Is there anyone else who refuses to learn spanish?

Question

Once upon a time I was well on my way to becoming conversational in spanish, and I still speak pretty good spanish. But, I remembered that this is MY country and that I shouldnt be going out of my way to learn their language when they can even say hello. Now, I wont speak spanish, even if I know what to say to them. But, I do know when their talking about me and I hear every sexual remark made about my wife and daughters. which is very often and involves all non spanish speaking women.

Answer 1

I refuse to learn Spanish. My previous job had a person in HR that wanted us to sign up for Spanish speaking classes so we could speak to the Mexicans. I refused. Stood up and announced, "Why don't you have ENGLISH classes for THEM?" I got a standing ovation. No way will I accommodate them to not learn English.

Answer 2

No, because I think there are benefits to learning another language. Not only for travel or business or learning other cultures. Majority of other countries do teach their population an other language.

However there should a difference why a person should learn another language. A person shouldn't be forced to learn a language that's wrong.

However if the person chooses to move to a country where an other language. The person choosing to live in a country where their native language is not spoken should do their best to learn the language that is spoken in that country. That way they know the laws and their rights and are able to communicate.

With that said I do think that conversations between people are private and should be kept private. What they say in their own language is their business.

But, if they are at work they should know the language of the country that they are in.

What people say about your wife and daughter probably is tacky and trashy on their part. However they have the right to speak any language they want in a private conversation while they are not at work.

Here's some advice don't listen in on private conversations. Who cares what people say about you mostly even if you do not know them.

Answer 3

I think it is wonderful to learn as many languages as we can in our life time. Every language also teaches us about that particular culture and their history. So I have nothing against learning any new language, including Spanish.

However, I really resent the fact that whether we want to or not, Spanish is being shoved down our throat. I find this very unfair and inconsiderate. Here is why:

I am an immigrant, who came to The United states many years ago. I had to work very hard to become a citizen of this country. And I made it a point to teach the importance of being an American to my children from the day they were born. Like any other immigrant, I too struggled when I first came here. I was required to learn, write, and speak English just like everyone else. Even though it was quite difficult at first, but I never considered this as a hardship. In fact, I thought of this as a privilege. So I am rather pissed off today at our damn politicians and the Government officials who have been pandering to the Spanish speaking immigrants who have chosen to make The United States their new home. We welcome them with open arms, as we should, because this is what has made America the great country that it is, but to see this hospitality being abused is very irritating. I become red with anger, when I see the Spanish Americans who have lived in this country for so many years, simply refusing to take the effort to learn English, which is the main language of our country. It is totally unfair and ridiculous. It is certainly not fair to thousands of former immigrants like me, who paid our dues, and worked hard at becoming Americans, before we were given the honor and the privilege of becoming American citizens.

SO, I say "NO" to mandatory learning of Spanish!

Answer 4

I refuse to learn Spanish because I personally don't like it much.I think Italian or F rench sounds better to the ear.
If things go that badly in the states where we are forced to learn Spanish, I will just stay in Hungary and do better at learning that language.
I am a rebel and will never be told I must learn anything that I don't want to learn.Or maybe I am just an American who is used to having personal freedom of choice.
If we lose our right to personal choice, we are no better than a communist country.I have friends who grew up in Soviet ruled, Chec and Romania.They were Hungarians who's land was taken over after WW11. They were not allowed to speak Hungarian or they could be beat up and put in jail.Now that is taking things to the extreme but it is something to think about.

Answer 5

First of all, I think it is important to absorb and learn as much about anything as we can. I am fluent in Spanish. I intend to learn Italian soon, also. I don't understand why anyone would give up the opportunity to learn anything- especially something that could truly grow your career. Bilinguals make more at every job they do here. Even data-entry and working at Wal-Mart pays 50 cents per hour more if you speak Spanish. Other jobs several dollars more per hour.

Also, I think people who don't speak Spanish often "assume" that others are talking about them, because they can't understand what is being said. I am fluent in Spanish, but, VERY white and non- Latino looking, and, I have heard several conversations when they didn't think anyone around them would understand. Save for a couple of occasions, I have not heard Spanish-speakers gossiping about the people around them. I understand, though, how people can start to think they are being talked about.

And, saying that it involves "ALL non-Spanish speaking women" is meant to scare people. If you think there are groups of Latino fathers and sons evaluating your great-aunt Sally's behind while she is 95, blind, in a wheelchair with one leg, I guarantee you you are paranoid. ALL WOMEN!!!

Answer 6

I have no reason to learn Spanish.
I live in California, people speak spanish all around here, but the way I see it, every week the Chinese signs on businesses get closer and closer. The Asians are taking over mighty fast.
Entire towns around here are all Asians now. One is 82% Asian, one is 63% Asian, one is 45% Asian, another on the other side is 53% Asian.
The way I see it, by the time I learned Spanish, I would need to speak Mandarin, and nobody around here will speak Spanish anymore.
Half the business owners in this town don't speak English or Spanish, they speak Chinese.
So why bother.
Maybe it's time for all the Spanish speakers to learn Chinese?

Answer 7

I am conversationally fluent because I had to live in Spain for 8 months. I always tried to learn the language when I had to live in a country for a while and as a results I speak several tolerably well. It's amazing how hospitable a country and it's people are when you have legal status in their country, don't break laws and take the time to learn their language.

Answer 8

This is America. If you can't speak English, then get the f*&k out of my country. America was built by foreigners that came to this country to build a better nation, not to exploit the economic system of the one already here. Once here, our four fathers built a government that would become the leading superpower in the world within a few decades. Now, does that sound like the entrepreneurial spirit that the Mexicans are bringing with them to this great land? NO. They don't even have the common decency to learn the language of the land. This shows a clear disdain and complete lack of respect for our country.

Answer 9

I never had any intention of becoming conversational in Spanish. But I had to take a few semesters of a foreign language in high school and college. I took Spanish, and I learned a bit, but I refuse to speak it now. If one of my English speaking friends starts a conversation by saying "Hola" I refuse to acknowledge it.

I wouldn't worry too much about people making sexual comments about your women, though. They'd still do it if they only spoke English. They'd just do it quietly enough that you couldn't hear. No stopping that. Boys will be boys.

Answer 10

Actually I would love to learn Spanish. It's a beautiful language.

Answer 11

... and people wonder why this country is going to hell in a grocery cart. i think the most telling comment, repeated often above is "I refuse to learn... ," wow.

pardon, but i think your argument is silly, and you sound paranoid. if you seriously understand and speak the language and you've taken some arrogant posturing about it, so much the sadder. come on man. how you gonna get along with people if ya act like that? we live in a cage, friend. we're all in here together, nobody gets out alive. we need to get along.