Should people who immigrate to the U.S. have to learn English?

I, for one, think they ought to. This is an English-speaking country, and I suspect if I went to Spain, everyone around me wouldn't start speaking English for me, just because I was from another place.

Discuss.

BattierBeMyDaddy said:

I've found people are willing to speak english for me when I'm in a non english speaking country. Have you ever been out of kentucky?


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[This message was edited Wed Nov 20 15:44:37 PST 2002 by Boob]

In Thailand I say "sawat dii khrap" to locals and they say "hi" back to me.

I do think people should make the effort when they live in a foreign speaking country. I know I'm trying!

Boob said:

I am talking, Boobie, if I immigrated to live elsewhere. The entire country wouldn't just speak English because I didn't know their language.

And yes, I have been out of Kentucky. Now, stop being a bitch.

I believe American citizenship tests must be taken in English... I remember helping a co-worker study for hers a few years ago.

Does anyone know if you are allowed to take them in a different language?

As for my opinion: I don't think anyone should be forced to learn English. I just think it would be silly not to. How would you participate in things like elections and feel confident in your knowledge of the issues/candidates at hand without a good grasp of the language?

And as for traveling abroad? We Americans have it lucky!! Nearly everywhere I went in Europe there was someone who spoke English to help us out. Makes traveling that much easier.

The problem is that America has no national language... so you couldn't demand that everyone learn English.

IceNine said:

Certainly isn't English.

"route", say "route". Rooot!

at one stage my job was to teach blind people (or ppl with a vision impairment, if you want to be pc ) independant living... these ppl also had a mild intellectual disability... one service i worked with had a small general store about 150 metres down the road... i though this an excellent opportunity for ppl to learn to find their way to the shop and buy what they needed independantly... this worked very well and after some training ppl were able to access the store by themselves...the shop owners were very helpful...
one day one of the guys returned from the store quite distressed... after further investigation i found that the store had changed owners and the lady behind the counter couldn't speak a word of english.. this annoyed me greatly..
so in answer to your question, i think yes...ppl should at least make an effort to learn the prominent language of the country they move to...ESPECIALLY if they intend to open a place of business where they deal with the public

at this thread.

they should, FOR THEIR SAFTY, learn the
rudaments of the language...
i get violent when the lil fucks act like they don't know
"EXCUSE ME"
they step on you, cough in your face, damn near knock you down when the pass you.
i'm saying,
they play like they "no speak no eng." but when the police show up, they got no problem stating their case.
AND NO...
I'VE NEVER HAD A CONVICTION FOR FORIENER BASHING!!!

IceNine said:

Can we make it the national language?

I would also like to change our national anthem to "Jingle Bell Rock" by my dear friend Corey Feldman while we're at it.

They should make Huttese the national language.
Fairer on everyone ('cept Jabba The Hutt who'd have an unfair advantage)


Bo Shuda!

I think everybody should just shut up.

2the9s said:

Good idea! Let's start with you!

AzureStar said:

Check your Orgnotes.

2the9s said:

I don't get orgnotes.

AzureStar said:

I swear to God...

2the9s said:

Whatever, 9s!

AzureStar said:[quote]2the9s said:[quote]AzureStar said:[quote]

2the9s said:

AzureStar said:[quote]AzureStar said:[quote]2the9s said:[quote]

AzureStar said:

heh heh

Thanks Boob!



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[This message was edited Wed Nov 20 17:20:49 PST 2002 by 2the9s]

2the9s said:[quote]AzureStar said:[quote]AzureStar said:[quote]

2the9s said:

... and to think I was going to un-block you.

2the9s said:

Boob said:

Battier said:

Thread jackers!

I think Americans are the ones who should learn as many languages as possible.

We are the ones who have to look blank when countless other people talk all

kinds languages right before us.

The ones who destroyed the twin towers could discuss their plans openly

and laugh since they knew the average American only knows a little English.

So even though most immigrants soon learn English, they still have

the luxury of speaking their native language while understanding English.

No. If we don't have an official language, we can't force anyone to learn English. Of course, I believe that it is a good idea to learn as many languages as possible, but I don't believe it should be enforced.

Yo Hablo Espanol

Ich Spreche Deutche

I've been to the US a lot with my work, and it really seems that English is fast becoming the second language of the US, with other languages like Spanish and Chinese giving it some competition Who's to say? Maybe you should all start learning Chinese right now!!

Maybe that's a bad idea... have you ever seen an American on holiday in a non-English speaking country? Some of the people I've seen seemed to believe "speaking in a foreign language" meant speaking English very loudly, slowly, and obnoxiously. Good for a laugh though...