Why this resistance in learning another language in the USA?
Answer:
I think it's hilarious that there are so many people on here that talk about how everyone should learn "American" when "The Americas" includes North, South, and Central America. Nobody in other countries calls the United States "America", they call us "the states". Besides that, there are so many advocates for only teaching English in schools, but if it works so well, then why are there so many people on this website that can't put a grammatically correct sentence together??
As a Spanish teacher in a white-suburban town I see first hand that diversity is NOT put in everyone's face and that the ignorance that some are preaching here in this forum is just perpetuating hate and this feeling that we are somehow superior just because we have more money in the United States. In Europe, almost everyone speaks three languages or more.
We speak English in the USA, that is like me going to Mexico and expecting everyone to accommodate me in English. Absurd!
This not about learning another language, or globalized world, or anything else. This is about Spanish speakers both ilegal and llegal that want to remake this country to serve their needs, cultures and what ever they want and feel in no under curtain terms that this is not only their desires, but their right. This is also about illegals and legals rubbing our noses in the fact that they have new policial power and want to use it to show us who's boss
There is always some kind of resistance for every improvement. Speaking two or more languages is a sign of good education In the rest of the world.
And they try to always speak English to accommodate Americans. Some people should try getting out of the trailer park once on a while.
I'm not resisting it, actually would be happy to learn. However,in this globalized world; The world speak english in World's transactions/businesses. Or Chinese later on...maybe
People all over the world learn American because it is the language of business. Why should we learn another language? For what purpose?
Now if there is a reason, great. If you plan on doing business in that country, definitely.
Otherwise, there isn't much purpose in it.
Resistance? We have more language courses in this country than any nation on Earth. We just don't owe anyone to learn another language.
You are asking for a miracle. Many Americans cannot even speak English properly. Just look at some of the dumb answers you have already received. 'American' is a language?
¿Esperas que ellos van a aprender español? Ha ha.
it's not that americans have a resistance to learning. its just that we know we are the best.
We are one of a few nations that are not multi-lingual. I do believe that we should as a nation strive to learn other languages. However, I also believe that anyone who "moves" to the United States should learn and use English.
National arrogance
The dominant do not bend to the will of the weak
Let the rest of the world learn english
Because I decide what language I will and will not learn. I want to learn German or Italian. I've never had an interest to learn Spanish.
I agree.
There isn't so much a resistance to learning another language as a resentment to feeling as though we HAVE TO in order to get along in USA.
Many feel the USA is an English speaking country and it is the responsibility of those who come here to live, to learn the language, rather than the USA making special accomodation to them.
Your absolutely right..As much as we don't want to face it, the world is getting smaller.It is so much easier to move around, than ever before..People all over the world have so much more information now, with the information age, to discover other places and emigrate there..People are on the move and there is nothing anyone can do about it accept learn to adapt, or be left behind.
They can speak their language... Just don't force it on us!
Before, in school, Foreign Language was an elective. As an elective, people got a choice of learning primarily Spanish, French or Latin. The neat part about learning languages was that at the same time you learned the culture too.
Today, diversity is thrown in our face daily. Not only do we have diversity, we have illegals in the USA demanding citizen rights while they carry Mexican flags, we have hostility from the French and we're told that we have to accommodate other cultures who come to our land and want a piece of the American pie.
With this in mind, I think many Americans have just rebelled and say they are tired of what they feel is America accommodating with nothing but criticism in return. With these thoughts in mind, the last thing many want to participate in is learning a foreign language. Its a way of saying "we're tired of it!"
You may not agree or you may think US citizens are wrong to be this way, but its how millions feel.
It's not so much a resistance to learn a second language, it's actually required for college. It's beng force to accomadate others in an inappropriate fashion. The language of the US is English, its wrong that a visitor comes and force everyone to learn their language to accomadate them. I hear people say Americans are rude because when they visit, they expect everyone to speak English, well it's the same the other way around.
No one likes to feel dumb.I think people who aren't real confident in themselves find it more difficult to adjust or try to learn something,anything,that is out of their realm of things.I know people of many different cultures who speak another language but have difficulty with English.So instead of socializing they withdraw because they are afraid to look stupid.Once they realize I laugh at my own lack of language skills they lighten up and try more.It's a lot of misunderstandings that make people unable to accept changes or languages different cultures use or speak.
Many Americans are arrogant and they don't care about anyone else.
In almost everyother country they know more than one language.
ummm why would I want to waste my time with spanish when the whole world speak english? my country speak english as the official language and the internet speak ENGLISH! give me a reason why?
It's okay for you, an individual, to learn as many languages as you want, or a private school that teaches in other language. For public school, you can take Spanish class or French class or Latin class...
What people concern about is that our public school would have a bi-lingual curriculum, and that is not right. Our public school should only teach in ENGLISH and not other language, period.
Every citizen of this great country have to learn English, it's the language of the land. They would do themselves a disservice if they don't. How can you advance without English? It's just common sense.
Noone objects to your learning of other languages, just bi-lingual teaching in public school. Remember, bi-lingual teaching, not language classes.
Ignorance. Americans expect everybody to speak English, even when they are on vacation in Europe, in places like France, Italy, Spain, Germany, etc. It is a good thing that must Europeans speak more than one language. They even get mad at the French when they do not want to speak English with them. The other pet peeve they have is that if you are speaking another language in their presence, somehow it is disrespectful because they cannot understand it. What is disrespectful in my opinion is trying to listen in somebody else conversation. Even with cell phones, when I hear somebody talking on the phone, I move away, it is none of my business what they are talking about, even if they are yelling on the phone. My response to Americans when they hear me speaking Spanish with my friends is that since the First Ammendment of the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, it also guarantees me the freedom of which language I express myself. Of course, when I need to speak English, I do speak it fluently, with an accent of course, but understandable. So, they should chill out and butt off from my personal preference of which language I want to talk with people when in mixed company of Spanish and English speakers. I do not get upset with the Chinese students where I work when they talk to each other in Chinese.
The British created in America 'a Monolingual educational system,
but Americans are not able to improve it and reform it yet.
to tell ya da thruth i c nothing wrong with it.i read,write and speak spanish too and im currently learning french its just dat there are lots of people here in the united states from different nationalities and communication is needed. F*&^ all dem so called americans dat say people shouldnt learn another language...its really benefitial
Because the American government knows that by keeping its population ignorant, they will be able to keep them under control. And for those that talk about Mexico, there is a higher percentage of English-speaking, non-American people in Mexico than there is of Spanish-speaking in America.
i have NO problem with learning another language i think it is a very positive idea for you to become aware of what else is in the world but should we as americans go to other countries and expect them to have everything translated into english? if one country translates everything into one language they might as well do it for every other language and every other country might as well do the same.why not make it equal...learning another language is half the fun of traveling...
There is no resistance.. lots of people here speak more then one language.. what there is, is a resistance to people trying to force us to learn another language
edit:
and to clarify a comment some where above me... yes some people consider American a language.. because our English is different- some people do say we speak American rather than English
For the most part they don't. Your Premise is somewhat bias. The question I may have posed would have read: "Why do immigrants expect the natives of any particular country to communicate in the immigrant's tongue?"
If I lived in Manila I would make an effort to learn Tagalog, f I lived in France I would make an effort to learn French and etc. Why should the natives be expected to accommodate an immigrant?
I think learning more than one language is very important for Americans. It will help us to compete in the global job market. I speak English and Spanish and find bilingualism an asset.
No, first you tell me why I have to. This is the U. S. A. its english and english only.
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