In my country
By dreamertink
@dfollin (24172)
United States
October 17, 2019 5:46am CST
Here in the eastern United States we mostly speak english! However for about 25 years now hispanic cultures have been moving to this area of Washington DC and they start businesses , live in homes here and get jobs.
But unlike my way of thinking if I moved (not just visiting) to a country and their main language was something other than english out of being proper and polite I would learn that language. But however it's not done that way here!
I remember and have heard recently when someone ,including myself is doing something that is normal for here in the United States, "In my country we do it this way, you should do it that way!" And I don't know how many times I have said ," Well if you like it so much there then go back"
Believe me I am not prejudice at all, but like I said and as the saying goes, "When in Rome"
I cannot count on my 10 fingers how many times I have had to do something a different way then I have done all my life because it might be insulting to a person from another country or believe in a different religion than Christianity, Our lawmakers have wimped out! I cannot think of how many times I have applied for jobs (even paid for and went to classes to train for the job as instructed) and couldn't get it because I don't speak spanish!
But it is not a requirement for them to speak basic English.
What language do you speak? Has your society changed due to people coming from other countries?
I remember and have heard recently when someone ,including myself is doing something that is normal for here in the United States, "In my country we do it this way, you should do it that way!" And I don't know how many times I have said ," Well if you like it so much there then go back"
Believe me I am not prejudice at all, but like I said and as the saying goes, "When in Rome"
I cannot count on my 10 fingers how many times I have had to do something a different way then I have done all my life because it might be insulting to a person from another country or believe in a different religion than Christianity, Our lawmakers have wimped out! I cannot think of how many times I have applied for jobs (even paid for and went to classes to train for the job as instructed) and couldn't get it because I don't speak spanish! But it is not a requirement for them to speak basic English.
What language do you speak? Has your society changed due to people coming from other countries?7 people like this
7 responses
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
17 Oct 19
I was at our local surgery yesterday and was marvelling at the new touch-screen method of telling them that you have arrived for an appointment. The first thing you had to do was to select your language. The options weren't just English and Welsh (I suppose that there might be one or two people - literally - in Cambridge who prefer to use Welsh, though I'm certain that they speak English as well as I do!) but there were at least 20 other languages listed, some of which I had never heard of!.
Official documents, especially those from local councils are often available in several languages besides English but these are mostly languages which are spoken in what used to be the British Commonwealth because we have quite a few people here who, having settled in England, bring their aged parents over and, at their age, there isn't much chance of them learning very much English.
Being British, of course, I speak English. If I were to meet someone whose native tongue wasn't English, I'd expect them to at least try to say what they need to say in English. I have stayed in Wales, parts of which are Welsh-speaking and where English is, for some, very much a second language. I can say 'please' and 'thank you' in Welsh but that's about it. We went to a village social there and we were very warmly welcomed! One kind person undertook to sit with us and translate the proceedings for us, helped us with tea and cakes and so on!
3 people like this
Here in the states we have most places of business on the phones and signs on the walls you usually have english and spanish then in other places there are sometimes 2 or 3 more languages.
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
17 Oct 19
Filipinos generally have no problem or at least most of the time adopting and blending in to whatever country we decide to live in. We also have very little problem with foreigners coming and living in our country.
3 people like this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
17 Oct 19
I think it's nice to be accepting and try not to offend people so if I know something would upset someone of a different belief I will be respectful of that and watch what I say. The Native American people who lived here first didn't speak English either. Eurpoeons and everyone else came here and took their land. None of us would be here and speaking English if the Native American weren't pushed out and their land stolen. I've never encountered anyone foreign here that cant at least speak basic English.
2 people like this
@dfollin (24172)
• United States
17 Oct 19
That's right! If the Native American's had not got their land stollen by the Europeans things would be different for sure. I am part Cherokee and that makes me upset that they stole their land, killed so many and changed the lifestyle here. So actually if the Europeans could do it so can the Hispanic or any other nationality that put's their minds to it! I personally know foreign people that can speak english and do in public and it makes them mad too that other's from their homeland come here and refuse to learn basic English.The elementary school I worked at had a free evening class for the parents and grandparents to come to. The boy came to school the next day and said that they refused to come said it was too difficult. And he also said that they said there should be a free spanish class in the USA so they don't have to learn a new language when they come here!!!!!!!!!
So actually if the Europeans could do it so can the Hispanic or any other nationality that put's their minds to it! I personally know foreign people that can speak english and do in public and it makes them mad too that other's from their homeland come here and refuse to learn basic English.The elementary school I worked at had a free evening class for the parents and grandparents to come to. The boy came to school the next day and said that they refused to come said it was too difficult. And he also said that they said there should be a free spanish class in the USA so they don't have to learn a new language when they come here!!!!!!!!!1 person likes this
@dfollin (24172)
• United States
17 Oct 19
@shaggin Maybe so! One time when my youngest son was 16, he went over to a friends house that lived a block away and he wasn't there but a few minutes and another mutual friend came in and had a french speaking man with him. My son did the usual smiled, shook hands and said hello with his friend, Then this french man just punched my son in the face! He ran home with his face bleeding. My husband was headed out the door after him and I had to physically stop him and call the police.When my son and I went to court, it turned out that the man only spoke french, I don't remember where he was from, so we had to wait for an interpreter to come, one hour! The DA was mad and he said to me,"When they come over here to work they need to have 6 months to learn basic English!" And because he didn't know the basic laws here, he got off scott free!
Then the DA said to me,"And learn our basic laws!" My son said that 10 years later he ran into that guy and he came over smiling and put his hand out to shake hands. And he still does not know basic English, he has picked up a few words and told my son ."Sorry"
He ran home with his face bleeding. My husband was headed out the door after him and I had to physically stop him and call the police.When my son and I went to court, it turned out that the man only spoke french, I don't remember where he was from, so we had to wait for an interpreter to come, one hour! The DA was mad and he said to me,"When they come over here to work they need to have 6 months to learn basic English!" And because he didn't know the basic laws here, he got off scott free! Then the DA said to me,"And learn our basic laws!" My son said that 10 years later he ran into that guy and he came over smiling and put his hand out to shake hands. And he still does not know basic English, he has picked up a few words and told my son ."Sorry"1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
17 Oct 19
@dfollin they should learn at least basic English when they come just make it easier for them to communicate with others here. I think it would make them feel more comfortable. In China they all have to start learning English at a very small age. Most the population around here that isn't English is Chinese so maybe that's why I've never met anyone who can't speak at least a bit if English.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156199)
• United States
17 Oct 19
I think Spanish-speaking Americans should learn to speak some English. I speak English. I've seen jobs that require you to speak Spanish. I live in nursery country; and there are a lot of Mexicans working in the fields here. Many do not speak English.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (24172)
• United States
17 Oct 19
No like I said that I am not prejudice, but if I went to their country (long term or work) I would be polite and do things the way they do and speak their basic language. I have been told many times that I need to learn spanish (mostly) to accomodate them. Excuse me they are on my turf now, why don't they have to learn English. It even upsets other people from their country that have come here and molded to our lifestyle and language except in their own homes.
1 person likes this
