Why do you think, or know, why the illegal immigrants refuse or will not learn English?

Question

Littleme, the reason why there is a "push one for English..." button is because there are people who don't speak it.

Answer 1

Well, a very simple reason is that with the witch hunt across the USA, they must be hiding, and can't go to schools to learn

Answer 2

I don't think is a case of someone refusing to learn English but in most cases there is a lack of opportunity to learn the language formally and the people one work with tend to speak theyr native language among themselves.
I immigrated in this country legally when Eisenhower started his second term and took me two years just to understand English and a lot longer to speak it well enough to get by.
I remember that translating a 3 inch column from the newspaper would take me twenty minutes and if I re-read it it would give me a different meaning.
English is very difficult to learn as a second language and there are many people that grew up and went to school here that speak very poor English.
So give these immigrants a break,they would not be here if they could support theyr families at home and they could not be here if there were no employers that need them.

Answer 3

Well I don't think being an illegal immigrant is much different from being an illegal aside from just paperwork, I am hispanic but I am a citizen, but I came here legally. My siblings and I are proficient in English, but my mother understands a bit of english but isnt able to speak it well since she is older and it is a lot harder to learn a language when you are in your 50's. Now if a person comes here and they are below 35 then frankly there is really no excuse for that unless they live isolated from the rest of the english speaking communities.

Answer 4

English is the third.. or first.. most difficult language to learn. You cannot bring millions of illegal aliens in from the Latin American Countries and sort of have them hang out as undocumented. But it is a fact of life that you have to speak English to get a green card.. or become a naturalized citizen........ at this point.

I think also, they feel they can get Spanish established as the second language, and I believe many along the border may support that idea.

Keep in mind, Spanish is far, far easier to learn, but not nearly so detailed. One reason we are the language of Science and Business is that complexity in our language. If we do abandon English as the language of the land will be abandoned for Spanish.

Answer 5

There is no need to learn. Most of the major cities have neighborhoods to cater to their needs, Every company that you try to call will have a push one for English button. Tax forms and other documents are printed in seveal languages. TV channels broadcast programs in different languages and newspapers can be found in several languages as well. Why bother to learn a language when the USA is willing to pamper those who don't speak the unofficial language.

Answer 6

Because we don't require it. We tend to bend over backwards to help immigrants. Also there is a slef esteem issue. The illegal immigrants tend to be poor and have been treated badly. They never had much opportunity given to them and feel that they can't. My personal belief is that we need to force those who move here to eventually learn English.

Answer 7

I see it as a positive. They will never control the government or reach any real level of success without first learning English. So I'm fine with them refusing to learn it.

Answer 8

Because they are treated too fair. Especially in Massachuetts. They are demanding too much and getting it so they figure what the hell? Why learn English? They should get out of the country!

Answer 9

Because corporate America (the filthy scum-buckets) only see dollar signs, so they cater to this large (and still growing) demographic by placing spanish signs everywhere...that way they can continue to fill their pockets with a whole new group of buyers. (simple economics)

Answer 10

Because they need to spend their time working to make money. Even if learning English would be a good investment, most of them aren't able to devote the time to learning a new language.

Answer 11

The % of illegal immigrants learning English is actually on the rise! More and more are getting involved in classes and/or are doing in their homes! Anyway, English is a VERY difficult language to learn. And trying to learn a new language as an adult is even harder! The best time to learn a new language is from 1 to around 8! After 8 it is hard and almost impossible to ever speak that language without an accent!
Many immigrants are busy working and have little if any time to spend learning a language! (Practice makes perfect) The desire to learn is not the issue...the opportunities to learn is! Jobs are paying more for bilingual(or at least partially bilingual)workers so the desire is increasing! Also, on many of the foreign televsion stations companies advertise constantly new ways to learn English fast and profecciently!

I hope I helped answer your question!!!