America has so many immigrants, and a lot of them don't speak English. Yet, if we move or visit another country, we are expected to speak their language. Shouldn't the same apply here?
2007-06-13 05:23:17 · 19 answers · asked by Jess 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Those arriving have the duty to fit in as best they can. Those welcoming have the duty to facilitate that in some way don't you think? Just basic manners! It is the same thing we do when someone comes to visit us in our homes.
2007-06-13 05:27:59 · answer #1 · answered by Goddess of Laundry 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
1. If we move to or visit another country, we are not always expected to speak their language, actually. It depends on where you go. In some countries, they actually don't like to speak their native language with foreigners. In other countries, society is functionally bilingual and English is completely acceptable. Don't learn Dutch to go visit the Netherlands, for example. They're proud of how fluent they are in English, and they're happy to show it off to you.
2. If you move to another country, I think that you should definitely make a real attempt to learn the language. Moving to another country means changing a lot of things in your life. If you don't want to adapt to your new environment, why move? I'm not saying you should change your religion or start eating foods you hate, but trying to learn the language and celebrating the national holidays isn't asking too much.
3. If you move to a new country, you can't be expected to learn the language before you get there. It's nice if you do, but sometimes it's just not realistic. This is especially true if you're fleeing a place where you barely had access to clean water and basic education, let alone an English teacher and money to pay for lessons. For people who are older, sometimes fluency is impossible and immersion is the best and only way to teach them any part of a foreign language.
4. If you visit another country, it can be more fun if you don't speak the language. Sometimes, you learn more that way. It depends on where you go. At the very least, don't let "but I don't speak German!" keep you from visiting Austria or "but I don't speak Mandarin!" keep you from visiting Taiwan. You will survive. It will be okay. Just bring a phrasebook, a sense of humor, a good map, and some patience.
5. If you encounter someone in your country who doesn't speak your language, don't be rude. They obviously thought highly enough of your country that they went to the trouble of getting there and seeing it for themselves. Being rude to those people will make them want to be less like you, not more like you. If you know someone who needs to speak better English, offer to help them. They probably won't refuse. Hey, maybe they'll even offer to teach you their language in return.
2007-06-13 13:12:13 · answer #2 · answered by ClassyInCoach 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think that you should try your hardest to attempt to learn the language. I know that some people don't have that oppurtunity before moving here, though. I think you should, just based on the fact if I were planning on moving to a foriegn country, I would try to learn everything possible about that country; including and especially the language. You can't expect or assume that people will be able to understand you. Also, wouldn't it scare you a little to move to a place without knowing how to say anything? How do people get around in life that way?
2007-06-13 12:37:26 · answer #3 · answered by Kelly 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well, America is a lot bigger than the United States.
Depending on where you move in America (North and South America) you could have to learn Spanish, Portuguese, or even French.
As for people who move to the United States of America, yeah, they should learn English over time. While you should not expect them to come off the plane fluent in English they should at least try to gain passable knowledge of English by the end of their first year in the US.
2007-06-13 12:33:16 · answer #4 · answered by ryushinigami 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely without a doubt! People that move to america should learn english. It should be the official language of the United States.
2007-06-13 12:32:19 · answer #5 · answered by s m 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I live in a country that's native language is NOT English. Yet, most immigrants (from west and east) are not giving a damn about learning our mother-tongue.
Not all, some (especially from certain countries in the east, working low-paying jobs) are actually trying. Not succeeding, but trying.
2007-06-13 12:33:42 · answer #6 · answered by Serendipity 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I do believe if you move to America to become a citizen, you should learn English. If people want to live in the USA or any other country they should adapt.
2007-06-13 12:38:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes. However, learning a second language takes time, and it's almost impossible after a certain age. Young kids learn it at school but adults have to go above and beyond to learn it and almost never perfect it (especially the accent).
2007-06-13 12:31:41 · answer #8 · answered by Xiomy 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think so. My cousin lived in France for 12 years. He learned to speak fluent French; not expecting everyone to speak English to him.
2007-06-13 12:26:38 · answer #9 · answered by Judith H 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, but as a homegrown American shouldn't you speak more than just English. Many people throughout the world are bi-lingual.
2007-06-13 13:04:02 · answer #10 · answered by braegger 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋