comes to learning English, there's SOME REASON WHY they just don't do it, and I don't get it, and I'm an immigrant's daughter. My dad's entire family came here from Mexico, not just him. He learned English, and yes, when we talk about this, he strongly agrees that Hispanics SHOULD learn English. It just keeps them poor otherwise.

Another point, if an American moved to a foreign country to live, they would be expected to learn that country's language and culture. It's not hard to figure out, this is a no-brainer.

I don't get it, I just don't get it. Why elect to remain at such a disadvantage?

And btw, English the official language of the States, Clinton declared it.

Answer 2

People in this country need to stop being so damn ignorant of other cultures. This country does not have a national language because there are so many languages spoken here. For all of the people who think English should be the national language because the most people speak it, think about this. By the year 2020, there will be more Spanish speaking people in this country than any other language. Should the national language then be changed to Spanish because more people speak it????? Most Hispanics do not REFUSE to speak English, they just have never learned English. People need to stop being so afraid of different people. I hate ignorant people!!!

Answer 3

No. All the Spanish speaking people I've ever met either already speak English or would love to learn it. It takes a long time to learn a foreign language, however, and college English classes aren't excactly available to poor migrant workers and construction workers who don't even have their own cars.

I think the idea that Hispanics "refuse" to speak English is a myth generated by people who hate immigrants and resent giving anyone else the same chances they have. I understand that people want to reform immigration policy, and I do, too, but the lies, stereotypes, and massive overgeneralizations being spread by those who for some unknown reason have a chip on their shoulder about Hispanics are getting out of hand.

I think that anyone who dares to accuse Hispanics of being too lazy or too inconsiderate to learn to speak English should reflect on how many languages they speak fluently before they start to judge.

Answer 4

I think there are too many Americans who will nag Spanish speaking people to learn how to speak English, even to talk to other Spanish speaking people also living in the USA.

Answer 5

No. I've never heard of anyone who refused to speak English. There are immigrants who have trouble learning English or who feel more comfortable speaking Spanish (or whatever their native tongue is) and do so when they are able to, but I doubt anyone is sticking their fingers in their ears and saying "la la la, I refuse to learn or speak any English!" Is that what you would do if you moved to a foreign country, refuse to learn or speak the new country's language? Why would you or anyone do that? Immigrants are just like you. They have no reason to engage in utterly illogical behavior, especially when by doing so they suffer a disadvantage. Rhetoric rarely matches up with reality.

Answer 6

If I spoke spanish and I'd refuse to speak English. I think this country needs to have Spanish, English and Chinese as it's national language because those are the ones most spoken.

Answer 7

ok i want to set the record straight. many spanish speaking people speak english including myself. yet i was born here. for people that migrate they don't know it but it doesn't mean they don't want to learn. by the way i also speak french i took the time to learn English and now i am learning another language your answer is somewhat true but it is ignorant. (Spanish was my first language) since my parents didn't know the language since they had immigrated to the USA. they immigrated legally thank god. it is the recent ones that have migrated that possibly are giving you that impression because they don't know the language yet.also the one's that are migrating are the poor if you went to Mexico city or any where in Spanish speaking countries, there are people who speak English but those are the highly educated. they however don't migrate becuase they are happy where they are but sometimes they do. but here's what i suggest you should go to another country and start you life all over. it isn't easy to learn a new language but it is possible. maybe then you'll begin to understand.

Answer 8

Most of the Spanish-speaking people I know desperately want to learn English.

Answer 9

The answer to your question, to begin with.. is that this country was founded by immigrants of different ethnic cultures from whence they came from. The word "refuse" is a strong negative word that rises up to more discriminatory comments about Spanish speaking people given the current immigration issues. Most people would speak in their mother language based on what the United States Constitution says.. the freedom of speech. Opportunity is limited by income.. think about that!!!

Answer 10

Most nations have 2 languages...their native language and english..

So how bout the American People learn a different language?