Does it bother you when foreigners don't speak English in front of you? (SORRY, DOUBL

[magicfan]

I had a meeting for work yesterday (out of town) and had to take a cab. A met a nice woman who was also waiting for a cab and she suggested we share one to save money, since we were going to the same area. We had a really enjoyable conversation while we were waiting. I could tell she had an accent from somewhere, but she only spoke English to me.

After we got into the cab, the driver, the other woman, nd I had about 5 minutes of chit-chat, then the woman and taxi driver spent almost half an hour speaking to each other in another language. The only time English was spoken again was when I was being dropped off (I got off before the other woman) and the driver asked me if I had a bag in the trunk because he couldn't remember.

Then, today, I went to get my nails done and stopped at a new place. The nail tech proceeded to talk, laugh, have a good ole time with another lady working there the entire time, and never spoke English to me unless she had a question for me. I know she understands and speaks English because she spoke enough for me to realize that when I first came in to ask about prices, and if she had time for fit me in, etc...

There are times where I enjoy listening to other people communicate,, but I think it is disrespectful for two people to hold a conversation in another language in front of someone who doesn't understand what they are saying. Talk about feeling left out, too.

edited to add: Sorry, it was just brought to my attention that I double posted. I had trouble getting it to post, so I must have sent it through twice. OOPS

 

[chadfromdallas]

This is why I learned spanish

It hasn't bugged me since 7th grade or so when I didn't understand it.

 

[grinningghost]

No. My grandparents used to speak Polish in front of me all the time - and it was usually because they didn't want me to hear what they were saying.

I'm used to it.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

My parents and grandparents speak Spanish when they don't want my sister, cousins, or I to know what they're saying. I've picked up on a lot of it, especially the bad words. Those are usually directed at me

 

[njcarita]

There are times where I enjoy listening to other people communicate,, but I think it is disrespectful for two people to hold a conversation in another language in front of someone who doesn't understand what they are saying. Talk about feeling left out, too.

it must be how new people to this country feel all the time--- surrounded by people they don't understand--

no it doesn't bother me

 

[Lisa F]

Yeah, when I spent the summer in Italy all of those foreigners were CONSTANTLY babbling in Italian around me. How rude of them! Didn't they know they should learn English so that they can stop being rude in front of me?

 

[paras4ri]

I have several bi-lingual co-workers but English is their primary language. It bothers me when they use their other language because it seems that they are talking about others when they do.

 

[palmtreegirl]

No it doesn't bother me.

 

[magicfan]

Yeah, when I spent the summer in Italy all of those foreigners were CONSTANTLY babbling in Italian around me. How rude of them! Didn't they know they should learn English so that they can stop being rude in front of me?

I would fully expect that, but I was not in another country. I think there is a time and place to be more respectful, if you speak the other persons language (in my case, English) to include them in the conversation. At least some of the time. I'm not saying that foreigners have no right to speak thier language. It's a matter of being polite. I'm not putting down foregners---I just feel this is rude. I know I'm not the only one that this bothers.

 

[magicfan]

it must be how new people to this country feel all the time--- surrounded by people they don't understand--

no it doesn't bother me

It's their choice to move to here.

When in Rome do as the Romans do.

 

[helenabear]

It doesn't bother me... I have family that speak another language (english wasn't their first) and good friends who were born abroad. While they do know English and speak it well, they are obviously more comfortable in their native tongue. In many cases, they do not always even realize which language they are speaking. I can believe it since I do speak another language now and then w/o noticing it. It's only rude when I know someone is trying to hide something from me... and I have only found one small group to ever have done that (total strangers to me). They heard an earful in a language they didnt' realize I understood enough of

 

[Figment]

Incredibly rude. The idea of assimilation is lost in America. So goes our culture.....

 

[Papa Deuce]

If I am being honest, and I almost always am brutally honest, the answer is "no" if I think they are tourists. I do get agitated when it seems like immigrants are not making the attempt to learn our language.

 

[Missy1961]

I have several bi-lingual co-workers but English is their primary language. It bothers me when they use their other language because it seems that they are talking about others when they do.

This is the only time it bothers me, for exactly that reason. Of course, they could be saying nice things about others! But other than that, no I don't care.

 

[PrincessTeddyBear]

It bothers me when you can tell that they're talking about you. The only place I really run into this is when I get my nails done and I'm usually in a pair of baggy jeans and a baggy t-shirt with my hair up and they're laughing and than there's enough english words to know what they're talking about.

Does it bother me when they've just having a normal conversation - no. Of course, if they're speaking to me in another language, than yes that bothers me. This is the reason I don't leave the country. I don't know another language and I have to much of a trouble trying to learn one to do so. At least here in the US, English is spoken so I know I'll be able to communicate.

 

[njcarita]

It's their choice to move to here.

When in Rome do as the Romans do.

its not always a choice--
there have been many people forced out of there countries by tyrants- dictators etc

 

[magicfan]

If I am being honest, and I almost always am brutally honest, the answer is "no" if I think they are tourists. I do get agitated when it seems like immigrants are not making the attempt to learn our language.

I'm not talking about people speaking thier language to each other and you are not part of the group. I'm talking about if you ARE right there and you are totally ignored. I can't think of any reason why it's not rude. Alot of people here are talking about thier relatives. I'm talking about when you are one on one with a foreigner, and they choose to leave you out of the conversation and leave you wondering what they are saying, and if they are talking about you. Just as people who speak English can be rude and leave you out of the entire conversation... but at least you know what they are saying and can jump in with a comment here and there.

 

[Brendita]

Yes!!
I have some very rude In-laws.
First let me say that all speak English.
My DH Aunt, Uncle & Cousins visited @ our home.
The entire time spoke mostly Spanish very little English.
They all know that my DS & I don't speak or understand Spanish.
We felt like aliens for a week in our own home.
How rude.
Please don't tell me to learn Spanish.
I'm almost 50 & these people have lived in the US for more than 30yrs.
My DH ask me why I don't want to go with him to Texas to visit his family.
Sometimes I think he is just brain dead or something.
Waste my vacation time for that.
When I can go to WDW.
With our DS & My DD.

 

[magicfan]

its not always a choice--
there have been many people forced out of there countries by tyrants- dictators etc

This isn't the case with all of them. What about the others?

 

[sweet angel]

If I am being honest, and I almost always am brutally honest, the answer is "no" if I think they are tourists. I do get agitated when it seems like immigrants are not making the attempt to learn our language.

I agree. I wouldn't move to France and expect everyone there to cater to me. I would fully expect to learn the language.