How fluent are Puerto Ricans in English?

Question

I've heard many people on tv say that English would be a major issue for Puerto Rican statehood since hardly anyone there speaks it well, but I read that English is taught in schools from an early age until high school graduation, so I would assume that most Puerto Ricans would be fairly decent at it, right? What is the truth here? How easy is it for English-speaking people to work and live in the area?

papeverwhatever, it wasn't a racial question, ok? geez, it was just a question about how many are fluent in english and it was supposed to be about the puerto ricans living on the island, not in mainland US. don't overreact so easily

Answer 1

I wonder how many Americans speaks Spanish or any other foreign languages...Not many, I think.
Most people from PR speaks better English than most Americans, I often have realized this.

Greetings from Germany

PS: I am fluent in 9 foreign languages...

Answer 2

I just went to Puerto Rico in December on a vacation and I also was wondering the same question before I was going since I couldn't speak any Spanish. I guess it really depends upon where you are going to Puerto Rico. In San Juan and Ponce, many can speak English very well but of course, there are some that can't. Also, Puerto Ricans seem very friendly.

Answer 3

The truth is that Puerto Ricans are not fluent in English. English is taught as a second language. Students are taught the target language from K to 12th grade. The results are that many go to the university knowing little about reading, writing, speaking and listening English. The success rate is around 10 percent the student population.

Answer 4

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. You're question is a fair one and hard to answer at that. It all depends on where any particular individual was raised on the island and what school he/she attended. Public school kids, for the most part, speak English very poorly if at all. Private school kids all have a decent, above average, or fluent understanding of the English language. More often than not you'll encounter someone educated at a private school. Therefore you are very likely to run into someone who can easily get by speaking English with anywhere from many grammatical mistakes and such to none at all. I learned English from Pre-K until Senior year in high school. All my classes were taught in English save for Spanish class of course. You will find many people whose education will be very similar if not the same as mine regarding English.
To put it bluntly: People who were educated in a private school will deffinitely be able to speak English, whether correctly or not is not the issue. People educated in a public school or who come from poorer living situations will, most likely, be unable to speak English. They'll probably know a thing or two but don't expect to have a lengthy and coherent conversation with them. Also consider age. Younger generations will most likely be better at the language than older generations, particularly if the older folk were raised in a Spanish speaking household, went to a Spanish speaking school, and never had the need to learn English.
Again, the answer to your question depends on many social and economic factors. There isn't really a straight answer. It also depends on which part of the island someone was raised. In a more urbanized and city-like area, such as San Juan, it is unlikely you will run into someone who cannot speak English. However, if you go to any mountain towns, finding someone who can communicate in English will be like finding a needle in a haystack.
As to whether English would be a major issue for Puerto Ricans if the island were to become a state is doubtful. Not much would change regarding language barriers. Considering how many Americans live there now, tourism and the need for English speaking jobs it requires, the influences of television, and the percentage of kids that learn English in school I think it is reasonable to say that making English the official language wouldn't be horribly detrimental to the majority of the people on the island.
I hope I answered your question or at least helped you understand the situation in Puerto Rico a little better. It's difficult to give a thorough yet relatively concise written explanation. With more time and a better means of communication I'm sure it would be a hell of a lot easier to explain exactly what the situation is regarding English in Puerto Rico. Nonetheless, I hope I've helped! :D

Answer 5

Well english is taught since Kindergarden in Puerto rico..so Puerto Rican can Read and Write English..as Good as any High School Senior in US...

Speaking English is another Story....Most of the People in Puerto Rico will be afraid to use it but they can handle Tourist and if they travel..they can speak if they Really Need to.

Answer 6

I agree with your add, I dont see any prejudice in this question at all. It is a valid question as PR's official language is said to be both Spanish and English, that simply is not true, it really is Spanish.
But you will find on the island most Native Puerto Ricans have a basic understanding of English but they don't often get to "practice" it. But they can hold pretty decent conversations, with maybe some grammar and spanglish isues. Now I have found on Vieques an island off of PR the English is not quite as good except at the hotels.

Answer 7

Most youth today in Puerto Rico speak English fairly well,although with an accent.

Answer 8

I agree with Torsten B and Shinnings because I'm from P. R.
I really don't know is Mmuscs understand the reality of the Puerto Ricans. English is well know by a great number, I believe the majority, of Puerto Ricans but we are timid to speak it. I have more than 100 English speaking channels in my TV, I read books in English and believe me I prefer by far YA in English.
I know many peoples in my country that can teach English in any University of the states, including my father.
The reason to be a state is not an idiom issue, is a moral one.

Answer 9

We are taught english since first grade until high school, its a matter of taking advantage of it. It's like you are taught math since you enter school until high school, but how many people are good at math?

For english speaking people to work and live here is fairly easy because I think the majority of Puertoricans can at least understand english, and the english speaking end up picking up spanish so its easy for them to understand us too. Since everyone here speaks spanish we don't need to, or get to, practice english much.

Answer 10

Some do speak English...but very limited. For a country with ties to the USA for over a century it's shameful how little English people speak. I do believe, however, that with the advent of Cable TV featuring English speaking station it will improve some how. Worse yet, our Spanish is also lacking... Of course dont try and tell that to a Puerto Rican...we cannot handle criticism very well. Sorry folks.

Answer 11

Puerto Ricans speak and could write english if they cared to do so. But as they say "when in Rome do as the romans do". My family is bilingual ,When they feel like it. But to none spanish speaking individuals they will speak english to communicate.