Thread: "Why do I got to learn Spanish? Why can't they learn English?" America Heated Discussion

Congrats on slotting so neatly into your country's stereotype of foreign ignorance and hostility, LL.

Pretty much everywhere else in the world, you learn a foreign language as a matter of course. I chose German.

I hate threads that start a huge argument/discussion and the OP never comes back. Either embarrassment or trolling, I guess.

I'd say people are pissed because they don't want to learn a language so that they may communicate with people who moved here illegally. From the OP's wording, people in Illinois seem to be required to learn Spanish. Personally, I can understand why some people would feel highly disrespected if they are being asked to make alterations in their lives because other people have broken the law.

I had a long post, but I deleted it. Just wanted to share my general opinion, and part of it comes from living in Russia for 8 months:

Should immigrants to America learn English? Yes.
Should Americans be patient with non-native English speakers? Absolutely!
Should Americans learn other languages? Absolutely!

I also want to add that Americans should also make an effort to learn English. "I don't got no..." used with any sort of frequency ain't gonna cut it in my book. Stop saying "haven't got." And learn to spell! Stop writing essays using the words "cuz" and "smth" and "gonna." You're not texting your teacher. You're writing an essay. Save "lol" for the Internet, please.

It's late and I'm tired and my thoughts are going everywhere. The last was because my Russian students make those mistakes all the time and it drives me NUTS! I'm going to bed.

^So you're saying it's Americans who are butchering the English language? Guess you've never heard Irish English, Scottish English, or even those - in England - who speak with a Cockney accent.

Anyway, in regards to the the topic at hand...should immigrants learn the language of the country they're "moving into"? Uh, yeah. Kind of common courtesy, there, guys. English speaking people have just as much right to "look down upon" (for want of a better term) those with little or no English skills - trying to fit into their community - as an employer for engineers has the right to deny job apps submitted by those who have little or no experience in engineering. This applies to anyone from any nation. If I'm going to Germany, I'm learning German. Period. It's the polite thing to do. Going to their country and telling all the nationals "speak English! I can't understand German! Speak my - the foreigner's - language!" is just plain disrespectful.

And about the whole "the Native Americans were here FIIIIIRST! UR so MEEEEEAN!" bullshit...so the fuck WHAT? That was the past. And although history is important for us to learn - so that we don't repeat our mistakes - we have to come to grips with the fact that we're living in the HERE and the NOW, and that there are matters - language barriers being among them - that affect us HERE and NOW.

[I realize I'll probably get flamed for that. "Fuck you" in advance.]

NOW, the U.S. is populated mostly by English speakers...the cruel methods my ancestors used to achieve this notwithstanding. I can't change their actions. Therefore, why would I be so "asshole-ish" to expect foreigners in (what is NOW) my country to be able to communicate with me in my own language? That just escapes me, guys.

Now, none of this is to say that Americans shouldn't at least try to learn some Spanish. At the basic level of communication, Spanish could be considered an easy language to learn. Trifling, even. People's biggest excuse seems to be "but they talk too fast!" Well, guess what? The words "sólo entiendo cuando habla más lento" will magically cause a Spanish speaker to talk more slowly.

Anyway, I've had enough of this crap. This damn thread has been keeping me from my work for long enough.

You know what would solve all these language dilemmas? If the world got together and created a simple, functional, easy to learn universal language.

Like Esperanto?

Originally Posted by Lëzen

^So you're saying it's Americans who are butchering the English language? Guess you've never heard Irish English, Scottish English, or even those - in England - who speak with a Cockney accent.

So now it's the creators of the language who are doing it wrong, eh?

And, I'll have you know that a properly spoke Scottish accent is the only accent that actually makes all the sounds of the words correct. At least, that's what I've found to be true.

A little late in a reply.

Originally Posted by Lëzen

^So you're saying it's Americans who are butchering the English language? Guess you've never heard Irish English, Scottish English, or even those - in England - who speak with a Cockney accent.

Oops. Guess I just went to my roots too quickly. Replace "Americans" with "native English speakers" and you'll have what I really meant My students still write "smb" and "smth" on their tests and it still drives me crazy! 14 teaching days left in the semester. 4 lesson plans, reviews, and tests. Meh.

Originally Posted by Lëzen

^So you're saying it's Americans who are butchering the English language? Guess you've never heard Irish English, Scottish English, or even those - in England - who speak with a Cockney accent.

I'm a little curious as to what you mean by this. You're not implying that American's don't have their hand in trashing English, are you?

This whole thread is pretty sad for one reason. Knowledge is wonderful and for one, knowledge is power. That's not to say that one should learn knowledge to abuse it, but, you get the point. Anyways, back in my country, when I was little and went through the system, I was learning Arabic, English and French at the same time. We used to learn how to read, write and speak the languages. I thought it was a great idea and I still think it's a great idea even after considering that I was taking 8 different subjects at the time with an exam in each subject x 3, etc.... People really should stop making such a fuss and come to an understanding with each other. Language is a barrier and only by learning another's language is one able to overcome it

Originally Posted by DeeryTheDeer

I hate threads that start a huge argument/discussion and the OP never comes back. Either embarrassment or trolling, I guess.

Exactly lol.

Btw...learning is fun! Get edumacated.

Beh. This thread is awful. I didn't look at it because I knew what it would be like, and I was right.

Disperse

Originally Posted by lordyM

Beh. This thread is awful. I didn't look at it because I knew what it would be like, and I was right.

Disperse

Thank you for your contribution.

Originally Posted by Xaqaria

Thank you for your contribution.

I do what I can.