What test for speaking English should be required for immigrants?

Question

How proficient should an immigrant to the US be in English before it would satisfy Americans who say "If you are going to live here, you have to speak English"? Like, if a Mexican lives and works with other Mexicans, does he have to be able to discuss the works of Geoffrey Chaucer so he can shop at the supermarket? What exactly does it mean to "speak English" in order to live here? I know plenty of Americans who say "ain't" and use double negatives and have little concept of subject-verb agreement, and no one has suggested they leave, so what exactly is the standard immigrants should be held to? And would Americans be willing to be held to the same standard--i.e., whatever test a Spanish speaker has to pass to live here, would you be willing to pass it to get your high school diploma? No flames, please. This is a question that should be addressed.

Answer 1

Its just an excuse for racism. Immigrants can speak English well enough to get by. The argument that they can't speak it is just a weak justification for discrimination. I agree, Americans cannot properly speak English. And I agree, immigrants should be able to speak English if they want to live here. But, those proficiency tests are just a way to make it easier to keep other nationalities out of our country.

Answer 2

I feel that immigrants should be able to speak english at least conversationally. Roughly at the equivilant of a 5th or 6th grade level. It's fine if they don't get all the words put together correctly, they just need to communicate well enough so that the average American can discuss day to day activities with them.

If immigrants only speak their native language and live in America, then they will not be able to actively participate in America- they will be a little country unto themselves - not the great melting pot America has been known for. Without a common language, there can be no "United" in the "United States".

Answer 3

I think all immigrants should be able to communicate at a basic level of English. At the moment, such a test is only required when trying to get citizenship, and the level of the test is rather low. But, provided that these immigrants *can* speak English, I don't think it's reasonable to *force* them to do so. It's ridiculously authoritarian, difficult to enforce, and it offers us little benefit.

Answer 4

It should be clearly determined that a person who is from another country can read and write in English enough to understand traffic signs, simple governmental/legal directions and most importantly to teach their own children to be able to speak English if they are to live here as citzens.

There are very well known second language standards that are taught all over the world to people who need to ber able to communicate in the second language in the areas they live in.

The rather odious quality of "freedom of Speech" we permit in our country allows folks who come here from elsewhere, to go on about their lives as if they still live in the old country they used to come from.
This approach is highly devissionary and causes a signifigant loss to our culture in many ways.
It seperates us from those who come here as immigrants, it costs us billions to educate and teach those who could apparently care less and causes an underlieing sort of division that makes Them seperate from Us. This should be discouraged at all costs.
How, when and where and the ability to converse even basically in English should be and is a madate for legal immigrants. People have been doing this for hundreds of years both in the US as well as in other countries.
The reason We have a problem with this is because so many illegals are here and have not a clue about wanting or having the time or commitment to learn another language. They are nothing but second class "kinda" citizens and they demean and undermine our country and system. If they were to come legally, they would be required to learn English and become what we know today makes a good citizen.
Sadly, this is not being done and many Americans are fed up with the abuse and detriment of it.

Answer 5

The person claiming this is racism is quite moronic. It's not moronic, it's logical. When it comes to making everything completely multi-lingual the costs are ridiculous. I'll admit there is no national language in America, however most businesses, government and the majority of people speak English. So to be a true contributing member to the nation, it would make sense for them to speak the language. Why is it we as citizens have to appease immigrants who come here? We allowed them (who came legally) with open arms, the least they could do is reciprocate and speak the language of the people.

Answer 6

Depends on what type of work they do and what kind of life they would like to have.
Many who came here to study were required to pass English tests that most Americans won't pass with decent scores.

At least they should be able to 1: read traffic signs and other important signs on the streets and government notices and be able to fill out forms in English
2 to speak comprehensible English so that they can communicate with people in their daily lives so that the tax payers won't have to pay for interpreters(on a regular, permanent basis) in the hospitals, in courts.

Answer 7

They should be able to be proficient enough to be able to serve on a jury. I know 5 or 6 generation hispanics who has lived in the US for that long who still only speak Spanish! If they want to be citizens then they need to integrate into our society...not the other way around!!!

Answer 8

The average person in America reads at about the sixth grade level. If a person expects to live and work here, s/he needs to be able to communicate on the level of at least the average. I am not unreasonable. I am willing to take such a test in order to qualify for any job for which I apply. I would expect to be refused employment if I could not pass such a simple test. I would hope that any person living and working in the US would be held to such a standard (or above), but thanks to the liberal democrats, we will probably all be expected to learn the languages of the people who are coming to live here, both legally and illegally.

Answer 9

If you want to immigrate to countries, which are England, Canada, and NZ, you should pass the IELTS test.

Answer 10

Enough to have a normal conversation. If an immigrant wants to be an American and assimilate into our culture, fine. If they just want to bring their culture here and ignore us then stay home. We don't need them. This is my country... my culture.. I see no reason for me to change to suite immigrants. That would be a stupid thing to do.