I also get frustrated when I see an immigrant who refuses to learn the language. I am Greek and I see the same from my fellow country men. I don't agree w/you. First of all you are (the person who refuses to learn the local language) hampering your own success. By being able to communicate you can get further ahead. Not to mention you will enjoy life here even more by being able to communicate with others. Here's an example, just today. A hispanic couple came in and ordered food, but when it came to the drink, it was tough. They could not convey to us exactly what they wanted. They didn't speak a word of english. Very nice couple, very polite and very generous w/their gratuity. But it was tough trying to help them and give them the best experience.

If you want to maintain your herritage, you speak at home, speak to your kids, etc... Maintain your customs, your religion, history, etc... teach those to your young.

I am Greek and will ALWAYS be Greek, and VERY proud of my country and VERY proud I'm Greek. But I respect this country, it's national anthem, it's laws, etc.. In fact, I respect the American anthem more then most americans out there.

I will NEVER forget my herritage, my language, my history, my religion!

I think the issue, as it has always been in the case of the ILLEGAL immigration (not immigration, there is a clear, deeply cut difference in their meaning), is that there are a variety of people who are responding in a variety of ways.  There ARE those who refuse to learn the language, they see themselves as revolutionaries who are fighting the evil white man by infiltrating their camp.  There are those who just dont have the means to access that kind of instruction.  Just as there are many illegal immigrants who come to do jobs Americans wont do, there are just as many coming and taking jobs that Americans WILL do.  The language in California used to be BOTH spanish and english, but it was changed.  Also, a number of people mention that being bi-lingual is good, but the issue being addressed is not those who are bi-lingual, but those who refuse, dont know, dont have access to, education toward learning english.  I think that if the government wants people to learn english, however, they should provide free english classes to immigrants.  No excuses then right?  After that it becomes a different matter.

I do, from personal experience, get pissed when I've tried to help customers, they dont speak a word of english, and they look at ME as if I should accomodate THEM.  That is when I become frustrated.  I think for issues of safety and interconnectivity, those coming here should make all attempts possible.  "But its hard!"... so are a lot of things.  As I finish this up, I predict a full 87% of people who read this will misinterpret it, and I'm ok with that.  But on that, dont jump too hastily to conclusions about what I REALLY mean by this (as you can tell, I've had issues in the past regarding idiotic people and their assumptions).

In response to the original post, I dont think thats a good argument.  Somebody is coming here, and the FIRST part of the culture they should try and adapt to is the language.  And just because you learn another language doesn't mean that you have to forget your original one.  And how long before one forgets their country of origins culture anyways?  I dont know French or German or any "Native" American tounge (more on that in a blog later probably).  It will all die eventually, because people take other people over and countries appear and disappear.  It will always be such, regardless of what face it puts on to do so.  Alright, I'm done, I'm getting into way too many political and philisophical arguments.

When someone speaks Spanish with the knowledge that I do not speak Spanish it is rude!!! I am not an American, I do not expect someone to speak my language if I did I would have stayed in my country. The language in this country is English so therefore that should be the first language spoken. As for learning a second language who made the decision that should be Mexican. Why should people not learn French, Spanish, Greek or Italian?

Anonymous,

I agree. It makes me mad when I'm expected to speak Spanish, in order to do business. Growing up in the San Joaquine, (anglo) I do speak Spanish, but when I'm doing business at a store, I shouoldn't be expected to.

Quit making excuses, anyone can use any language that  they please, it is the other guys problem.  In Europe language for the most part is not a problem because they bother to learn more than one language.

"Because Imagine, if you will, that you were willing to leave your home country to live in another for a better opportunity. Another country with different culture, different ways of life, different people, and different school structures. You would have to adapt, wouldn't you? You would have to assimilate to the values and expectations of this new country: Work their way, Speak their way, LIVE their way. The Culture that you were raised in would have to be placed on the Back Burner in order to be accepted into this new country. "

I find this whole section of commentary, by the original poster, to be filled with irony.  Why?  Because, unless you're 100% Native American, you have immigrated to this country.  With the exception of the English settlers (who pretty much decimated the population of Native Americans), EVERY ethnicity that came to this country learned English (or expected to learn English).  Greeks- learned English.  Germans - learned English.  French - learned English (except in Louisiana, where they speak a patois that is amazing).  People of middle eastern descent - learned English.  Indians (from India) - learned English.  So... why would you (the original poster) expect NOT to be required to learn English?  Generally, if you are moving to a new country, you learn the language of your host country. 

No one is asking immigrants to give up their culture or language.  What people are asking is: why cling to the language of a country that treated you so badly that you felt you had to flee?  Why refuse to learn the dominant language of the country you are now a resident of?  I'm all for honoring cultures and languages (that's why I speak a few languages): however, don't couch laziness or lack of desire to learn a new language in persecution.  No one, not even the ---how did you put it?---"Middle-class Anglo-American Suburbanite." wishes to deny anyone their heritage.  It seems amazing to me that you go off on a tirade against people having to deny their heritage and culture, yet you openly criticize a woman you don't even know and label her as, simply, an "Anglo-American Suburbanite".  She may have a heritage full of rich diversified cultures... but you certainly ignored all of that when it suited you.  If you ask for respect, you have to be prepared to give it.

BRAVO to the person who tackled this subject. It's a hard one but it deserves some scrutiny. Can I also add to your comment the following experience.....I used to teach ESL classes at the Literacy Council 6 years ago and I found many hispanic people eager to learn english.  Indeed It is a difficult language to grasp.  I would encounter students (all of them in their mid 30's and plus) who did try hard to excell, did their homework, and participated in classroom activities). These students did give their time. They werent forced, coerced or ordered to attend, they simply wanted to be able to conversate with others (with us) who were english speaking in hopes of tackling the language. It takes years...who is anyone to judge another on whether that person you are talking of isn't a student of esl? And what right  do we have to pass on to another that they should be ashamed because they aren't speaking english? Shame on others who would pressure, demean, critcize, judge or harrass anyone for not speaking the English language. In fact if you look at statistics there are many hispanic americans who are the offspring of non-english speaking mexican citizens who hold college degrees from some of the most elite college instutions in America, who serve in the armed forces and gave their lives on the front line, who hold office in Washington DC, why? Because these same people others critize made sure their children spoke the language, and fit into the American society (because language was important). I'll go as far to say this...thank you to the migrant workers who put food on my table but don't speak english, you don't have to. Thank you to the mexican restaraunt owners who have provided excellent food and entertainment year after year after year yet employ those who speak no english or broken english...you don't have to speak my language because you've given me something more than words could ever be worth and that is good food, good hospitality and a bit of the Mexican culture!! Thank you to those neighbors I've had who've been mexican (hispanic), you gave me a second family, accepted me as your own, cooked tamales, enchilladas, warm homemade tortillas and bean burritos. You introuduced me to tamarindo and unconditional acceptance. You accepted me into your community and culture even though I only spoke english! Yeah you know who you are....you helped me clean the house I was moving out of and helped me load the UHAUL so I could serve in the Army! You greeted me each year on leave with much love, respect, and admiration, and all the meanwhile I couldn't speak spanish, but you loved me anyway!!!  If I go to Mexico by God I hope that I wouldn't be cast off because I could only speak english. Learn respect those of you who would be so callous. There is  a huge collectic mix of cultures in Bakersfield and if you learn to embrace those diverties and gleen the benefits from each one you will change your mind about a few things in life. Only small-minded people bother themselves overy those who are just trying to survive like any other average person in America. We've got enough wars to fight. This one isn't one of them.  

Chasetastic,

Hope I spelled your username correctly...there are free classes through the Kern Adult Literacy Council in Bakersfield...

Address:

Phone: (661) 324-3213

These classes are especially helpful at working the building blocks of the english language. It's similar to the conversational spanish we are introduced to in high school. These are classes free of charge, do not cost the city a dime because it is supported by the free volunteer work of the ESL teacher. These classes are fun, informative a sense of understanding. Best of all they free include take home  materials, classroom materials and a english speaking instructor. Instructors love what they do and have compassion for those who are spanish speaking and so they devote themeselves wholeheartedly to the student. For those of you who have made your complaints on this blog, by all means if you 'd like to contribute to the solution instead of complaining about it, go volunteer and learn the life as one of those people you are critizing. They really are humble, sweet, kind people. Pass it on.

Wow...  Things on both sides need to be addressed.

Good friend and soul-less-soulmate (atheist pun) Possum said "I find this whole section of commentary, by the original poster, to be filled with irony.  Why?  Because, unless you're 100% Native American, you have immigrated to this country. "

That's not true.  I was born in the United States.  I didn't immigrate, and neither did my parents.  If we're going to define "immigrant" by where our distant ancestors came from, then "Native Americans" are themselves immigrants across the Alaskan isthmus when it was still an isthmus.  When you get right down to it, we're all African-American.

Next, the blog title:  "Why Won't Immigrants Living In America Learn to speak English?"

Can you tell by looking who is an immigrant?  If someone (presumably of a visibly non-Caucasian ethnicity) is speaking English, can you safely say that this person is not an immigrant?  Lots of immigrants speak English.  You're just noticing the ones who don't.

I am the only Spanish speaker at home and I love it, it keeps everyone guessing. However, think speaking only one language stinks, but it makes those with thin skins believe that they are doing something great, something that makes them "real" Americans, and that is OK. However, I find language like religion everyone one thinks that if your re not of their faith, you are nothing.

And Swenson, I recently went no Dolores Hidalgo Mexico with a another legal alien, and we went to a Bakery where he asked the baker, "do you have any Mexican bread"  the bakers replied, "Amigo, here all the bread is Mexican". This legal alien has lived in Colton Ca. for forty years and for got what country he was in. 

A one language country is for idiots and like religion should never be forced an everyone, those who do not learn the language of their adopted country do so at their own peril, it is their business.

Well here I go.  I can tell you at least one reason it is very, very important for these people to learn English, an emergency.  Because they either refuse or havn't learned to speak English, which is the primary language spoken here, they call 911, start rambling in spanish, the dispatcher on the other end is usually not spanish speaking and has to try to get an english word in edge wise to tell them to hold on while they attempt to get a translator on the line, who is usually in another state or city, then when we do get a translator on the line, they have trouble ascertaining the correct information or they just don't ask the right questions that we are directing them to ask.  There is more than one way to speak spanish, not all translators speak that language.  Like Chinese, 300 different dialects, try that one.  By the time any amount of information is obtained, several, several minutes have gone by and if it is a true emergency, which I can tell you from experience, only 2% are, they have spent valuable time giving the information only to be transfered yet again to the proper agency to handle it, and another translator.  If it were me living in a foreign country I would certainly learn enough of the primary language to obtain emergency services in a life or death situation.   I am certainly not opposed to families teaching their children the language of the culture they are born into, I support that, however, use it with in the family, within the culture and to speak to others in that culture, but for God's sake, learn English to sustain yourself here.  I get offended when a caller insists that I speak spanish and is insulted when I don't and have to get a translator to find out all he wanted was for an officer to tell his wife/husband to stop yelling at him/her!!!  So not an emergency and a total waste of 911 use.  Hence the reason it takes longer to answer those 911's, in case you were wondering and of course that is another story/blog.

My son is half Chinese, he does not know how to speak his dialect of Chinese because his father was raised right here in Bako, and was not taught the language.  That is sad in my opinion.  My grandson, which is his son, hopefully will learn the language and learn his heritage.  That would be awesome. 

For anyone who comes here from another country and speaks another language, not just spanish although they are the ones making the big stink over this, learn English please!!!  It is rare, if at all, that you hear of a German or Indian making such a stink over Americans not speaking thier language.  I can tell you that the majority of the time a translator is obtained for spanish and not for German, of which I've never personally had to do, or another language such as Poonjabe, Mandarian Chinese, Vietnamese.  Of those people, most, if not all, could speak broken english and a translator was used to speed up the call.  The callers were grateful, unlike some of the spanish callers who think we "owe" it to them. 

Steve, I've had a similar experience in the San Fernando Valley, stopping by a delicatessan for something to bring back to a friend (they don't have much culture here in Bakersfield.)

.

I usually am able to get my point across despite not being able to speak more than about two dozen words of the language used there:  Russian. 

Several years back I went to Guatamala with the Helps International Medical team acting as the MacGyver to keep the hospital running while the Doctors did their magic.  I have a VERY basic spanish speaking skills.  While down there and trying to work with the locals and the Guatamalan maintaence men I often ran into a stone wall where we had to say time-out and go find my interpretor to help us past some very basic communication, and it was all my fault for not knowing their language better.  I was mentally reminded of all of the people up here shaking their fist and saying "Danged furriners, why can't they learn our language? but now the shoe was on  the other foot and only through their compasionate understanding of MY limitations were we able to communicate.  I had a small calculator with me and that helped alot with the math numbers.  I would point to an electrical circuit and type in 120 he would wave "NO" and type in 240.  We's was communicating.  We have no right to demand anything after all as one coworker aptly pointed out to me.  "I ain't no wet back - Only my ankles got wet crossing the RioGrande, You are the wetback swimming the Alantic Ocean."

In the Bay Area I have to work with all types of Nationalities and I have made a translation book of common terms and have become fairly proficient in chinese.  Because I try to work with them rather than just criticise their lack of English skills they recipicate and work with me.

I see the Spanish fly robely comes out of the wood work once in a while to sing the praises of English only and his great conquest of wannabe culture in Bakersfield. I actually always enjoy this dingbat; he thinks he is the greatest thing since the invention of the electrical cord. But what the hell he can have his fun.  Nancy and Sam, he is available for dinner invitations, here in one Mexican who does not mind coming in through the back door, both literally and figuratively. Sam explain that to him, please!

I can't agree with this reason for not speaking the English language (or whatever language the country you are living in speaks). I was an expat to Holland for ten years, and to be able to shop, have friends, and just exist, I had to learn Dutch. Not easy at my age (59 at the time). But I did it...because I did not expect the whole of Holland to learn English to speak with me.  Younger people in Holland speak English, but my age group did/does not, and I wanted to be able to learn their ways.  I spoke English with my Dutch husband, who wanted to perfect his English for his move to California when he retired and LEGALLY immigrated here.  It was not easy, going back to school 5 days a week, but did I want to fit into my new land, or have them bend over backwards to please me?  Which they wouldn't do, because the Dutch law is that whoever immigrates to Holland must learn their language, to be able to work....a requirement for anyone able to work to stay in their country.  No free handouts.  It's a wonderful concept, all people working together, speaking together.  And then when they go home, they can speak whatever language they want.  I had friends who spoke Armanian, Turkish, Lithuanian, and many more languages within the home; if we had all never learned the language of the country we were in, I would have lost out on knowing many, many people.  Now, I am proud to be fluent in another language! 

I agree with you I am American born, and I can't stand when people yell out stupid things like, " This is America speak english!" It is sooo ignorant. Because America is such a melting pot we have many languages spoken in our diverse culture. Not to mention as everyone should know by now the native people were not english speaking, maybe we should go and learn some native american language get back to true american roots :D Also put yourself in their place, ex. if I am in China whether I can speak chinese or not, if I see another American the first thing I will do is speak with them in english even if they can speak chinese as well. It provides a little bit more comfortbility and helps you to relate with someone else who is going through the same situation as you.

Most kids in other countries have already learned a second language by the time they are in high school because of that they are open to more opportunities in the workforce and life. I think everyone should learn if possible at least one other language. I think all languages are beautiful in thier own right, and by understanding another language it helps us to communicate with one another and therefore understand one another and maybe even live more harmoniously.

Some people think that when people are speaking a different language, they may be talking about them. Ok if you see 2 spanish people speaking in english and you approach them, they give you a dirty look and then proceed to speak in spanish, then you might have cause for concern. However if someone is speaking spanish with another person and not paying you any concern, or you just happen to walk up on them, who are you to demand that they speak english because you have arrived. I am not saying that people do not talk about others in thier languages (in fact I have had it happen to me) but majority of people are just conversing in a language that they are more comfortable with and some may have just come to this country, and have yet to learn the language. Besides, many Americans should learn to speak proper english themselves before instructing other to "SPEAK ENGLISH!"

That's just my humble opinion....      &n bsp;    wasaski-myjourney.blogspot.com

"s810 does have a point.  In order for a person to advance in a society, you need to be fluent in the language that is spoken.  My parents, immigrants from South Korea, did not have formal lessons in learning English.  If they did not learn to speak English, they would not be the successful entrepeneurs that they are today. "

I do not believe that this is the problem, hopefully when people decide to settle in an entirely new country, they will learn the language, afterall they are now calling this place their home. I think the problem is some people are just plain ignorant. How do you know when you see 2 people conversing in another language other than english, that they do not speak english as well? For someone to just assume and yell out " LEARN ENGLISH!" or "SPEAK ENGLISH!" Shows their own lack of intelligence or tolerance.

That's just my humble opinion.... wasaski-myjourney.blogspot.com

Going through high school I took 4 years of Spanish. After I joined the service I was posted in Germany (I requested Spain). My commanding officer told us replacements that we would have to learn to communicate in German. "After all," he said, "it's their country and it behooves us to show them the respect of learning their language."  We learned because it was the right and respectful thing to do.

By the time I received my discharge from the service, I had to learn communicate in German, Turkish, French and Italian. I learned those languages because it was the right and respectful thing to do.

Latinos:  Aprenda la lengua de la tierra. Es la cosa correcta y respetuosa hacer. Si usted no puede hacer eso, van de nuevo a donde usted vino.

Loosely translated, the above 2 sentences read: Learn the language of the land. It is the correct and respectful thing to do. If you can't do that, then go back to where you came from.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

They know more english than you might think

They just don't choose to speak it in front of you

You know the old sayin "like a cue ball..... the harder you hit them the more english you get"  {jk}

If Anglos asserted themselves, they would hear more english, less espanol, ebonics, pidgeon engrish, etc. etc.....

But that wouldn't be PC now would it?

I think that they should learn english. I am a german american, but i dont think that i have to speak, read, and write in german. I learned everything now why cant they?

THAT is why immigrants decide not to speak the Main Language of a country... to preserve the means of communication of lives past.

Understandable...... to a point.......Just don't get too upset when applying for a job requiring fluency in "main" language and you don't get it!

w00tsker

I laughed my ass off when I saw german word for "speed limit"!  (its kinda long)

My Tio Friedman said there "wasn't any on autobahn anyway"! (he was so full of it!)

(We were in his Audi doing what looked to me like 180. Even in klicks it was still too fast for my liking!)

My first wife would speak German with Tia Helga and it always irritated the crap outa me. I figured they were taking the Mickey out on me.

I still never learned the lingo very well. Oh well..............

Good advice, Chico.  Also don't get upset if the job requires bilingual English/Spanish and you don't speak Spanish.

Never have RF

 un hombre debe saber sus limitaciones

Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung

Si, which just about wipes out my Spanish and Italian both.  Taking Italian ruined my rudimentary Spanish forever...

.

But then, I don't apply for bilingual jobs.

me neither RF. I haven't mastered Engrish yet.

Probably never will.

Now esperanto............

Ok. Its still annoying. i wouldnt go visit mexico without learning spanish. OR visit germany without learning german.