Should foreigners be required to speak English?

[alice in chains]

My opinion goes both ways for this topic. America's founded on diversity which should be embraced...personally, I like it to raise controversy among idiots.

Then again, if you visit a Latin American country they donnot give a shit if you donnot speak Spanish and they expect you to adapt to their culture. I know this from first hand experience. But then there's a social outcry for the Spanish community mainly here in the States about their immigration struggles and their culture here in America.

 

[itsmeJonB]

Then again, if you visit a Latin American country they donnot give a shit if you donnot speak Spanish and they expect you to adapt to their culture. I know this from first hand experience. But then there's a social outcry for the Spanish community mainly here in the States about their immigration struggles and their culture here in America.

Well depends on where you go. Every other country learns English in school as a requirement and are entitled to take a third language

its Americans that are the selfish, lazy ones in that respect

 

[Vengenz]

Define "foreigners".

Also, who doesn't speak English really. It seems quite backward to me if a country doesn't teach English in their schools.

 

[Zorak]

Since America doesn't have an official language, you should all learn proper English and stop butchering everything you use/say/do

 

[HK]

If you move to another country, you should be prepared to learn the native language, whether that's English, Italian or Chinese. You're the one moving to a different culture, you should be the one to adapt, not expect everyone else to make things easier for you.

It's nice for people to make things available in more than one language, and in places that are big tourist draws then it's even more common, but if you plan to move somewhere permanently then it's arrogant to expect an entire area to attempt to accommodate you personally.

Not to mention, there's only so much people can do vs. how many languages there are out there. It's easier than ever for people to travel, so you're likely to get immigrants for tens if not hundreds of different areas - how are you supposed to provide translations for all of them?

 

[Niamh]

Was going to post my view here but it's pretty much the same as HKs. So yeah............:homo: ^^

 

[Joe the meek]

I believe that people who work and live in the United States should learn to speak English.

 

[NoDak]

My forebears spoke German. There was no English as a Second Language for them. They learned English because they wanted to be Americans. They still spoke German at home and among their friends, but, they conducted business in English, they went to school, read, wrote, and spoke English there. We're wasting too much time and money pandering to those who're too lazy to assimilate themselves into the American way of life.

 

[Peter Parka]

Yes. All those Americans and English who go to foreign countries should stop refusing to embrace the culture and shouting loudly at people in English when the're not understood. The amount of foreigners coming to our country who have a better grasp of the English language than many people born and bred here puts us to shame.

 

[MoonOwl]

My forebears spoke German. There was no English as a Second Language for them. They learned English because they wanted to be Americans. They still spoke German at home and among their friends, but, they conducted business in English, they went to school, read, wrote, and spoke English there. We're wasting too much time and money pandering to those who're too lazy to assimilate themselves into the American way of life.

:homo::thumbup

As did my Maternal side. They came here speaking Czech. My Grandmother & her siblings went to school, learned & brought English home.

It is still the language of business and if you want to get ahead, you learn it. Period.

I will say my Grandmother could certainly cuss up a storm in Czech tho. She never lost that.:24::ninja

 

[Niamh]

Yes. All those Americans and English who go to foreign countries should stop refusing to embrace the culture and shouting loudly at people in English when the're not understood. The amount of foreigners coming to our country who have a better grasp of the English language than many people born and bred here puts us to shame.

lmao, so true

 

[skyblue]

in a word yes,if you move to an english speaking country you should....if you dont you're unemployable in the respect of being taught health and safety,and being taught the job.....but then as peter stated,anyone who moves to any country should learn the language

 

[Accountable]

Yes, all foreigners should be required to speak English or be denied their visa ... especially those visiting France.

 

[All Else Failed]

My opinion goes both ways for this topic. America's founded on diversity which should be embraced...personally, I like it to raise controversy among idiots.

Then again, if you visit a Latin American country they donnot give a shit if you donnot speak Spanish and they expect you to adapt to their culture. I know this from first hand experience. But then there's a social outcry for the Spanish community mainly here in the States about their immigration struggles and their culture here in America.

Was it? Should it?




and yes you should be able to speak it

 

[Dana]

Define idiots...

 

[Codrus]

Define idiots...

 

[Ash1280]

This can work both ways.
Yes I believe foreigners should learn English.
Yes...Americans should learn the languages of countries they plan to visit as well as live.

 

[porterjack]

do white Americans learn spanish in school these days?

I am pretty sure in parts of Australia (QLD) Japanese is taught

is a small village this planet we call earth

in any event no amount of learning ever killed anyone

 

[HK]

Yes...Americans should learn the languages of countries they plan to visit as well as live.

I'd agree for long trips but for a week in France, it seems overzealous.

 

[KLD1019]

do white Americans learn spanish in school these days?

I am pretty sure in parts of Australia (QLD) Japanese is taught

is a small village this planet we call earth

in any event no amount of learning ever killed anyone

yes, the schools around here, its required to take 2 years of a foreign language class. where i went to school, Spanish was the only option. where hubby went to school, he had the option of either French or Spanish. if i would have had the option, French would have been my choice because Spanish is too easy (imo)

and yall have to remember, English is one of the hardest languages to learn. it really pisses me off when people think that non english speaking people arent trying because they cant speak it. who are you (general) to say that someone isnt trying to learn the language?