“U.S. Hispanics need to learn to speak English!” Says who?
Many people get very upset when they hear of someone who has been in this country for years and does not speak any English; and the failure to learn English appears to be increasingly more prevalent among Hispanics. It seems to be an issue that strikes a chord with many Americans. “Why are they not making an effort to learn to speak English like all other immigrants did?” I venture to say that the main reason why many Latinos are not learning English as fast as others did before is because our society no longer requires it. That’s right; my contention is that, as a society, we give Latinos permission to keep their culture and language; and consequently, learning English becomes much more difficult than what other immigrants experienced years ago.
When other big immigration groups came into this country a few generations ago the situation was very different from what it is today. Many early immigrants made the hard decision to come to America with an understanding that they were breaking ties with their old country. Learning a new culture and a new language was not a choice. Our society was a true melting pot and immigrants were expected to fully assimilate into the American culture. They complied. Ever wonder why the children and grandchildren of the Italian immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island in the late 1800s never learned how to speak Italian? These early immigrants understood the importance of becoming American in every respect; and that included speaking only English. Speaking Italian was not important; in fact, it was detrimental in a society that expected assimilation- but things have changed; and assimilation is no longer expected. We are no longer melting into one pot because we no longer believe in that antiquated idea of the melting pot.
It amazes me how the same people who are troubled when everyone around them is speaking Spanish will turn to me and remark on how “important” it is that I teach my children Spanish. “You should speak Spanish to them at home,” they will say. While I wholeheartedly agree that it is important for Latinos to teach their children how to speak Spanish, I want to emphasize that this was never important before. The American society now understands that we live in a multicultural world and that knowing more than one language is beneficial. Our society now also supports (and even exalts) diversity. It is now considered appropriate to uphold and celebrate diversity, especially when it comes to culture and ethnicity. Forcing everyone to melt into one homogeneous pot is no longer considered appropriate.
While our country was founded on the idea of diversity, the practice of diversity was never as alive as it is today. With diversity comes not only permission to speak the language of our ancestors, but also the empowerment to maintain every aspect of our ethnicity. The American society promotes this understanding at many different levels. At a commercial level Latinos see most product labels and instructions written in English and Spanish; ATM machines ask us for our language of preference; and telephone companies insist that we keep in touch with our relatives in Latin America. From a government perspective most services are also offered and/or communicated in Spanish. At a community level there are hundreds of neighborhoods across the country were everyone speaks Spanish. Can someone in one of these neighborhoods get along perfectly well without ever having to learn English? Absolutely! Our society allows it.
We cannot as a society promote diversity and the use of the Spanish language and then wonder why some Latinos are having difficulty learning English. Everyone knows that it is much easier to learn a foreign language when you live in a foreign country and are immersed in a society that only speaks that language. In our society we speak English; but we also speak Spanish. For some Latinos learning English while living in a neighborhood where everyone speaks Spanish is akin to an American student taking a foreign language in school and not grasping it because nobody around them speaks that language. We need to stop pretending that our society expects Latinos to speak English when everything is laid out to make it easy for these new immigrants not to learn the language.
NOTE: Please do not take this opinion to mean that I do not feel that Hispanics should learn the English language. I believe that speaking English in our society is extremely important and encourage everyone in our Latino community to make every effort to learn the language. Being able to speak English opens the door to a myriad of new opportunities for success and paves the way to achieving the always cherished American dream.
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pure and simple explanation here. Most of them have the attitude “WE WILL NOT COMPLY.” And those that wont, don’t have to. PERIOD.
Personally, I don’t care if the hispanic immigrants don’t want to learn English. If they wanted to better their lives, they could take advantage of the various programs to learn English i.e. ESL at community colleges, Learning Unlimited classes etc. A simple fact is if they don’t learn the language, they will have menial, low-paying jobs. Period. No habla inglés…it’s okay. Just like the old adage says: The world needs ditch diggers and food court cleaners.
yes learning english is an option, however keep in mind the world no longer starts and stops in America. We are a global economy where the US is no longer the dominant player. We are a globle society and although Spanish is tolerated in the US, English is the dominant language globally, from China to Africa. Every other country is speaking english as the first or second language. In China, India, Russia, Africa and 100s of other countries are learning english at fast rates. Unfortunately immmigrants coming to the US and refusing or failing to learn english will fine themselves left behind as we continue to become part of the global economic force.
Well, I’m an American and have decided that I will not be bossed around by immigrants from any nation who are too rude to have manners to assimilate and speak as Americans. The vast majority of Americans prefer ONE public language to this day (hint: not Spanish), and we don’t care if you speak other languages at home, just that you speak English in public. Since I am not the one who moved to another nation, I should only have to use another language to speak to foreigners living OUTSIDE the country, tourists, and the like-not the bums who attempt to “Latinize” America. The only people who have the right not to speak English are those who are Native American, Hawaaiian and Alaskan by ancestry (since they were invaded) and the very elderly and mentally handicapped. If you don’t fit those categories and wish to be accepted as a “real” American you will speak English in public!
Mexicans in California tell me they refuse to speak english cause a) they refuse to assimilate to a “white culture” and b) they dont want to become “white washed”
Its not because we don’t make them…It’s more like if Americans complain that latinos refuse to speak english…then Latinos go to their only battlecry…”RACISTS” when its more like a bunch of 10 yr olds who don’t want to do what they are supposed to and then cry about it…then they threaten with the EEOC…so Americans let it alone. Latinos are arrogrant, self serving and extremely disrespectful. I see it on a daily basis here in S Florida. They come here…mostly illegally and then they act as if WE (Americans) are in their country. It’s disgusting and frankly unbelievable.
Word to the latinos…come to this country LEGALLY, Learn English, stop making comments about Gringos. Gringos made this country not latinos and in fact Anglos are responsible for building Western civilization. It sure wasn;t the Latinos…they were still worried about cutting out hearts and praying to the sun gods. LOL Now, just like every other minority they come, they complain and won’t go home and then they actually justify their skanky behavior by saying that Americans need to learn spanish…yet, I never hear ANY Latinos complaining about buying dead peoples birth certificates, SS#’s and anything else so they can stay here. IT’s pure and simple…Latino arrogance…they think they’re the prettiest, smartest and everybody SHOULD want to be Latino…isn’t a funny FACT that not one but all latino countries are nothing but corrupt and deceitful…I dare anyone to show differently.
True, there is another whole set of problems in CA. The D/Asses think that the US stole their land. This shows just how stupid they are…First, the Mexican government sold territories to the US…secondly, they lost and will always lose wars because they are weak…the young ones think they’re tough and they’re waiting for white society to die…why wait…are you tough enough to do it NOW! just like before Nope! you’re not…just a bunch of loud mouths spouting off about LaRaza…MEChA and how they are going to take CA back…back to what? the cesspool that is officially Mexico…it’s just an excuse because they are not smart enough to do the work. I say kick their sorry Asses back to where they came from.
and I don’t care if I offended the “Latino” lovers out there…Assimilate or get out
They also say that we have to address the 45 million hispanics…it should say address the 30 million LEGAL hispanics and the other 14 million ILLEGALS need to go back to the cesspool that they came from…
Pretty simple people. In my first generation American family we speak 95% English 5% Spanish. Why? Well this is AMERICA and in order to succeed you need English. Even the Mexican president speaks English. It’s the international business language. The arabs,chineese,Europeans know that, because is the only way to do business with the most powerful English speaking nation in the world the United States of America. PLUS. I don’t care if my kids speak Spanish in a English speaking nation. And you know why?? because ill be DEAD one day so to be honest I COULD CARELESS!!! ill be in a grave worry free so what will l care.
As a teacher in a Latino community in the Bronx, I can tell you that Hispanic parents are doing their children a HUGE disservice by not focusing mostly on English. Yes, some communities can function entirely without English, but not all of America. Also, many of the students I teach speak both English and Spanish poorly because their training in both languages is so stunted.
Also, as a white person, and this is me being honest…I look down on people who cannot speak English properly. Whether we like it or not, this is a white-English society and if you want to get ahead in education or business, you need to play the game.
well i think all the people should speak at least two language because it is important for your life
and you can also learn about cultures and your incomes will be increasing. im not talking only about latinos and probably its pretty hard to speak another language but it becomes easier when you put it on practice
trust in God and your life becomes even better
and remeber nobody is perfect but you can try and succeed in life
I believe that anybody that comes to this Country must abide by the rules and Laws of this country. They should learn to speak English and abide by the Laws that rule this country regardless of their place of origin. I am a disabled Veteran from Desert Storm, but I was also born and raised in Mexico, however, HOWEVER….I learned to speak, read and write in English before I set foot on this country which now is MY country! I agree that most Latinos are arrogant and self serving, not just Mexicans, but people from Argentina, Honduras, El Salvador, Spain and other Latin Countries. I just had a heated conversation about this same very issue with a friend from Argentina, she has lived here for over eight years and she still CANNOT speak, read or write English!!!!! I find that disgusting! Why? Because she told me that if anybody wanted to do business with her they would have to speak Spanish! She refuses to learn English!!! I told her if people come to this country they MUST learn the language and the customs as well, she says she doesn’t have to learn English and that she plans on moving back to her country once she raises enough money to settle in Argentina. I think that people who come from other countries with the intention of leaving and just draining America’s money they need to be sent back to their countries of origen. I am here to stay, I served the U.S. Army because I felt the need to do this, since they allowed me to stay here, I consider the United States of America my own country! I will defend the flag and the United States of America because I swore to defend her against all enemies, foreign and domestic! I love American and I will die for America! And all the Latinos who come to use the country to drain all the money out and send it to their country are just using the United States, they are not worth a damn!
They need to learn english or gtfo. If I go to mexico I sure as hell better learn spanish. They don’t cater to english there. There are no english or spanish on the atms. Its spanish or gtfo. Personally I would deport or shoot anybody in the U.S. who has been here for 5 years or more and hasn’t bothered to learn english. Thats basically saying they don’t care about this country and the people in it they are just here to exploit the free handouts.
It’s not necessarily the law to not speak English. The United States has never announced the official language but how can someone think that living in the U.S.A. and not speaking English is reasonable? I do agree with Xochitl’s comment. Living in the U.S. and not speaking English automatically makes one incapable of helping the United States in any shape or form. It hurts the US economically, educationally, politically, and hurts any way of communication. Hispanics that never learn English will never graduate high school and will never step foot on any college campus unless they are working at minimum wage somewhere on campus. If they don’t get education, they automatically are forced into hard physical labor for money or causing crime for survival. Then the US begins spending tax money on people who suffer financially, spend more money in the police force to fight increasing crime, spend more money on food stamps, and more money on healthcare. Living in the US should be a privilege and not a free ride to just lope around.
In what part of America do you speak English? You speak American. Get over it. I’ve lived and worked in both the USA and UK for many years. The two languages are miles apart.
And while I’m ranting. You are all Americans. I assume that if you took like perhaps 4-6 generations before you American citizenship then you are American.
Nowhere else in the world except America do I hear people claim to be 1/4 Italian, 1/4 Spanish, 1/4 Greek, 1/4 French, 1/4 Polish etc. The basic maths doesn’t add up to start. Keep your traditions by all means but you are American. A country founded by diverse immigrants that were only to keen to leave their homelands to start a new life as Americans.
I am an English speaking American, Not only is it my families primary language, It is the ONLY language we speak. My children go to a school where they allow both English and Spanish to be spoken. I thought I was fine with it until recently. My Youngest daughter has just started school, Her teacher gives a morning speech about what they will be doing for the day to inform parents, But she only gives the speech in Spanish. I simply brushed it off the first day figuring I would simply ask my daughter at the end of the day what she had done at school. On the 2nd day, The speech was given in Spanish Only again, this time parents asked questions (In Spanish) and it began to bother me that I remained uninformed. Then Today…My daughter came home with a paper she had done at school, The paper was simply to practice her NAME. But, it read Nombre, confused myself I googled the word and learned that it ment Name. As my annoyance grew I asked my daughter if her teacher spoke English or Spanish. She said “When I ask something she speaks english, but when someone else asks she speaks spanish cause they speak spanish” Now this bothers me, why is my child feeling uninformed in her class? Possibly the questions asked and answered in spanish could help her learn too. So, I feel she is not only going to feel isolated among her peers but it will affect her education. This bothers me more and more because we are English speaking American citizens and being made to feel like we are the ones in a Foreign Country.
Says the people that have to change their lives and learn Spanish all because Hispanics come to our country and refuse to learn English. I would never go to Mexico and expect them to start learning English. I would try to learn and speak Spanish the best that I can while I am there. Common sense…
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“I venture to say that the main reason why many Latinos are not learning English as fast as others did before is because our society no longer requires it.”
On the contrary, Hispanics are learning English faster than any other immigrant group in US history. There are communities where you can spend your whole life with just Spanish but most learn English to at least basic conversational degree and their children are fluent. If anyone held on to their “foreign” language longer than others it was the Germans of over 100 years ago!
more than anything i feel sorry for foreigners who dont make an attempt to learn english….in the long run theyonly hurt themselves.
I am racially Asian and culturally Hispanic (Southern Chinese, Portuguese and Spanish). I think most people missed the point of this blog, the blog is about why Hispanic population have such a hard time learning English despite living in America for many years, not why Hispanic refuse to learn any English. I am fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Mandarin and Cantonese.
However, I feel that service provider should provide service to whatever language that the customers are comfortable in. Like the Chinese said “You do not need to know the language of the seller but if you want to make profit, you should understand what your customers want”
I do believe that American should be Bilingual but at the same time, Hispanic service provider that can speak English should provide instruction in English to people that speak primarily English as their first language or Spanish to people who speak Spanish or other related language such as Portuguese.
Learning English open doors to many opportunities and help you to communicate with many people. As for English speaker, learn a second language so that you can make friends and understand other people from culture.
When you learn to speak English predominantly, then you will be an American citizen. Until then, you are still a foriegner.
Being a 2nd Generation US Born of Hispanic Ancestary –
Yes I agree MANY Immigrant Hispanics do no speak English very well/at all… because they are catered for in Spanish for many things, or live in Ethnic Enclaves/Areas (as many Immigrants before hand did as well).
HOWEVER Ultimately what will defines if Spanish (or whatevr other language) Survives in the USA, is weather the VAST MAJORITY of their US Born kids (the US Born Hispanics are nearly 65% of the US Population and rising) will speak mostly Spanish… This is not the case from the census and various recent reseach/studies + from my personal observations having travelled to various US Cities/Regions with a LARGE Hispanic Population. Generally the vast majority of US Born Hispanics Speak English Mostly/Pre-Dominantly or Only….
Immigrants = Mostly Spanish
2nd Generation = Mostly English (with some Spanish)
+3rd Generation = Pre-Doninantly English with a little or No Spanish.
Add to that the Very Substantial US Born Hispanic Inter-Marriage rate (about 50% and rising) – will also have a major impact on Spanish Retention. I think the coming decades will be interesting for this country considering the Massive Inter-Marriage with Whites mixed with Hispanics and Asians…
With Immigration from Mexico/Latin America slowing… And considering Lat-Am’s slowing population growth (Including Mexicos)… In the Medium Term Immigration will likely slow very sig or stop. The US Born Hispanic Population… Will keep growing… And add to that this country is nearly $17 Trillion Dollars in Debts… Entitlement will eventually end or we will face the Great Collapse.. Back to the Topic.
I mean lets be Honest Univision and Telemundo are Overwhelmingly watched by Immigrants and Not US Born Hispanics who watch and get there info in English… Even the ever popular Jorge Ramos + Maria Elena Salinas mentioned this fact a number of times…. There is also a ever increasing and it will Eventually boom US Hispanic English Soeaking Market that has largely been untouched until a few years ago… Why do US Born Hispanics who were born here or lived here for Generations get lumped in with Hispanic Immigrants here for say 10 years or less…
If we look at the markets… its fundementally 2 different Markets… I wonder why the Marketeers / Advertisers / TV / Demographers and Government does not Split the US Born Hispanics and Foreign/Immigrant Born Hispanics to get a more realistic/better picture of US Hispanic Americans???
Unltimately what has defined ALL language survival is weather the US Born Population retains it… Ultimately
US Hispanics are not retaining it mainly due to Intergration and Inter-Marriage. There are of-course always exceptions… but that will most likely be the general rule, as it has been to date!
Just my 2 Cents…. What are your thoughts??
Thanks
[...] that Hispanics have to assimilate in America today, I’ll let a couple of Hispanic writers dispel that notion. I challenge anyone to go to Laredo, Texas and try to spend one day speaking only English. [...]
I lived in Laredo for 6 months. I got by fine with English only. Sure its a Hispanic Majority City. But bere in mind its right next to the Border… Most US Border cities speak a fairly high degree of Spanish… Due to the Proximity of Mexico…. However that said… the street signs/other signs were all in English.
Managed just fine speaking English only… Maybe I was in a good part of town…
@Rick Santos: You are absolutely right, the use of Spanish does change with 2nd and 3rd generations as well as with acculturation. However, something that many do not take into account is that acculturation itself is changing because the American culture is largely Hispanic in many big metropolitan areas.
If you look at the Puerto Rican population in NYC that is in its third generation from the original influx of the 1930s, they have followed exactly what you have observed and Spanish is only evident in a sprinkle of Spanish words that are mixed with the English. Yet, the Puerto Ricans there acculturated to a city that was mostly English speaking and not at all what we see in other areas of the country. Acculturation in many US cities today is closer to what we have witnessed in Miami.
Miami is unique in that it has been catering everything in Spanish since before the Cuban revolution of the late 50s. If you look at the large number of 3rd generation Cubans who are now in their 20s and grew up in Miami- they speak Spanish! And they do so while at the same time being acculturated in many other respects. Of course, they also speak English and constantly go back and forth between English and Spanglish but not at all to the extent of what we see in NYC. My prediction is that in many U.S. cities the children of today’s new immigrants will follow an acculturation pattern that is closer to what evolved in Miami.
@JayS – You are right, all Mexican border cities are unique in that they speak a lot more Spanish. My point was that it is difficult in a lot of these US cities to live without being surrounded by Spanish speakers.
I think you maybe right about the acculturation pattern to a degree, However I am not sure if Miami will be the future.
Because having been there a number of times most of the 3rd/4th Generation seem to be English Dominant (though they may speak some Spanish). However I think it will be more “regionalised” issue So Miami and Chunks of the
South-West due to Proximity to Spanish Speak Latin-America may hold on to some degree Spanish (Including the Border Area), but the rest of the Nation I don’t think so, due to the 3 Generation Formula + Large Scale Inter-Marriage.
However please see long link below. I think Cubans are more of an “Exception” than the Norm amongst Hispanics (and especially what they’ve done to Miami), for large parts of Miami they have truly built/made a “Little Havana”. This is due in part to their High Education level (of the 1st and 2nd Wave Immigrants)… This is not the case for 3rd and 4th Wave Cuban Immigrants. However I also noticed there are manay other High Educated Hispanics from Arg / Venz and Colobia + a few other Countries based in Miami… Its certainly America Pre-Eminent Latin-American Financial Hub.
However that said, In the end, Spanish is Entirely (or at least 90%) dependent on continued MASS Immigration from Spanish Speaking Countries (and so too are many of the shows/news on Spanish Languae TV are focused toward 1st Generation Immigrants).
Also like Western Countries in the 1960′s much of Lat-Am growth rate/baby boom (surplus population) is now swiftly reducing to just over 2 kids per women (replacement level), their Economies are improving/more stable and thus the need to come to the US will diminish, plus add to that US Hispanic Fertility had dropped consistently since 2007 to just over 2 (in the Early 2000′s it was the about 2.7 or 2.9 in the early 2000′s). The US Economic mess is impacting Hispanics very Significantly. I’m not an Economic Guru but lets face it, this is no “minor recession”, historians will see this as Americas Second Depression (I’m been quite serious)…
In additiona to the above the US Financially is in a (real Sh*t) the Economy is a Mess, unemployment is at an all time high, may Immigrants Legal and Illegal are leaving. Add to that I see a tightening of Immigration and Border Enforcement, which will all impact Growth…
I personally feel America will be more like a Giant Brazil of the North in the coming decades (rather than what some fear a Balkanized/Divided Country)… With a “Great Mixing of Hispanics / Asians and Whites”…. this is already happening is large numbers… Where there is a Diverse Populace I personaly think that a Good thing (IMHO).
http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/files/2010/10/755-marrying-out.pdf
CUBAN AMERICANS
http://bit.ly/12q1uEQ
One big reason why they should learn to speake English . Better job opportunity So many I see cleaning. Bathrooms. Using leaf blowers. Speake English. Find better job opportunity. That. Simple
Yes I believe that Hispanics should learn to speak the English language. I’m not prejudice at all cause my ex-husband was a hispanic and my kids are half. He didn’t even know any Spanish. I believe it is very unfair that they claim discrimination based on language and we as Americans who were born here can’t. I went to school and spent good money and now I’m having trouble finding a job due to I speak English only and don’t have the time or the money or time to learn Spanish. Well of course I do I was born here and to say I can’t have a job just because I don’t know Spanish is just not fair!! Even the Indians who were here before anybody learned English and to say I can’t have a job because I don’t know a second language is not fair at all.
America is the only greedy country that would allowed immigrants to not follow the rules of the land you come here by boat planes trains illegal banana boats and america have jobs waiting for you and them when get that new job from your cousin another american is out of a job /you people don’t pass the torch only to your own kind and say that nonsense we dont want the jobs young adults men can’t learn building skills or even deliver a beer soda, and other goods around the country my jobs you got whole families working on the job just came in from DR to USA and gets city jobs people take the test for them to get them those jobs while real american suffer from the badge of lazy stupid,and dont want to work/ our children cant get jobs at all //backward dumb country MLK FAILED US TOO