If you are a foreigner living in America should you be forced to learn English.?

Question

Should foreigners learn English or should everyone else learn to understand and communicate with them?

Answer 1

No one forced me to learn English when I came to this country, legally, over 20 years ago, however, I had to learn it for my own benefit, and surely didn't expect, nor demanded, for this country to learn my language just because I came to live here.

Neither did all the rest of the European immigrants that came here throughout the centuries!

Those who are now wanting to change this, and expect everyone else to accommodate them, IMO, are totally wrong, and will succeed only if we let them.
If they want to live in a country where their language is the one spoken, then they need to stay where they are, or find another one alike!

Answer 2

I think a person should want to learn a foreign language, not be forced to speak it. If they are living in America and the predominate language is English then by necessity society will push them or force them out of survival to learn some english. The same can be said for any foreigner living in an outside country, they may not want to learn or adapt to the new language for whatever reason, but at some point they may need to to get there basic needs taken care of.

Answer 3

I don't think anyone should be forced to learn english, however I think it would be beneficial to learn our language if youre planning on living in America. If I moved to another country, I would do my best to learn their language, not the other way around. There are so many people from different countries living in America. Obviously it's easier for one person to learn english than for one person to learn 20+ different languages.

Answer 4

I think English is the main language of communication in North America, and that anyone who wants to permanently live here should know it to some degree of fluency. I don't think anyone should tell people what language they should speak in their homes or with their families, though. The US technically has no official language, and so as long as everyone can communicate in public, what people do in private is their own business.

Answer 5

The ancestors of many of today's white Americans came to America not speaking a word of English. There are many Americans with Dutch (all the Americans with van... surnames) and German immigrant ancestors. These settlers mostly congregated together and learnt English after arriving.

Answer 6

America is one of the only countries on Earth where the vast majority speak only one language. Are we really too stupid to learn anything but English?

No one should be forced to learn anything. If people want to communicate, they will find a way on their own.

Answer 7

Forced? No.
However, they should also not be catered to. English should be the only language on driver's licence tests, voters registration forms, social security forms, etc. If you want to be a part of the society, then you need to be an active member. When my mother came to america (legally I might add) she was 7 years old. She have to learn english to survive in school and excell in life. No one should be held to a lesser standard.

Answer 8

No one should be "forced" to do anything...but it's ***-backwards trying to get all Americans to learn the languages of every foreigner coming into OUR country....they have a duty to get with the culture they're trying to benefit from.

Answer 9

they shouldn't be forced but they should definetly learn it to make life a lot easier. even though the U.S. doesn't have an official language its obvious we all use English and it would be a great benefit to learn it.

Answer 10

Forced? No.

Encouraged? Yes.

At least until the Star Trek Communicator is released by Apple