Please speak English!!!!!

[cardaway]

That's where the difficulty lies -- some children go home to families who speak to them ONLY in their native tongue b/c it's all the parents know how to speak. The kids don't get the "extra" practice that they may desperately need. Often, the kids are the translators for their parents at parent-teacher conferences, etc.

The same is true with adults people have to work with others who speak other languages. It's terrible how these folks never get any better at speaking fluent English because they spend every minute they can speaking something else.

 

[aprilgail2]

The weird thing is there are some places here in Arizona, such as banks, that won't hire you because you only speak English. That doesn't make sense to me.

Burger king here would not hire my firends daughter because she did not speak Spanish!!! REALLY REALLY ticked me off!!!! I won't go there anymore for that reason!

 

[SplshMtn99]

The same is true with adults people have to work with others who speak other languages. It's terrible how these folks never get any better at speaking fluent English because they spend every minute they can speaking something else.

That was my point exactly. Thank you.

 

[Daxx]

Daxx, yes, I know. See my post #76. But my mom can speak English even though she went home every day to a french house. French was ONLY allowed at home & church. English every where else. They were ENCOURAGED (taught) to use English. Not fall back on their French. Work, school, friends. When she moved out, it was just English.

Today's youth, fall back on their parents language too much. I think society "lets" them too. My mom said even though it was a english / french area.....English is what was required by most & in most places. So they had to learn it.

I appreciate your teaching efforts. My DSIL teaches in rural NH & was saying they now have the same situation you described above in their school - compounded with poverty & some homelessness thrown in for good measure.

I totally know where you are coming from. My Dad's parents (my grandparents) came here from Poland when they were out of high school. My grandmother took English classes at night and worked hard to learn English and she taught my Grandfather what she learned. A few years here, they ended up buying a bar that cousins owned and they had to use English. Their English wasn't the best, but you could comprehend them and they could read English and understand you. My father speaks perfect English and knows some Polish -- nowhere near fluent, though. I am sure a mix of English and Polish were spoken at his home when he was young.

I think this language thing has a lot to do w/our grandparents generation ... they wanted their children to speak the language and adapt to the US. They were all about the USA and being Americans. I think the new wave of immigrants is so hell bent on keeping their roots and being individual that they can't get past that they don't want to bother w/the English language. I don't know ... like if they speak English, they'll forget their native tongue which means they'll forget where they came from? I don't know, that's what it seems.

 

[marciemi]

Not getting involved in the debate (this is not a big issue here in Green Bay, WI!), but sharing a funny story about language and fast food!

In 2004, we were on a cruise that stopped in Puerto Rico. We went into McDonald's because the kids wanted to get fries. I was getting the kids settled while DH tried to go get 3 orders of small fries. He came rushing back, insisting that they couldn't understand what he wanted (gee, for some reason, the employees spoke Spanish!).

I employed my years of high school Spanish to go over and order "Tres papas fritas pequenas" (sorry, I don't know how to make the n with the tilde over it!). No problem, they got my meaning, and I got the 3 orders of small fries.

But the kicker was when we got our receipt with the fries, it had on it, in English, "3 small fries"!

 

[Daxx]

It's terrible how these folks never get any better at speaking fluent English because they spend every minute they can speaking something else.

That is the truth!!! Again, I wonder if they feel they're going to lose their heritage by speaking English.

 

[minijeanie]

Living in a very diverse section of NJ I find most of our fast food restaurants employ teens so the language barrier is really no problem at all.
My big pet peeve with some non english speaking people is that many understand and can speak well enough to get them through a daily conversation but so many,many times they play the "I don't speak English Card" to alleviate their problems.

I have seen this numerous times in department and grocery stores when they are returning an item and want full refunds for which they are not entitled to. It ticks me off so see this

I work in a facility with about 200 spanish speaking people. When I asked them if they ever play this "card" they laugh and say absolutely.

 

[Daxx]

Not getting involved in the debate (this is not a big issue here in Green Bay, WI!), but sharing a funny story about language and fast food!

In 2004, we were on a cruise that stopped in Puerto Rico. We went into McDonald's because the kids wanted to get fries. I was getting the kids settled while DH tried to go get 3 orders of small fries. He came rushing back, insisting that they couldn't understand what he wanted (gee, for some reason, the employees spoke Spanish!).

I employed my years of high school Spanish to go over and order "Tres papas fritas pequenas" (sorry, I don't know how to make the n with the tilde over it!). No problem, they got my meaning, and I got the 3 orders of small fries.

But the kicker was when we got our receipt with the fries, it had on it, in English, "3 small fries"!

I've found that if I attempt to speak the language of the country I'm in, most people are far more responsive and will automatically speak in English to you. It's as if you've tried, so they appreciate the effort and will make your life easier. KWIM?

 

[Daxx]

many understand and can speak well enough to get them through a daily conversation but so many,many times they play the "I don't speak English Card" to alleviate their problems.

This irks me to no end!!!

 

[Glenn]

Ive given up on a number of businesses because their employees do not speak or at least understand enough english to fill an order. And I have let the companies know it but they don't seem to care. Accents I can handle but when someone doesn't have a clue of what I want even when I point to the menue I have a problem with that. And around here if you dont speak spanish or polish they wont hire you in many cases, my cousin is having that problem. There is no solution unless we just wont put up with it and not shop at stores like these. Yep may not eat another McBurger but then my waistline might need that.

 

[gina2000]

I love melting pot communities. I live in one with tons of first generation immigrants and their American-born children (as well as a ton of non-American born, non-English speaking children). I watch people grow and change. I watch them assimilate. I see them work hard and not collect welfare. I watch their children thrive with many of them going to college. It's all good because it's what America stands for.

Not too long ago, all of you had immigrant ancestors who didn't speak the language and who had to learn. Yeah, they learned the hard way and some never learned at all. Many of the wives stayed home and never assimilated, never learned the language. Many did.

Give these people credit. They are putting themselves out there, working hard and contributing to our economy. Sure, it's frustrating to communicate with them sometimes, but a little patience and kindness go a long way.

 

[eeyoresnr]

At least they're working and trying to make a living and not using language (or lack of skills) as a crutch while trying to squelch off the government! I give them loads of credit for coming to this country LEGALLY, trying to learn the language and supporting themselves.
This might be the only opportunity they have to practice their language. They may go home and have parents who don't know the language and can't practice on them.

Regardless, I find that people who come to us from other countries are grateful to be here and are often harder working than their teenage counterparts that work these fast food jobs.

ok, I was gonna stay out of this part of the debate...but....many of them do work...tax free...also like I have said before, I lived most of my life in Southern California, and most do "squelch" off the government. people have the misconception they don't get welfare and food stamps...wrong! they have babues in our hospitals without insurance and we pick up the tab. I had 5 families living in one rented house next to me and all 5 families received food stamps and checks from the government every month. when another person on our street turned them in for fraud they were told there was nothing that could be done as it was too time consuming to prove
I worked with several from one family for years and what little english they did speak they even admitted our goverment is "loco" because they are so easy to fool.
For many years in California the schools had 2 and 3 teachers for many classes to teach children in "their" language. but I believe it was 1998 that they finally said "enough" and made it law they can only teach in english... funny thing is, they learned faster and state test scores have increased. go figure... ok that's my .02 worth

 

[marciemi]

I've found that if I attempt to speak the language of the country I'm in, most people are far more responsive and will automatically speak in English to you. It's as if you've tried, so they appreciate the effort and will make your life easier. KWIM?

I'm not arguing with you, but feel like if I ever try (and Spanish would be the only language I could even try in!) that I'd feel like anyone I spoke to would be trying really hard not to burst out laughing at me and would probably be thinking "what an idiot!"

I did sub in a 4 year old headstart classroom this year in which the students were pretty much only Spanish speaking. (On a side note, you'd think they'd ask you if you spoke Spanish BEFORE you showed up, but evidently not!). It was a fun experience for me, since it was the first time I've ever tried to use my Spanish "practically". I have tutored middle school students in Spanish, but speaking Spanish to native speakers is a whole lot different to teaching Spanish basics to English speakers!

Anyways, things went well for the most part. I had the ability to read books, give basic commands (get your coats, get in line, etc.) and could understand many of their basic questions (can I have more juice, I need to use the bathroom). However, every now and then a child would come up to me and rattle off 3 or 4 sentences in rapid Spanish and I'd just be standing there going "Um, si!" and hoping they weren't telling me the building was on fire or something!

Funny part was when at the end of the day we had to get the kids to different buses for the ride home. I was assigned to a bus color with some of the kids from my class and other random kids. I'm continuing to talk to them in Spanish and realizing a good number of them are just looking at me blankly. Finally asked one of them if they spoke Spanish (in English) and he said "No!" So I had people staring at me cluelessly no matter what language I spoke in!

 

[tropical depression]

Give these people credit. They are putting themselves out there, working hard and contributing to our economy. Sure, it's frustrating to communicate with them sometimes, but a little patience and kindness go a long way.

ummmm....no.

 

[Imzadi]

I was only joking. I don't really know where they're based out of. I just notice every time I call either of them, I get someone with a heavy Indian accent.

I had to call Macy's today about my charge card. I got a woman with a heavy Indian accent. I had a question about getting a cash advance. She must have never heard the term before because she said, "You want to cancel your card?"

"NO! I want a cash advance."

*pause* (Instead of hearing her repeat what I said, I hear,) "umm,... OK, wait a moment."

I was afraid she was cancelling my card while she went away.

.

 

[Dopey's twin Dippy]

if you go to a burger king in the next town,, it is very hard to order. and after you place your order, all of the employees speak spanish to each other. no english..........none........when you go back toask for say napkins, they are stillllllllllllllllll talking to each other in spanish................now asfar as mcdonalds.............we have given up on a couple in our city...........it takes 10 min. to order a basic meal. it gets so crazy ,that kids usually dont end up getting the sauce for nuggets..........oh well.........just a little rant.but i do not go to that one . oh well.......guess we will have to cut back on our fries..............

 

[Talking Hands]

At Dunkin' Donuts, they won't hire you if you speak english.

Baloney. Dunkin' Donuts around here have plenty of workers that don't speak English or speak minimal English.

 

[Charade]

Baloney. Dunkin' Donuts around here have plenty of workers that don't speak English or speak minimal English.

Around here, many of the DD's are run by people/famlies from India and ti's mainly the older ones that are hard to understand.

 

[Talking Hands]

Do you speak all 3? Englsih, Spanish and French (Creole). I speak English and French but my Spanish is terrible.

 

[Briarmom]

Places I have never had any trouble ordering McDonalds in:

Paris, France
Innsbruck, Austria
Munich, Germany
Cairo, Egypt


Places where there has been difficulty due to a language barrier:
Phoenix, Arizona

We lived in Phoenix for 3 years, and most every fast food place was impossible.