Why are immigrants so unwilling to assimilate to American culture?

Question

This indifference stands out particularly in the Mexican/Latino community in regards to language. If you were immigrating to a foreign country, wouldn't you want to learn the language in hopes of making the transition easier? The day the U.S. becomes bilingual is the day I move to Europe.

Answer 1

Please indulge me in a little rambling.....

I think you are generalizing and making a blanket statement, that's not fair..
however, having said that...what gets me is that voting ballots have absolutely NO business in any other language except American English! I vote every chance I get and English is not my first language.

I do believe that one should learn the language of their host country....But please do not expect others to give up their own language and culture.. That is what defines each of us and that is the beauty of the human tapestry.

Of course, illegal immigration is another matter, and one that needs to be dealt with.

Answer 2

US is a bilingual country and the second language is the Spanish. However, I think you don't have to move from there, you should open your mind and take advantage of the newcomers. for instance, do you speak Spanish? a person on the 21st century should talk at least two languages and for the americans, it should be the Spanish for obvious reasons, as for the latin americans it is the English.

As for why the Latin Americans not to learn the English I see different reasons for that:
1. Because some of them go to the States just to work for some years so as to gather some money in order to return to their countries and get a better life.

2. Because some of them have a low level of education and and to learn a second language implies an academic process.

3. AND THE MOST IMPORTANT: Because the US has not policies about it. It is the same for they to talk or not the English, it is not going to change their standard of living. You talk the language of a country that help you to get ahead but the US just take advantage of the need of the people but never helps them to legalize their situation.

You guys have into your country immigrants who are very intelligent people, good people who can give a lot for the growing of the American society. You should give them the possibility of doing that, but for that, you must open your mind and eliminate the stereotypes.

Remember that not all the latin americans are ignorant and poor and that not all the americans are intelligents, richs and definitely America is not the paradise, in fact, is one of the most violent and threated countries around the world.

Life is more than money guys!!!

Answer 3

You have a good point. Learning the language is essential to becoming part of a society; however, culture isn't just language: it's more than that. Immigrants relate to each other and continue speaking the language because they miss their culture, not the political turmoil and bad economy.

Immigrants come to the United States for another opportunity and for their children to grow up and be wealthy and achieve the "American Dream" of coming up from poverty into great success.

You can't make blanket statements like that. You could say "some immigrants." If that's what you mean, then I would say it's because they might just not like the culture. I mean, if you go to live among an African tribe somewhere in the jungle you might find some practices and rituals strange, bizarre, against your beliefs, against what you think is right, and morally appalling, just as the United States is seen by some cultures to be.

The difference between the Hispanic and North American cultures, however, isn't as great, I know, but it still exists.

And if you went to Europe, you might want to continue speaking English, American English anyway, if you were to move to England.

While I do agree with your statement that immigrants should learn the language, the preservation of culture in a people who decide to leave their homeland is very important in maintaining a sense of composure, togetherness, connectedness, because assimilation to a culture and being raised and growing up in a culture are two different things because as one who assimilates, you will still be different, there will be a sense of alien-ness to you from the culture--perhaps not directly, but there will always be the underlying feeling that you do not belong, and maintaining the link with others who are the same, from the same culture, will make your new life in the United States a little easier and a little less lonely.

Oh and I'm an immigrant.

Answer 4

English IS the primary language its just that people that immigrate decide to speak their language at home because they feel more confortable. I immigrated to this country 5 years ago w/ my family. I learned the language in one year but i still speak spanish to my family and friends that speak the language when i go to school i speak only english even though most of the teachers are bilingual. I love this country and all of the traditions. but if you are seriously gonna move to europe when this country becomes bilingual then i hope u got ur passport ready and ur clothes packed cuz thats gonna be in no time

Answer 5

Ok so you move to Europe and then what? You still become bilingual. The US is the only country that has a problem with multiple languages. I've been around the globe and most people view the ability to speak more than one language with pride. Kind of like having more than one college degree. By the way, English is embraced everywhere and is not viewed as a threat to culture, or way of life. So stop with the xenophobic paranoia. Learning another language improves your overall skill and broadens your horizons, and global understanding.

Answer 6

What are you talking about ? We all live in one world, and all have different cultures. America is a multi-cultured country and everyone needs to begin accepting it. That's what makes it beautiful, What is wrong if they want to keep their cultures alive, they do live in a merica so of coarse they do also live part of the american cultures. What is everyone's problem with complaining so much, if is not one thing is another. Very disapointing! Let ppl do whatthey want, I think that people are just being racist an dhateful. Get over it.

Answer 7

So I guess you are speaking only for few people that you have talked too, because if you go around a little further, you see everywhere you go that latinos or mexican, that's the way everybody it's been called now(only the racist), these inmigrants try hard everyday when the go to work and probabbly bump with a racist thing like you, now I'm telling you to go and pack your bag, because this is already a billingual nation, and you only look at one side of the coin, think about it, we are everywhere, in Hollywood, in Baseball (I'm Dominican, and you won't even have no good baseball players), Music, Food) just to mention some of it, and you won't even have your apartment clean (cause you don't like to clean your own mess), or babysitt your child, you won't get no delivery, it's not like tha movie A day without mexicans, this has come to a: A day without Latinos, but I go a little further, where you've been? inmigrants are from all over, HAITI, NICARAGUA, EGIPT, KOREA, IRISH, JAMAICA, CHINA, JAPAN, BARBADOS, SPAIN, CUBA, CHILE, ARGENTINA, BOLIVIA, PARAGUAY, URUGUAY, GUAM, GUYANA, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, PERU, ECUADOR, AFRICA (yes the whole nine), Read some more, and don't blame only on the Latinos or Mexicanos like you said, Me personnally, I am damn proud to be what I am, and so proud to be who I am, and plus, graduated from college back in my country and speak french, spanish, and perfect english, for the records. bye FOOL

Answer 8

What do you care if people learn English or not? They harm only themselves, not you, by not learning the English language, which is the language of higher education in American and the language of business internationally.

As for moving to Europe, I hope you're bilingual, since unless you move to Great Britain or another country where English is the primary language you won't get far. Most Europeans, by the way, are bilingual or even trilingual.

Answer 9

I hear the Mexicans say to learn Spanish. I have never heard others tell Americans to learn Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, or any other language. Everyone seems to want to learn English except the Spanish speakers.
Also, the Spanish speakers can learn English for free, such as ESL programs. I have looked into being taught Spanish for free and it costs lots of money, like $270.00 per Spanish I, II, III, IV, and so on.

Answer 10

Because, they don't have to!!! Think about it, everywhere you go, things are in Spanish and English, ATMS, etc. Even Lowes is bilingual now. I don't think they have to adapt to our culture, but they should at least learn how to communicate with us, not the other way around. I know an American family who moved to Germany and their little girl goes to school and it is taught in GERMAN. There are no "German as a second language classes".

Answer 11

What if you were illiterate to semi-illiterate like most of the illegal immigrants in the U.S? What if you lived in "Little USA" and could count on the support of your compatriots and the Catholic church if you needed it, and welfare if you truly needed it? What if you had strong ties to your culture and knew you would eventually return to your country of origin? What if you were generally considered persona non grata outside "Little USA".

I'm not saying we should feel sorry for these pariahs. Ship them all out and finance schools in Mexico for starters. In the USA, It costs over $15000 per child to educate the 2 million children of illegal immigrants. We get very little ROI on this investment. It would cost a small fraction of $15,000 in Mexico.

If a total of 10 busloads of trespassers per hour were shipped back across the entire 1600 mile border (1 bus per hour per major entry point), in one year over 4 million trespassers would be deported. Why is this advisable? Illegal immigrants cost American taxpayers at least $35 billion more than it saves businesses.

Is this mass deportation feasible? If ICE raided just lodging and food service businesses, at least 3 million could easily be rounded up. Don't have your papers on you? Adios. If you or your assigns can eventually prove you are legally in the US, you get a free all expense paid trip back to the location of your choice and employment is guaranteed if you are able to work.