Why do you think that many Americans can only speak English?

Question

Most Euopeans speak English, their own language and often more.I am not a Bush fan but I applaud him for his interest in learning and speaking Spanish.

Answer 1

I agree with many of the people above - we don't learn other languages besides English partly out of ignorance of other cultures and partly because it hadn't been as necessary historically. America is quite isolated, with only Spanish and a tiny bit of French near us. Europeans definitely have more of an immediate need for multi-lingualism. I had friends in England who would go to France for weekends, go skiing in Switzerland or Italy, and knowing more than English was necessary.

However, now with a more globalized economy and mixed cultures here in our own country, having more than one language would be beneficial! I work with people that don't speak English, and it's very challenging. I wish I had been exposed to languages earlier. I've now studied French and Spanish. My sister had taken those as well as Italian.

I teach elementary school, and our county just implemented a Spanish language program, but it's 15 minutes a day 3-4 days of the week. We need to start language-learning programs earlier and do them like we mean it. All research shows that children's brains are best wired to learn new languages when they're young. Waiting until they're in middle school or later is just not effective. Children are born being able to make every sound of every language, but the ability to make all of those sounds diminishes within the first year or so of life.

We have too long been an egocentric country thinking the rest of the world revolves around us. I have pride in my country, yes, but at the same time, I also recognize that we're not the only one!

Answer 2

America is kinda out in its own section of the globe. It makes Americans feel cut off from the outside world, and not in the mood to learn other languages. Also, the education system here sucks. Most Americans cannot even speak ENGLISH, not to mention a SECOND LANGUAGE!
Europe's totally different -- countries there tend to be are smaller, and they often have like 4 close-by neighbors that all speak a different languages.

Answer 3

Most Americans can't speak proper English. And they certainly can't write a coherent sentence. Our schools are failing our children, by not teaching them English well or any other language.
Our country is isolated from other countries, by water, with our only neighbors French-speaking Canada and Spanish-speaking Mexico. Lots of people along both borders are bi-lingual for that reason. In Europe, the countries are the size of states here, and connected to 3-4-5 borders, with a variety of languages and cultures clustered together.
Vote in elections to get funding for language. Learn one on your own. I speak and write English, some Spanish, know a little French, and took Latin four years in high school. It has enriched my life.
Bush is a moron, so if he can be bi-lingual, anybody can be.

Answer 4

I think most of the other answers so far are right on the money. If you're a native speaker or English, there isn't as much immediate necessity in the US to learn other languages. There are social, economic, and geographic reasons for this as other answerers have pointed out. The only way most of us would learn another language is in a learning as a foreign language context, and that is actually a lot harder than learning a language through immersion and contact with native speakers of it (as happens in Europe, for example). Since our school systemsare often limited by budgeting constraints, things like foreign language, music, and art are not always offered in a way that would allow students to gain anything more than a passing familiarity with them.

If you live here in the US and are a proponent of multi-lingualism, you should get invovled in local politics at least as far as advocating for foreign language instruction in schools.

Answer 5

Good! Yes, we Americans are arrogant and feel that we should not learn another language.
Personally, I think we should ALL speak at LEAST three languages fluently, for that would promote international unity.
I speak German and plan on learning Polish, Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Arabic or Aramaic. Maybe a little Russian along the way, you never know.
Learning languages is a GOOD thing and don't let the other arrogant, ignorant people put you down for it.

Answer 6

Unlike Europe or Asia, North America is primarily english speaking. Since english is so prevalent, most Americans do not need to know another language to engage in commerce, business, or social interactions.

Answer 7

We shouldn't promote the spanish language, we need the mexican immigrants (legal ones) to assimilate. Just as we assimilated the irish, germands, Italians, etc..

Europe is a very divided continent with tons of different languages. Since their counries are not even the size of Texas they need to learn language of the countrys that they need to go to for business or whatever.

USA is surrounded by English canada, French Canada (few of them), and Mexico. Do we need to speak french or mexican for business? Nope. IF anything they need to learn english.

Answer 8

Because America isn't attatched to other countries that speak other languages except Mexico. In Europe all the countries are touching countries with different languages. France, Germany, Spain, Portugal...

I think that answered your question...kind of

Answer 9

most Europeans come and visit America so isnt it a good idea to know how to speak the language, im sure Americans who are going to other countries are brushing up on that language

Answer 10

Bush can speak English?