What do you think about bilinguals (like myself) getting paid more than a non-bilingual?

Question

I know most of you hate ilegals and think they are the only reason for spanish being used in the US, but there are some legal Mexican-American citizens, Puerto Ricans, and other latinos that are legal and don't speak english.... then why complain about spanish when you can learn it (if you choose to) and get paid more??

gokart121 I am both a US Citizen and a Mexican Citizen.. I have dual citizenship... so for your information I am BOTH..

SugarNSpice
Don't hate... Congratulate ;)

Answer 1

i love america! i'm happy for you,why would anyone be mad if you are here legaly! use what you got girl and don't get dragged down..someone needs to be here for the legal ones and why not you right?

Answer 2

I think that individuals who have Bilingual Skills should get paid more.

It's a SKILL - It's not about Mexicans or Puerto Ricans or Cubans, etc.

I think its great to be educated in Lingustics. I took Italian and french when I was younger, and I know Spanish.

I think the ability to learn and speak other languages allows us to compete with the world. The way I looked at it.....is.. if people in other countries can learn 4 - 5 languages and that is their standard we should raise our standards to become multi-lingual we have the ability to do so why not take advanage!

Not to mention.....how wonderful it is to meet foreigners and/or visit foreign places and be able to communicate and learn something new.

Knowing other languages gives us such an opportunity to learn - ....it gives us the chance to grow as individuals and you deserve to be compensated for this skill.

Answer 3

The USA is very diverse. We have people from all over the world. We cannot accomodate every language in the world. When the USA makes English our official language, people will be required to KNOW basic English. I know there are people in the USA who have not yet grasped our language. Therefore, we need bi-linguals, for now. When people stop coming into our country without the basic grasp of English, we will no longer need bi-linguals. Where I work, English/Spanish bilinguals get $2 more per hour. The English/Korean bi-linguals get $4 more per hour. I don't like it, but there is nothing I, personally, can do to change it, other than learning another language myself. I hope the day will come [but, it probably won't] when we will no longer treat people from other countries 'special'. They should learn OUR language, we shouldn't 'pamper' them by offering a bi-lingual or a translator, except when dealing with international customers [people in their own country], even in that case THEY should provide the translator, not us. If WE called their country, WE would provide the translator.

Answer 4

It's not that easy to learn a foreign language in an English-speaking country, unless your family and friends speak the language around you from your early childhood.

Native Spanish speakers will always know Spanish better, and they'll always have an advantage over those who try to learn Spanish in school.

Pay should be based on one's work performance rather than on some personal quality, such as knowledge of a foreign language.

People who know foreign languages have more opportunities open to them in translation and in business. And these extra opportunities can give them an economic advantage over others.

Answer 5

Many of those who are bilingual are so based on our education dollars because of the necessity of ESL at an age when none of OUR chlidren are offered foreign languages by the public schools. So I wouldn't rub it in people's faces.

Having said that, I have a friend who is fluent in 7 languages and another who recently died who was fluent in 5 languages, and I know at least a workmanlike amount of 3 languages (Spanish not amongst them), so I agree people can learn.

The point they are making is they woke up one day in their own bed, went outside, and seemed to be in Mexico. THEY didn't move, the immigrants did, but THEIR culture has drastically changed due to influx of a volume of people, illegally, that no sane legal immigration plan would have allowed.

Culture shock is one reason (though not the biggest, in my view) for wanting gradual immigration from a variety of sources rather than from predominantly one 'competing' culture.

Answer 6

I think it is just in the sense that you are able to service a bigger population and therefore possibly youre doing more work. And for those of you who dont think it makes a difference or people actually get paid more for knowing both english and spanish youre wrong. Where I live it makes a huge difference in jobs in the school districts or working for the city. And sure it would be great for people coming from any country (not just Mexico) to learn english before coming but of course thats easy for us to say since leaning another language for us is as easy as a trip to your local library!!

Answer 7

I don't think there is anything to whine about. Why? Because you have skills that your employer values and is willing to pay a higher rate to receive. Your employer is trying to reach its entire market, and it has deemed that it needs bilingual employees to do that.

Another example of this would be if people have two years of college and get hired for a particular job and then they go get their four year degree. They now are more qualified and would command a higher salary level, if not with that employer, then another one.

People who complain about Spanish-speaking people are just culturally uncomfortable with people who look different from them "taking" their jobs or they perceive that those who look different than them are taking their jobs. .

Answer 8

There are very few jobs that actually pay more for knowing Spanish. Most of them are low paying service jobs that most people wouldn't want anyway.
And lets turn your question around. Why don't the Spanish speakers learn English so they can better communicate? It only makes sense to learn the language of where you're living. If I moved to Mexico I'd learn Spanish. Why can't we say the thing about them?

Answer 9

I see no reason why someone shouldnt know two languages, its great although if i were to learn another language its not going to be spanish, it will be my language italian, but i do agree that if you come to live in america where english is the first language you should learn it instead of expecting everyone to learn yours. If i moved to spain tommorrow with a couple thousand more americans .... do you think they are going to learn english to communicate with me? no, i would have to learn their language, which is only right.

Answer 10

I have no problem with people who have used their ability to learn a second language being compensated for it. I happen to speak three languages, ( English, Spanish, Italian) and feel I'm a better person for it. What irritates me is mandatory bilingual education. What irritates me is the expense of printing government documents in Spanish. If you are going to come to live in this country, make a living, or even just to abuse the benefits, please have the common courtesy to attempt to learn the language.

Answer 11

Being fluent in several languages is / has always been considered an asset in any job dealing with the public.
Please do not presume we didnt know that in the first place. Some corporations will list fluency with multiple languages as part of an entry level job.
The world is getting smaller.
Spanish can be one of these languages, but go to any bank and they list at least 15 languages that their employees can speak.