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Speaking English
- Jun 1, 2007 at 12:48 PM
- By
- Comments (9) Total Views (230) Everyone can see this journal post.
You just commented on my journal entry. I realize that this is old, but I am a very patriotic person. I believe in MY country and that people need to respect all Americans while they are here. You even said it, the language that ALL immigrants have learned is English. If everyone did it in the past, why can't they do it now. Has our society become that lazy??
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My response. Not all immigrants can speak English, but we cannot expect for someone to immigrate and immediately start speaking one of the most difficult languages on earth. Nor do we have the right to MAKE anybody use english just because they can speak it.
I think most of this "Speak English" crap is just unfortunately another example of lazy Americans trying to make everything easy on themselves.
Many, MANY nations use English as a second language. If English is America's first language, then what is our second? That's right, nothing. Because we are too lazy to broaden OUR horizons.
Comments:
Who's lazy now?
What stops you from learning another language? Job, kids, money...? Must be lazy.
It is a myth that past generations of immigrants all learned English. Many immigrants assimilated, just as many Hispanic immigrants have, but many moved into little Italys or Chinatowns or Little Canadas etc etc and it was their children who really became assimilated, not the first generation of actual immigrants. I think Spanish is a beautiful language and I'm happy to be bilingual.
wow... i agree with you and i nevery even thought about that... good entry
and homeschoolmama must be really really super smart, because as far as i know, nobody can learn a language they don't study, just by working at WIC, it just doesn't happen like that. It's kind of hypocritical too because I've only been in the US for 9 years, and only been speaking english for 6-7 years, and I speak better english than half of my american friends.
Finally!!! I get so tired of always hearing people say how all immigrants should learn English. I get emails and messages forwarded on myspace and read posts... and ugh!
My husband is a manager at a factory where a lot spanish speaking people work. He said do slowly learn English and try hard to learn their job and are the hardest workers he has. I respect them.
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I agree, completely!
What people don't take into account, is the fact that there are new people arriving every day. Even if someone learns English in a few months, the people who are just arriving, haven't learned it yet. It's so easily to make generalizations without knowing the facts.
English is also a difficult language to learn as a second (third, fourth,etc) language. It takes time,and is especially difficult to the elderly,and learning disabled.
Lastly, I will never understand those who are offended by hearing others speak in their native tounge. America is pretty much one of the only developed nations where the people are monolingual. I am saddened that so many people here are too egocentric, or lazy, to learn another language (or two!)