How do you feel about the possiblity of making Spanish a 2nd official language of the US?
cherish83
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Posted by SeaMaiden
in order to unite a country as one, there must be one language in order to communicate between all people from neighbors to the President of the US. Imagine how divided it will become if we lose the ability to communicate the basics of life? Since this is America, English is the default language. I feel everyone should know the basics 'whats your name, how much is this, i cant breath, where is the bathroom.....' I don't care what people speak at home but make an effort in English.
At work, i have sooooo many spanish speaking people interrogate me about why i don't speak Spanish as if im in the wrong... it drives me nuts. With that said i do think being multi-lingual should be encouraged but we need one unifying language........
OMG I GET THAT TOO!!!! This security guard at work tries to talk to me in spanish and if I understand I answer in English and tells me that I have to learn Spanish.. umm... I know some Spanish. If I wanted to speak it I would
GinaZ
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
Lets get all of our citizens speaking English first, then lets decide on the spanish thing. However, I do think its very important for children to be learning a second language at school. I just can't imagine moving to another country and not knowing the language. That must be very hard! DH's grandfather barely speaks any english and has lived here for 40 years- but there are so many people and places in his town that are all portuguese that he never really had to learn it to get by. DH said he used to speak english more, but now that he is older and stays home more, he has forgotten a lot of it.
cbcf
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Posted by yelley77
yo tengo herpes.
herpes
bluekat16
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
Posted by autumnbride10
Posted by Lacey08
What really annoys me is when people speak a different language at a grocery store, nail place, etc. when clearly they can speak English just fine.
I call people all day that are looking to take the GMAT or the GRE, and a LOT of them speak Spanish. What annoys me is when someone who doesn't supposedly speak English...says with perfect clarity 'I don't speak English'. What is that about? If you don't speak the language how are you communicating with me?
I think this often has a lot to do with comfort level. I saw it when I was in graduate school, with the Asian students. They would communicate in English with us, but would always look to the one that spoke 'better' English amongst them for clarification in their own language before answering us or the professor. I just always think the person who is not a native speaker of whatever language will be naturally inclined to want things explained in their native language because they will understand it better.
yelley77
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
Posted by cbcf
Posted by yelley77
yo tengo herpes.
herpes
para espanol prima el numero dos
ant n tilde
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
Posted by bluekat16
Posted by ant n tilde
ON THE OTHER HAND, when my mother starts talking and people hear an accent they just turn to me and ask ME to answer for her. Um, no - she speaks English have a little patience and maybe ask her to repeat what she was saying!!
This is in part what I was talking about towards the end of my post.
I missed that part until you mentioned it - ITA!
It is very frustrating and it also discourages my mother from talking!
Even my ILs have made comments like 'If your parents spoke English' or 'Matilde's parents don't speak English'
Oh yeah? then how does your SON speak to them on a daily basis...
missliss
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
Posted by bluekat16
Posted by ant n tilde
ON THE OTHER HAND, when my mother starts talking and people hear an accent they just turn to me and ask ME to answer for her. Um, no - she speaks English have a little patience and maybe ask her to repeat what she was saying!!
This is in part what I was talking about towards the end of my post.
This also drives me nuts. People have to be patient and tolerant, if English is not their native language it will not be on the tip of their tongue, but just because they have a heavy accent doesn't mean they won't get it out eventually. Just chill out and give them a chance to speak instead of getting frustrated with them. If you do, where's the incentive to keep trying to use their english in public....
i don't think there is anything wrong with speaking a second or third language but we are in america we should all learn the native (english) language. and i know spanish i took it all 4 yrs in high school and some in college, i also took sign language for 2 yrs and i can understand romanian (bec of fh's family)
but i don't feel it is fair to americans or immigrants who came to this country gained their citizenship and learned the english language.
but to have a second lang taught in schools is wonderful...such a french, german,polish etc. BUT we shouldn't do that until our students can learn english first.
Agreed...even in my original post.
However, I think in terms of English we also need to work on language skills with our American born or non-immigrant students. I feel like the English language is no longer taught as meticulously as it was when I was younger. I've seen how many teenagers speak, read, write and it's deplorable...they destroy the English language and have a limited vocabulary. It's very sad because they are our future.
GinaZ
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
it doesn't bother me when people speak in other languages as long as they are putting in an effort to learn english. If they need clarification from someone, I think thats fine. I just agree we shouldnt have spanish as a second language officially. We are an english speaking country. Its just as important for us as American to hold on to our culture as it is for any other country.
bluekat16
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
Posted by ant n tilde
Posted by bluekat16
Posted by ant n tilde
ON THE OTHER HAND, when my mother starts talking and people hear an accent they just turn to me and ask ME to answer for her. Um, no - she speaks English have a little patience and maybe ask her to repeat what she was saying!!
This is in part what I was talking about towards the end of my post.
I missed that part until you mentioned it - ITA!
It is very frustrating and it also discourages my mother from talking!
Even my ILs have made comments like 'If your parents spoke English' or 'Matilde's parents don't speak English'
Oh yeah? then how does your SON speak to them on a daily basis...
My mom gets frustrated with it also.
I remember one time someone got impatient with her while she was explaining something and were rude to her.
Now my mom is a Dr. So she told them to listen and said 'Please let me finish....while I may speak with an accent I do not have an accent on my brain....so if you would listen you would understand what I'm saying.:
FH's family still look at me when they are having a conversation with my mom....and ask me if she understansd and my reply is 'She answered you, so she understood.'
yelley77
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
Posted by Mimacat
Posted by yelley77
yo tengo herpes.
I bought you the most awesome thing for your shower today.
Luvbsb4eva
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
Posted by MrsHtobe
However, I also believe that if someone decides to move to the US, it is ultimately THEIR responsibility to learn English, since it was their decision to move to a country that spoke a different language.
I don't think Spanish should be a second language, I think that people living here should be encouraged to speak and learn English. Like I said, I think its good to learn other languages, but its unfair for someone that grew up here and has lived here their entire lives to suddenly have to learn Spanish so that its convenient for someone that made the decision to come to the US, but didn't make the decision to learn English.
Its JMO, I hope no one rails me for this!!!!
I only agree with this part... and I agree that learning a second language can be beneficial, however... we shouldn't have to learn it because it's common, because everyone living here should be required to learn English. It should be more of a leisure thing, like I want to know Spanish because I may want to visit Spain some day. Not because lets say in my case... I'm a pharmacist and 50% of my patients can't understand me when I tell them they have no refills unless I tell them in Spanish.
Toucan311
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
Posted by yelley77
Posted by Mimacat
Posted by yelley77
yo tengo herpes.
I bought you the most awesome thing for your shower today.
I can't waittttttttttttttttttt
bluekat16
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
Posted by Mimacat
Posted by yelley77
yo tengo herpes.
I didn't realize the horse made an appearance....Hi horsie
MrsHtobe
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
Posted by Luvbsb4eva
Posted by MrsHtobe
However, I also believe that if someone decides to move to the US, it is ultimately THEIR responsibility to learn English, since it was their decision to move to a country that spoke a different language.
I don't think Spanish should be a second language, I think that people living here should be encouraged to speak and learn English. Like I said, I think its good to learn other languages, but its unfair for someone that grew up here and has lived here their entire lives to suddenly have to learn Spanish so that its convenient for someone that made the decision to come to the US, but didn't make the decision to learn English.
Its JMO, I hope no one rails me for this!!!!
I only agree with this part... and I agree that learning a second language can be beneficial, however... we shouldn't have to learn it because it's common, because everyone living here should be required to learn English. It should be more of a leisure thing, like I want to know Spanish because I may want to visit Spain some day. Not because lets say in my case... I'm a pharmacist and 50% of my patients can't understand me when I tell them they have no refills unless I tell them in Spanish.
I think what I meant is that there are people in the US that are TRYING to learn English. I think that speaking a little bit of spanish, knowing basic words and phrases - isn't a bad idea. And just in case someone really needs something and can't communicate with you at all in English. . .
But overall, I think we're on the same page. If you move here, knowing we speak English, learn English.
yelley77
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
Posted by bluekat16
Posted by Mimacat
Posted by yelley77
yo tengo herpes.
I didn't realize the horse made an appearance....Hi horsie
me gusta caballos
Toucan311
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
I love horse, in any language.
bluekat16
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Re: Q of the D - LIW has been soooo slowwwwww
Posted by yelley77
Posted by bluekat16
Posted by Mimacat
Posted by yelley77
yo tengo herpes.
I didn't realize the horse made an appearance....Hi horsie
