Is it fear or is it arrogance that keeps Hispanic immigrants from learning English?

Question

I say a little of both. They have a fear of losing their culture, yet are arrogant enough to think that the US shoould cater to their linguistsic needs.
Here is an article that agrees with me in regards to their fears:
http://www.tamu.edu/univre1/aggiedaily/news/stories/03/111703-4.html

Sorry if the link doesn't work

Crystal, who am I? I am a concerned US citizen wondering why so many Hispanics choose not learn English at the same rate as every other well-wishing immigrant. I could care less about what your mother does or doesn't do for a living. Did that answer my question?

anoldnick, so you are saying that English is sooo hard to learn? Give me a break! Just like with anything else, if you want to learn it bad enough, you will.
And yes, I do have a working knowledge of Spanish and I learned it casually in college.

midcentury, have you not heard of immigrants suing the federal government to get things printed in Spanish or have you been on another planet? There have been numerous lawsuits and threats of lawsuits. How do you think that you learned in your bilinguial class? Laui vs. California (or something to that effect).

Frankie, thanks for making my point when you say that your dad doesn't want to learn English cuz he dont have to. In the words of the mortal miriam-webster dictionary, THATS ARROGANCE!!!!!

Answer 1

""Just because some people choose to speak Spanish, sometimes, why should it bother anybody""

If I go to court as a juror like I did a few months ago and the defendant couldnt understand english, and we had to have a court appointed and tax payer paid for person dictating everything in spanish for him then it does and should bother me.

When I go to a store to buy some groceries and I see a mother and her kids there and I see them speaking to them in spanish I wonder to myself, why arent they pushing the kids to learn english. They will need to know it to get anywhere in society.
Then I find myself in line 10 minutes later and the line is very long because someone in line cant understand what the cashier is saying and is holding up the line for everyone else.

My grandfather didnt know english when he came to the USA either. But he was deteremined to learn and never spoke anything but english ( as best he could ) in public becuase it was important for him to assimilate.

Amongst your familiy or friends at home or in a gathering of people who speak that language its perfectly fine.

But if you are going out somewhere expecting to interact with people who speak english as just about everyone in the USA does, then you either should know it, or have someone with you who knows it.

Its courteous to others, and its common sense.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

If you look around you it is not only the Hispanic immigrants that are not learning the English language, it is all immigrants. They are afraid to lose their heritage and then their kids will be too americanize and refuse to follow in their religion and traditions. But on the other hand they also don't want to learn the language so they can have an excuse and always say "I'm sorry I don't understand what you are saying to me". Which to me is a cop out. We are catering to them - we have and continue to give them free medical, housing and food stamps. We put signs everywhere in all the languages you can think of just to appease the politicians who are fighting to keep them here so when voting time comes around they have their constituents.

Answer 4

The reason Hispanic immigrants have such a hard time with English is the same reason so many Asian, European and other ethnic immigrants do - English is one of the hardest languages to learn there ever has been. It's worse than Mandarin Chinese. Fear and arrogance have NOTHING to do with it.

Answer 5

I think it is arrogance. They have come and changed neighborhoods in So. Calif so that it is their own little Mexico.


From the mouth of Gov. Schwarzenegger ~

He swings back again and complains about a shopping center in the Los Angeles area that was built entirely for Spanish-speakers, and he says that it reminds him of Mexico City. He complains that too many Mexicans don’t seem to want to assimilate into the dominant American culture the way he thinks earlier waves of immigrants have done. He compares Mexican immigrants to house guests who refuse to leave or help with the family’s chores. Interestingly, on this sensitive issue he notes that while he has mentioned it gingerly, he can’t really share his true thoughts in public.

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/insider/

scroll down to the bottom of the article to see the whole article

Answer 6

They are not the same immigrants that came a long time ago. If we were to track one for 10 years or so, we would see them gradually learn.

The new ones don't know English yet, but they will.

Just because some people choose to speak Spanish, sometimes, why should it bother anybody (when they know both)?

Answer 7

Many of them work very hard and are too tired to go to school at the end of the day.

Also near where I live there's a town where everyone is Hispanic and they don't need to speak English.

Hopefully the children will learn to speak English in school unless the bi-lingual education folks have their way.

Answer 8

This is the USA...If people want to live here then they need to learn the language of the country....Which is.....English! I have traveled in a few countries and there was no one there running to get me an interpreter. You don't lose your culture by learning to speak the language of the country where you live. It is just fact that if you have someone to cater to your needs, Why do you need to even try. Learn the language or pay for your own interpreter......I am tired of my tax dollars going for unnecessary things. My grandchildren are 50% Hispanic and they were taught both languages....With English being the first!

One more thing
I have no problem with people who come here wanting to maintain their culture...And that is the way it should be....I have no problem with people wanting to use their own language and teach it to their young.....That is the way it should also be...However.....Learn English also. People need to be able to communicate here as well.

Answer 9

The language we use is English, Krystal and Kevil, and if you plan on being successful here you need to learn the English language. I'm not saying you should abandon your heritage or culture but sometimes you have to learn the "operating" language where you live.

Answer 10

Most immigrants learn English in time. But English is a difficult language to learn, and working and raising a family leaves little time.