Why are most Americans only able to speak English?

Question

Many people in other countries can speak at least two. Why can't Americans do the same?

Answer 1

Most Americans are illiterate in English to start with, and seem incapable of spelling the simplest words or constructing even a semi-grammatical sentence. Heaven forbid they should try to learn another language -- they cause enough trouble as it is.

Answer 2

For one thing, we don't need to speak any other language than English to get by in our daily lives. All Americans speak it. It's not like some other countries where different languages are spoken in different areas and you need to know them to communicate. Also, some Americans feel that, even when traveling abroad, they don't need to brush up on any of the native tongue before they go because other countries teach English as a second language. While this may be true in some areas, English isn't as prevalent a language as many Americans assume. I've stated this before, but even though English is taught in the schools of another country doesn't automatically mean the citizens of said country are fluent in English. I know people who took Spanish here for years in school, live in areas with high hispanic populations, and still can't speak Spanish. While Americans don't really need to learn another language, I think it's good to learn some of the basics of one if you're traveling to a country where the people speak it. I know from experience that the people you speak to in what little of their language you might know are appreciative that you're attempting it.

Answer 3

Foreign language isn't given as much priority in US schools as it's given in other countries, I think. There are some elementary schools where students have an opportunity to learn French or Spanish from a young age, but most students don't get the chance to study a foreign language until at least middle school (around age 12) or more often high school (age 14-17). From what I've heard, many other countries start their children out with learning other languages from their earliest school days, so they have a much stronger foundation for learning languages and a lot more time to become proficient than American kids. Right or wrong, foreign language just isn't given as much emphasis here as it is elsewhere.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, it mostly boils down to the fact that our country is large and fairly separated from any other "non-English" countries, except for Mexico. The entirety of Europe, for example, fits inside the area of the US easily, and there are many, MANY languages in that continent whereas there's really only English in the US. I'm an American and I do speak another language, incidentally, but I had to take and make the effort to do so and learn it (but I love being bilingual).

Answer 5

I agree with the other answers: we're a very big country where almost everyone speaks english, so we don't feel we need to learn another language. I do admire Europeans who speak 5-6 languages, seemingly without effort. I think we should be more multi-lingual, but you have to remember in Europe for example, France, Spain, Germany, and England are like 4 seperate states here.

Answer 6

Why indeed? Is it because they are lazy and stupid?
Probably not...
It's probably just because they have not been exposed to many foreign languages. However, many people (at my school) can respect the languages of French and Spanish; this is probably because of similarities and of the closeness of these languages (Mexico to the south, Canada to the north).
However, they don't deal so well with Asian languages, as I've found; I've tried Japanese on them, and it doesn't stick... Although they show some enthusiasm in trying to ask me how to say this and that in Chinese (my primary language), I don't think that they are really interested.
The differences between the Asian languages and the European languages are just too big for most Americans to accept.
Hope this helps (though it probably just confuses you more)

Answer 7

Because Americans dont have to speak anything but english. If there is anything close to a universal language it is english. We don't have to interact with people who speak other languages on a regular basis. People do what they have to do to get by. In Europe and Africa, you have to speak a few languages in the US that's not the case.

Answer 8

I think it's because they don't feel the need to learn another language, they take for granted, that english is "the universal language" so why should they bother to learn another one. Also, americans have a tendancy to think (a little like us in Canada) that people have to live their way (not the way around): it's pretty rare to see an American arriving in another country and try to learn basics phrases to show they appreciate the hospitality of the country they're in. "I speak english so speak english"

Answer 9

I think you're stereotyping them too much. I'm sure if you go to any country, the Majority of People will still be only able to speak their native language, with the exception of places like Switzerland which are multi lingual right from the start.
Having said that though, I think perhaps one of the reasons why English has become a global language is because of a basic stubbornness and refusal by us native speakers to learn anyone elses language.
I CAN speak two languages though. (English and Japanese)

Answer 10

because english is the international language and its Americans first language, so they might think they don't need to thinking that they r at the top of the world but actually its a shame for them to know only one language and its a big credit dat other countries know more than one language. The Americans who take the effort of learning Spanish, French or other languages definitely shud be proud just like other country ppl shud be proud as they know more dan one language & the americans who just knows english & dont wana know sum other language shud be ashamed of themselves

Answer 11

Because Americans are selfish trouble makers who only think of themselves. Americans believe, or at least all those i know, that all the world should know English just so they don't have to learn to speak another language. We say that America is multiculturaled, but they still try to force their way on everyone, just look at what is happening in Iraq!!

Again i don't mean to generalize, this is just an observation made by an American.