WHy do people assume Immigrants do not want to learn English?

Question

My parents were immigrants most of my family were. A lot of people I know are immigrants the general consensus amongst these people is that they want to learn English. Granted most of them speak it with an accent that we all make fun of even the children of immigrants but they are more than Eager to learn and know it is the key to succeeding in the US. My mother took night classes to learn it. Many immigrants I see working at McDonalds and places like that are using it as a tool to learn our language because immersion is a good way to know. Why do people think just because they may speak their native language with others they do not want to learn. Remember you do not learn English overnight especially when you are an older person.

The pres one for English crap does not fly considering many of these centralized phone lines are used in the USA Canada and Mexico. They all go to one centralized place. Second read the previous quesions people seem to blur the line between leagals and illegals

Answer 1

Probably from personal experience.....They see a few doing this, so assume all are like this.....My mother speaks broken English, but she tries....She gets embarrassed speaking English in public and I tell her NOT to be embarrassed....Its not that she is arrogant and thinks everyone should speak Spanish just for her, she gets self conscious speaking her broken English.....On the contrary, she wants me to speak only in English to her, so she can learn to speak better English....

Answer 2

Many immigrants do want to learn English and assimilate into the American culture. However, in some areas with high concentrations of immigrants from a particular location, some seem to have the attitude that they don't need to learn English because their neighbors speak their native language. They carry that attitude to their jobs. They expect government agencies to print things in their language. The area I live in has enough Spanish speaking people that it is difficult to obtain a management position or a position working with the public unless you are bi-lingual. I know of other nearby areas that the same exists with other languages.

Answer 3

Americans are terrified that they themselves might need to learn Spanish. They don't realize that for hundreds of years foreign-speaking immigrants have been repeating the same pattern: the first generation struggles mightily but fails to learn English; the second generation speaks fluent English; and the third generation speaks only English.

People need to look at their own fear of foreign languages in order to understand the tremendous courage of foreign-speaking immigrants who choose to come here. If Americans are afraid of a few Spanish signs, imagine how much scarier it is to be immersed in a country where you don't speak the language. Immigrants desperately want to learn English - just look at all the English lessons advertised on Spanish-language TV. But, if you've ever tried to learn a foreign language, then you know how difficult it is for an adult. But it will come naturallly to the next generation, as it always has.

Answer 4

What language are they speaking? Do they speak any English? How long have they been here? Oh, they only speak the language of their home country? They speak NO English? They've been here for 5 to ten years and they still don't speak English?

Hum! Well that's a pretty good indication that they DO NOT WANT TO LEARN! If they wanted to, they would try!

Answer 5

I'm sure people understand that "some" people do learn the language, but... just because your family made it a priority to learn English, doesn't mean the majority immigrants (legal or illegal) try to learn it. Most become comfortable working and living around there on people, so they don't bother to learn the English language. That just irks me!!!

Answer 6

well the main reason probably is ignorance ... today the Latinos are learning the language way faster than all other immigrants yet the lies of the anti-immigrant media portrays them as if they did not even wanted to learn the language ...

i personally have seem how is it that most Latinos usually spend hundreds of dollars trying to learn English and fill up places in which classes are given and personally have seen to than those which find difficult to learn as one would normally assume watch how their children's grow and actually feel happy when the little ones start speaking English ( i seen them clapping about it like if it was the greatest thing ever )

yet the media and anti-immigrants groups not only ignore this but yet ignore the American history by ignoring how is it that all others found even more difficult to learn the language and were far more resistant to learning English that the Latinos of today ....

there is also that group of people which assume that just because one person who they know doesn't speak English and that person is a Latino automatically every Latino must be the same ... it is ignorance and the fact that most of that kind are incapable of speaking in more than one language .. the world is huge and we the USA are neighbor and live in a continent in which we make business everyday with Spanish speaking countries yet many do not keep up yet push down with their racist views those which they do not like just because of one person ... pretty sick if u ask me ...

Answer 7

My daughter took Spanish I and II in high school and has had three semesters of it now in college and she still can't speak Spanish. I am sorry that so many people are so rude and insulting. Most Americans cannot speak a second language, and yet they look down on those from abroad that struggle with English. I think some of them resent people speaking a different language around them because they're nosy and don't know what you're saying. They probably think you're talking about them.

If you read some of the answers here, you'll notice that half of them can't even speak or write good English. So don't let other people upset you. Be proud of your mother for going to the trouble of going to night school. And don't forget your heritage. Good luck to you.

Answer 8

Your experiences are typical for immigrants of past generations. Today, however, there is a broad movement to accomdate those who do not speak english. Ballots are printed up in multiple langauges, even though all legitimate voters are either native english speakers, or learned english as part of becoming naturalized citizens. Products sold here in CA generally have both english and spanish. Telephony systems have both english and spanish. There are multiple spanish-language-only TV stations in my area (there is also one that broadcasts, english, chinese, japanese or indian language programs at different times of the day). I frequently get mailers that are in spanish /only/.

I think there's some folks out there insisting on not using english - even if they are willing to learn it. Either that or there are organizations who are agressively targeting native speakers of other languages, and, in the process, giving them reason to think they don't /need/ to become fluent in english.

Answer 9

My step-dad has been here for almost 30 years and still cannot speak English. I believe he's had plenty of time to learn, he just doesn't want to. Actually, he has no reason to. Don't get me wrong....he does speak a little (very little.) I can pretty much understand him but that's only because I've been around him since I was two. Others cannot understand him, though. I've been around immigrants (from Mexico) long enough to know that they have no desire to learn our language. Why should they when we cater to them by learning Spanish? And please don't assume I'm racist for using Mexicans as an example. They are the only immigrants I've ever had any sort of dealings with. Thanks.

Answer 10

I really don't care what language a person speaks in their personal conversations - more power to them. Heck, my husband & I use another language to communicate without our kids understanding us when we need to. Its just that I think there should only be one official language that is a medium of communication in public, at the polls, on the laws, on signs, in the schools, etc. I know that there are plenty of people who are trying to speak English, and I have no problem as long as someone makes the effort. I don't expect them to speak flawless English over night.

Answer 11

The stereotype exists because stereotypes usually have a grain of truth to them. This image exists not because the people haven't spoken with immigrants, but yet because in their life they have met with immigrants who spoke little or no English. This is furthered when those people have been in the country an extended period of time. The fringe of a people and their negative actions will always overshadow the silent majority.