Languages????

Question

I am very irritated that everytime you go to the ATM, call a credit card company, bank, mortgage lenders etc..... Why do they ask if you want to push 1 for English or 2 for Spainish. Are we not in America, the language is ENGLISH... If you are going to come to this country learn the language!! Why do we cater to them... I am not saying they should lose there language or traditions, but use them at home, but when you are out you need to learn to speak English. If you cannot communicate, get a translator!!! Does this bother anyone else????

Answer 1

you don't have to cater them, but the banks do... whatever it takes as long as it means more business.

Answer 2

I agree that we shouldn't cater to them but I also agree with the person above me that you should have some sympathy because learning a language is hard. But I am still on your side because that is how you learn, when you are forced to speak the language to survive. If you can get by without learning it since everyone and all companies are catering to it, why would you waste your time learning English? That would be most people's opinion.

Answer 3

It's a service which is there for someone who needs it. In Europe I've seen ATM machines with even four languages. The costs of including an extra language to the machine are much less than the benefit of more people being able to use it.

And eventually they'll learn English as well.

Answer 4

You need to put yourself in the shoes of someone who is learning English but can't yet speak enough to get by without help, then tell me it's not necessary. As long as they learn the language in the longterm, what's the problem?

I'm English & have lived in Germany for 2 years now. My German is good now & I get by on my own, but when I first got here, although I was attending lessons to learn the language properly, I needed such help, so no, I don't let it bother me & I even sympathise with people who need that kind of help.

Answer 5

If you tried pushing #2 next time you take a trip to the ATM then you'd see how incredibly arrogant and ignorant your question really is. Get a clue and take a trip to a non-English speaking country.

Answer 6

i really dont understand why youre complaining about this!
everybody in non-english speaking countries has to learn english, because you lazy americans are not able to learn a second language! many things in germany are
written in english for tourists etc. and nobody complains about that.
its not easy for other people to learn english, so give them time! you would be glad if there was a translation in another country if you were there.

Answer 7

Hay que dices? Why you people cannot live with others peacefully...You have to know that some people are not so fluent in english so they need help when they try to communicate.


Also I dont see how that bothers you.After all you can press "one" automatically and not read all the ATM instructions in front of the line -there are people waiting there you know...-

Answer 8

OH NO.. you have opened up one of my major dislikes. When I go to Mexico, I do not see push one for Spanish and push 2 for English.. ONLY in America. It is wrong and hopefully someday(before it is too late) we will have the common sense to change to English.. IF we do not, America will soon be a Spanish speaking country because that is what the Mexican Government is wanting.

Answer 9

Lol, you'll get SO irritated in SA - here our ATMs offer a selection of 11 languages! (English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, isiSwati, isiZulu, Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Setswana, Sesotho, Sepedi)

Answer 10

Do you know how much money America gets from tourists? English is the first option, what's your problem....