“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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Otto Rodriguez Said,
April 20, 2009 @ 2:03 pm
Living in a city like Miami…I find that you can basically spend your entire day (including conducting a myriad of business related activities throughout this large metropolitan city) without having to speak a single word of English! I also often find myself “having to translate” to the cashier at my local supermarket or drugstore…when the English speaking customer in front of me asks a question to the cashier / salesperson and is unable to properly communicate with them. On the other hand…I sometimes have a hard time communicating with my own niece and nephew in Spanish (born and raised in the US by Cuban parents & abuelos) and makes me extremely mad to see that they have a very hard time (primarily) with written Spanish. I think US schools should follow the example of many European countries and offer to teach a variety of languages to all students, since living in this increasingly “virtual” society…speaking more than one language will ultimately be a “must” in order to be able to compete in today’s business environment.
Jon Byington Said,
April 20, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
I agree that in many cities it’s difficult to be immersed in English when there are so many neighborhoods that function in languages other than English. I have a friend who lived in the U.S. for several years and never learned English very well, until a new job required him to improve his English.
Do you think it’s usually a job or education that pushes someone to learn English or are there other factors?
Ricardo López Said,
April 20, 2009 @ 3:29 pm
I think people learn most rapidly when they are forced to do so. My point is that in our American society today we facilitate the use of the Spanish language and do not force Latino immigrants to learn English. I am not saying that this is right or wrong; but it is what it is. We cannot complain about Latinos not applying themselves to learn English because we make it more difficult by not requiring it. Having a job that requires you to communicate in English would definitely help. In my case I learned English when I went to college and found myself surrounded by students who did not speak any Spanish.
Barbara Ealim Said,
April 21, 2009 @ 2:06 am
I am not Latino but have worked in the context of the Latino community. It saddens me, as an African American, when Latino children do not speak Spanish in addition to English. It is a part of the culture. One thing this country is good for is marginalizing the importance of ones culture. When I learn/study another language it is for the love of learning as it is not necessarily tied to my roots. I agree with our president, that the United States should be bi-lingual. Not only should Latinos learn to speak English, all Americans should learn another language and appreciate the culture associated with that language.
Diana Rodriguez Said,
April 22, 2009 @ 10:53 am
I lived in NY back in the 70’s in a English speaking community. It was hard but my 4 sisters and I learned the language. Never, never in all those years did my parents speak to me in English. Once we passed the door inside the house we only spoke Spanish. Today I can say that thanks to that duality many job opportunities and doors have been open. I strongly agree with Otto, US should follow the European example.
Sergio Said,
April 22, 2009 @ 4:24 pm
Ricardo, again I agree and disagree with some of the issues you are writing about. I think my disagreement is more in terms with the choice of words you are using. I don’t think it should be a matter of “permission” but more of a requirement. This requirement should only be implemented when it’s in relation to the “language” issue and not the culture issue. I can’t tell my “abuelita” that she is not permitted to make tortillas and tamales anymore and that she should make hamburgers and Mac&Cheese instead-you can’t do that! That is part of someone’s lifestyle and culture that you can’t change nor control. Also, nobody should make me stop speaking my native language either-where is my freedom of speech then? I do agree that there should be a requirement for people to join a program to learn English if they are applying for residency or citizenship in the US. I also understand and agree with the point that Corporate America is giving the opportunity to service latinos in their own language and it’s definitely not helping them to integrate in this new life, language, and culture. But can you blame either side? I don’t think you can. Corporate America is getting the consumption from the latino market they want and latinos won’t complain because they are being well-served. I also agree with Otto-this country should me more like Europe where there should be a requirement in learning at least one more language through the educational system.
Ricardo A. López Said,
April 22, 2009 @ 5:29 pm
No Sergio, we cannot blame either side; but that actually drives the point I’m trying to convey. Society blames Latinos for not learning English and, at the same time, our society makes it very difficult for them to do so. Thank you all for taking the time to post. Great feedback!
Adam Said,
May 11, 2009 @ 5:30 pm
Well, I feel it is unfair to the other cultures who had to learn English such as the Chinese, Japanese, Germans, Russian etc.
If they had to learn, so should the Latinos.
Jerome Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 11:26 am
My grandparents, aunts and uncles all came from Poland. Though they spoke polish they learned english so as to be part of America and assimulate into society. They never complained about it and still had pride for there country of origin. They came here knowing there would be sacrifices to be made. Now these are the same people you are telling to learn spanish becuase you do not want to take the time to learn english. If I was to move to Mexico the language is spanish and thus I would need to learn it. What makes you so special that you believe you do not have to learn english when others have to live here.
Ricardo A. López Said,
June 4, 2009 @ 11:43 am
Jerome & Adam, Thanks for posting! I actually do not disagree with you; I think it is important for Latinos to learn English and I often write in Spanish language forums about the importance of doing so. Yes, absolutely, they should learn English. I am just pointing out that as a society we have made it easy for Latinos to get by without ever “needing” to speak the language. That was not the case years ago when early immigrants got here. In my work interviewing Latinos I can tell you that the vast majority do want to learn the language; but many have difficulty doing so because they are not immersed in an English speaking society in the places that they live and work.
kobadger Said,
August 14, 2009 @ 2:46 pm
Well I for one am not at all for Latinos coming here and not learning English. My state of Georgia feels the same way as well. In Georgia as of yesterday ALL drivers Licese exams are given in ENGLISH ONLY!! Georgia is one of 30 states that have declared English as the “official” state language. This prevents any law suits being filed on behalf of Non English speaking people who can and will be denied employment based soley on thier inability to speak English. There is even a bill now that will remove Spanish from ALL Georgia Public Schools as well starting 2011. Georgia Public Schools will still offer “Language Labs” as electives but will no longer offer Spanish…not even as an elective course. The parents will have to hire a private tutor or enroll their child in a “Private” School if their child wishes to learn Spanish. People in Georgia are welcome to speak any language they wish…anytime and any where as well. These laws are in effect to “force” all immigrants to learn English as well. I my self speak 3 languages but not Spanish so I have nothing against “Linguistic Modality” and neither does the state of Georgia,but the days accommodating non-English speakin people in Georgia are over. Call it tough love if ya like…but don’t call it racisim.
Ricardo A. López Said,
August 14, 2009 @ 3:01 pm
For the record, I also agree that all Latinos should learn English; and maybe tough love is what we need.
Thanks for posting!
Mike Said,
August 21, 2009 @ 10:15 am
I think as a citizen, it’s important to learn the official language of the country you live in. By not learning English in America, you are marginalizing and segregating yourself from the majority who do know English. You might as well be considered illiterate.
Sherri Said,
September 3, 2009 @ 2:56 am
Yes! EVERYONE should learn the native language of whatever country it is in which they’ve chosen to live (legally or illegally). We’re not doing immigrants of any sort any favors by NOT expecting/teaching them to speak, read and write English. I am not a Latina but I speak, read and write Spanish fluently. However, when visiting a “Subway” recently, an Hispanic young lady greeted me by saying “Hola” and proceeded to ask me what I wanted to order in Spanish (I am very Anglo looking, so she didn’t mistake me for an Hispanic person). I answered her in English. She continued in Spanish. She actually could speak English but she was trying to force the Spanish language. I love all languages (am a linguist) but I won’t be forced to speak them by someone who is too lazy, or politically aggressive. The US is OFFICIALLY an English speaking country (LEGALLY). LEARN THE LANGUAGE! Bottom line. And, yes, I don’t believe we’re doing any immigrant any favors by NOT speaking English with them. On the other hand, I had a neighbor who only spoke Spanish but wanted to learn English. I was very happy I could speak Spanish with her and help her learn English. She wound up taking classes at the local Community College and is progressing nicely. Sometimes we speak in Spanish (to help me) and sometimes we speak English (to help her). It depends upon the individual but for those who are not willing to learn English, go back to your Latino country of origin. Seriously.
Jo Said,
September 14, 2009 @ 7:07 am
Unless you want to come off as uneducated and low class, you should learn the official language of whatever country you’re living in. Do you think you’ll garner any respect by refusing to get with the program? No, you’ll just frustrate anybody you encounter who does speak the official language, including the authorities. Anyone moving to the United States and doesn’t speak English should learn to speak it fluently as soon as possible as it would be expected anyone moving to a Latin American country to speak Spanish fluently as soon as possible.
joe Said,
September 19, 2009 @ 11:36 pm
I believe that EVERY ethnic group , especially latinos should speak English in public. No trans lated print, special tests, ads, nothing. SPEAK ENGLISH ! Every other group who came here in the past did, and were accepted. I refuse to allow the schools or Hollywood to make my children feel like they have to learn Spanish to succeed. No, I think if we band together as English speaking Americans, the way our nation was started, and do not allow all the bi lingual garbage, we will force them to conform and then we will have unity for all.
Ricardo A. López Said,
September 20, 2009 @ 1:11 am
Joe, you hit on something there that is part of what I am trying to convey. Everywhere you go everything seems to be in English and Spanish and, YES, it is very common to hear people (mostly non-Hispanics) talk about the importance of teaching Spanish to the children. And that is precisely the issue; our society is intrinsically giving Latinos “permission” to speak Spanish. And since they are not “forced” to speak English, it is very difficult for them to do so.
We may disagree on the propriety of these societal changes; but we should at least agree in that it is indeed a change from how it used to be. My contention is that Latinos are not the ones to blame. American businesses cater to new immigrants (especially Latinos) in their language because they want them to spend more money on the businesses’ products and/or services. You are entitled to feel strongly about the idea of achieving unity through a melting pot conformity (and you may be right). But the blame then should not be placed on the immigrants; it should be placed on the society that allows it to happen.
Patricia Said,
September 20, 2009 @ 1:46 am
I don’t understand why those who move to the U.S.A. don’t learn English. Why are we told by them to learn Spanish. They receive everything we,who are born here, have the right to. I’m not angry or upset,just don’t understand at all. If I went to their country I would have to learn their language, why can’t they learn others? I am very new to this situation(recently moved to Tx)and don’t,can’t understand it. Thank you for any answer.
Ricardo A. López Said,
September 20, 2009 @ 1:48 pm
Patricia, Everyone who comes to the U.S. should learn English; but it is not always easy. What I argue is that it is more difficult today than it used to be years ago because we (collectively) make it easy for Latino immigrants to live in the U.S. without ever having to learn English. Also; do remember that most of the Southwest, including Texas, used to be part of Mexico. At one point in History English was forced on the residents of the Southwest- not only Mexicans but also native Indians; the original residents of of the U.S.
Billy Bob Said,
October 22, 2009 @ 12:58 am
Ban together as English-speaking Americans? I don’t know about you my friend, but that right there mostly represents and oxymoron. You are giving the idea of an American a specific outline. That would mean: if you want to become american, you must completely understand the english. How is that possible, when some “Americans”, themselves have trouble with the english language. That is besides the point but to say that hispanics should learn English is completely bias. I am currently assisting a very diverse public university, and daily, I hear a new language spoken. For you to try to stop hispanics from speaking spanish, means for everybody else not to be able to speak their language. Of course, the US has severely accommodated those that are having trouble. Yes, they receive help, but to an extent. Most hispanic immigrants do not have the liberties that an average american has, mainly time. Only one thing is on their mind: survival for themselves and their families. This may seem sort of exaggerating but isn’t that what all people come to America for? Should lack of knowledge of a language keep a family from daily survival. You have to agree that America has done the right thing by letting immigrants work here and make a living, and consequently this has given them lack of time to study this new language. If you want to force inhabitants to learn english, then you should also go ahead and limit everything else. You have to consider that most of the people who can not speak english are in their late 20’s or above, by this time it is very hard to gain so much knowledge in so little time. The closest reference I can think of is that of religion. If you hear another religion talk about something you do not agree with, does that automatically allow you to try to convert them? I’m not trying to say you should cut some slack, I’m just trying to infer that something that seems so easy for you may not be the same for others. I could go on and on about comparisons but, by now, you should understand my point. And all you people that think people should go back to their country if you do not know english, well that is pure ignorance. Yea your ancestor were also immigrants and quickly learned english, but you can not compare that to these times. Industrialization helped spark the beginning for America. In this case you have to view how all countries come to learn everything here, from doctors to financialists. I think any foreigner with a strong accent worries more about his career than his accent. If you are going to be ignorant, then count forth the percentages of high degrees sought by foreigner: it is steadily rising. Whatever point of view you see it from, low-class or high-class, you can not set a specific limit. I myself am a hispanic. I get criticism from both hispanics and Americans. Some hispanics view me as “stubborn” and have the idea that I value myself much higher than they them, just because I am a fluent english speaker. On the other side, I sometimes get the usual stereotype of a hispanic: not being smart enough, not knowing spanish, or not having the same beliefs. To me this does not seem like a language barrier, but rather a culture barrier.
Jessica Said,
October 23, 2009 @ 2:53 am
I think everyone that comes here should have to learn english, if they want to continue to speak their language at home or where ever that’s fine. I am extremely angry at these business owners and our government for forcing us to change. A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine had a interview and was offered the job. The next week when she was supposed to start work they told her nevermind, we found someone who can speak spanish, we are giving the job to them instead. It really irritates me that I, a citizen of this country, might not get a job because I don’t speak the language of people that come here. That’s not fair. These companies and this government are catering to immigrants, and making things tougher on its own citizens.
Jay Said,
October 24, 2009 @ 12:33 am
I think it’s very important for anyone who comes to this country to learn English. I have parents who came from another country, but learned English. Yes sometimes they struggle but at least they try. I have no problem with Spanish or Hispanics, as i can speak Spanish fluently. But the problem is that Spanish is so readily available that Hispanics sometimes feel like English is not a requirement. That needs to be fixed first, if you want people to learn English. I feel like Hispanics sometimes get special treatment in this country as Spanish is so encouraged and in some cases, expected, while my parents sometimes struggle with English. But thank you for letting me share my opinion.
Ricardo A. López Said,
October 24, 2009 @ 10:40 am
Jay said: “But the problem is that Spanish is so readily available that Hispanics sometimes feel like English is not a requirement.”
EXACTLY! And what I am trying to convey is that as a society we have to take some responsibility for making Spanish so readily available. Thanks for sharing!
Tj Said,
October 28, 2009 @ 2:05 pm
Ricardo López, please don’t take what I have written wrong. However, I do have extreme beliefs in this and no exceptions. If I can become fluent in other languages just to visit another country, I would not even think about living in one with our speaking it.
It’s really simple, English was voted as primary language long ago and that what it is. You don’t like it, leave. Everyone else had to learn it, why should the Hispanics be any different. Personally I think it should be a law with an extreme fine. There is no reason not learn English with all the free schools to teach it hear in the U.S. If I even travel to a new country just to visit, I am fluent in there language first. That is some thing called respect for the country and is something that Hispanics that whine about learning English need to learn, especially since English was the voted and agreed upon language. Pretty funny that all my Hispanic friends happen to share my attitude.
Ok “Billy Bob Said,”, I don’t think it’s a problem that Others speak another language in this country but they should also be able to do what???, Oh, that right- SPEAK ENGLISH. I have family members that are not from the US and they still have the respect about the American culture to learn it.
Since most Hispanics that do not speak English in the U.S. are illegal immigrants any how, giving out a $1000.00 Per ticket for anyone that is not able to SPEAK English or is not in SCHOOL learning, would pay for the translators that are required when they end up braking the law’s because they are not able to read English signs. This would save a fortune in tax payers money. I don’t need a translator, so why am I paying for one.
Vicky rodriguez Said,
October 29, 2009 @ 11:29 am
i think that if hispanics were required to speak english then most of then would but because society has made it easier for them to live easily without learning the main lauguage then they are ok with not learning it though same make the effort to learn to make their live better if the US was really consorn with hispanics learning English then they would have done something about it instead of just going along with it
Ricardo A. López Said,
October 29, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
Wow! There is a lot of emotion surrounding this post!
I want to share an interesting piece of research that I just came across. In a large quantitative survey Latinos were asked if they agreed with the statement “All immigrants should learn English if they plan to stay in this country.” Almost all of the new Hispanic immigrants interviewed agreed with the statement; but the figure was shown to decline with acculturation. The study concluded that recent arrivals understand the importance of speaking English; but more acculturated Latinos that have been in this country longer are less likely to agree because they fear the political ramifications that are tied to the statement.
Haylie Ardner Said,
February 8, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
Thank you for this topic, it’s helping me write my essay for English class.
But I do agree with you by all means. I also think that the fact that in most cities now, the predominate race is actually Hispanic (well at least in California). They have dominated our English language by taking so long to learn or “convert”. That has forced any English speaking American to learn Spanish, and that’s upsetting. I also find it ridiculous that our funds go to teach them English. Isn’t there an American citizen test you need to pass? Do they not ask you to know English? It all just causes chaos and misunderstanding. If I went to Mexico or Spain, France, Africa, Asia, Russia, or anywhere to reside, I would have enough respect and decency to learn the language and culture. Honestly! I’m 16 and this aggravates me more than anything else. It’s only going to get worse.
Lena Said,
February 17, 2010 @ 4:47 pm
I am a California State employee and unfortunately there are absolutely NO incentives for non-English speakers to learn English or at least good English because most government jobs give preference to candidates who are bilingual not English-only speakers.
Government workers in California are the most overworked government employees on planet Earth because we must spend a large part of our working trying to communicate with taxpayers who have no idea of how to speak English. And as I mentioned bilingual employees who provide translation services are rewarded with promotions and higher pay which to me is discriminatory against english only employees.
It is easy for big business and high level government officials to not be overly concerned because they are not directly affected by this problem since they can pocket the dollars from the “Hispanic market” yet not be saddled with the inconvenience and stress of having to provide services for people who have no or little verbal skills in English such as government employees, healthcare workers and others who have direct contact with this population.
Ryan- Louisville, KY Said,
February 17, 2010 @ 9:06 pm
I live in Louisville, Kentucky; for those who do not know where that is at, it is in the middle of the United States, five hours south east of Chicago, Illinois and four hours east of St. Louis. By any means not directly connected to Mexico, Cuba, or any other Spaniard country. When I walk into a clothing store, grocery store or any other American business, it should not take ten minutes for me to get an answer to a simple question for these damn immigrants that did not take the common courtesy to learn English before getting dumped in the middle of the United States. The majority of the United States (including some immigrants), and when I say majority I mean 88.7% of the United States speaks English well to very well. Now, granted smuggling occurs, not my problem or anyone else problem that were born here. The point I am trying to make is deportation should be enforced to the tee. I would love to be U.S. border patrol, but my guess is there are probably Spanish guards on that duty being they are bi-lingual. I find it also an insult that when I pick a phone to dial oh, any business anymore, I have to hit 1, or say English for English! That is wrong on so many levels. America is horrible in the aspect of illegals and legal immigrants. They should not be given a job just because they work for less money, yet can not utter one word of English. Can I get that treatment in Mexico? NO. How do I know, I’ve been there, they treat American’s like scum, yet when they migrate here, we greet them with a job and the ability to ruin a native’s life. And just for those who believe this is racism or discrimination, I just want to point out Haitian immigrants, Ethiopian immigrants, German’s, Russian’s, Bulgarian, Chinese and any other ignorant person who decides to sneak or buy their way into America and refuse our language, I (am not alone) am against it and punishments should be enforced.
Ricardo A. López Said,
February 17, 2010 @ 9:45 pm
Ryan, as I have said before, I agree that Hispanics should learn English. But the point that I am trying to drive is that, for most of them, it is not their fault that they don’t. It is easy to point the finger at the Mexican immigrant; but the reality is that they have been welcomed here and permitted to speak only Spanish. You said it yourself; they are given a job. Some companies, especially in the construction industry, even lure them here from Mexico. Once they are here “we” do not force them to speak English. As you mentioned, almost every company now gives Spanish as an option. And it is not only when you call on the phone; but also on almost every product label and instruction booklet. We cannot do this and then be upset because they do not speak English. The blame for the insult that you feel when you are asked to dial a 1 for English should be squarely placed on the company that you are calling; not on the Mexican immigrants. I do believe that the anger that is being generated by this subject inevitably leads to prejudice and discrimination. I wrote about this very subject here.
Dennis Said,
March 4, 2010 @ 10:33 am
If the U.S. enforced the laws that were already in existence, none of this would be an issue. unfortunately, both major political parties are to blame; the Republicans want the cheap labor for their corporate buddies, and the Democrats want a voter base.
The U.S. May have made it easier for Spanish-speaking immigrants to NOT learn English, but the immigrants and their advocates cannot nor should not complain about any disadvantage they encounter living here because of their refusal to learn the primary language.
I also find interesting the blatant, in-your-face hypocrisy where Mexico can have a strict immigration policy, yet their government all but demands the U.S. to have open borders.
If I went to any country in Latin America and started protesting and demanding services in my native language, I’d receive nothing but a swift kick in the ass. Why should it be any different here?
Ricardo A. López Said,
March 4, 2010 @ 10:38 am
That is a good point Dennis. Thanks for posting!
american Said,
April 13, 2010 @ 10:08 pm
other people who came to this country learned english,
we should not have to learn another language to live here,
how did we let this get so out of control??????
let them learn english to live in the united states, if you want to live in another country, learn the language there….
Jessica Said,
May 13, 2010 @ 2:29 pm
First of all, I just want to say this blog is absolutly wonderful! I’m actually doing a term paper on assimilation and this if definatly helping me out. It makes perfect sense why hispanic immigrants are having a harder time assimilating. If spanish is so available to them, why would they feel the need to learn english? If you come to America and you find comforts within a hispanic community that speaks and caters to you in your native language, you are obviously going to experience difficulty learning english. I’m Asian-American and the first time I learned english was in first grade. I grew up in a white dominanted suburban town and there was no other language but english available. This was tough but I learned english quickly. If I had grown up in Chinatown say, it would of taken me longer to learn english because my neighborhood wouldn’t of required me to learn english to communicate and socialize.
I spent a good hour reading all these comments and I’m rather dissapointed. Dissapointed at the fact that people did not really take the time to absorb what this blog was really saying but rather using it as an excuse to let out personal frustration. This blog isn’t talking about whether hispanics should learn to speak spanish or not, it’s about the an observation that Lopez wanted to point out- that hispanics are having a harder time learning english today compared to previous immigrants because spanish so readily available. If you wanted to argue that, you can, but do it in a way thats even remotely related to the text.
Ricardo A. López Said,
May 13, 2010 @ 3:14 pm
Thank you Jessica!! I do feel that the emotions surrounding this issue often prevent people from “hearing” what I am trying to say.
Pamela Said,
May 31, 2010 @ 12:48 am
I am not Latina, but I do speak, read, and write spanish. I think both need to learn the others language. One, if the person has not been in the United States but for a very little time then they are probably not fluent enough to be clearly understood or understand the other person. Also, if this person was to be a victim of a violent crime or in an accident then I don’t know about anybody else but if it were me I don’t think I would respond to a police officer or an EMT with any sense in spanish. Your first language is spoken without thought, like breathing. But your second language usually requires thought. If I was a victim or in an accident I don’t think I could remember enough to tell anybody anything in spanish. Especially if I was incoherent. I am not saying that they should not have to learn English but we also need to be ready to help another when in need, if we are needed. That would be horrible if a life was lost just because of language barrier due to an individual being incoherent and could not remember the language (english) that he/she was learning. I hope when I am finished with my English paper and others here it that some with change their thoughts on this subject. It is a said and sometimes a heated topic to discuss but all have to agree that if a person can not remember what they have learned for whatever reason that is no reason for them to suffer pain or die! Life is precious, no matter the race, gender, or income level.
Zach Nelson Said,
June 6, 2010 @ 12:06 am
I’m an American Born white student who just moved to Florida International Unniversity. I’ve lived in Miami now for one year and am going to school for Construction Management. Before I moved down to Miami I really wanted to learn how to speak Spanish, and in fact I have learned how to speak enough to communicate with someone who speaks no English. However, I must say that I have been extremelly jaded when it comes to any person that has been living in the U.S. for over five years and doesn’t know how to speak any English. First of all, I noticed that quite a few of you were speaking of the idea that we should implement the European school system into America. You guys might want to do a little more research, American schools make it mandatory to have at least two years of foreign language before you graduate high school. Secondly, l would think everybody should want to learn to speak a second language for personal growth. However, after living in Miami and going into many different stores, gas stations, post offices,etc. where the person behind the register automatically speaks spanish to me, pisses me off, especially when they know a few sentences in that I am clearly an American and it’s quite obviouse to me that they know how to speak some English, there just trying to piss me off. I should not have to know how to speak spanish in order to send something through the mail at the United States Post Office. I will say that unfortunatelly Iv’e become very bitter about this issue. I no longer even attempt to speak spanish in a public store or at school, rather I demand that someone speak english to me. I have found that this hasn’t failed once, every store does have someone that speaks english there to translate for non speaking customers. I think it’s all a matter of where your at, if I go into a hispanic restauraunt which I often enjoy I do like the culture and don’t mind that they speak spanish. However, common sense would tell me that if I was in a different country working at a government office, gas station, etc., I would need to learn how to speak their fucking language.
Sandra Said,
November 27, 2010 @ 5:07 pm
Jerome said
What makes you so special that you believe you do not have to learn english when others have to live here.
its not a matter whether we think we are special or something like that. I am hispanic and I speak both languages. The reason Hispanics are not assimilating as fast as others group is because the hispanics as others have mentioned are being served in their own language and their are a huge population in the United States. The people that came from German, poland and many other came in small groups, you cannot control such a huge mass and make them learn English. It will take time for them to assimilate. This is not the case anymore, however. I have seen numerous american learning spanish and many hispanic speaking english
both languages are equally being spoken
A.T. Said,
December 17, 2010 @ 11:01 pm
That’s a lot to read there,
In my experiences:…
In Miami, they do indeed speak lots of Spanish,
I did live there for about 5 years, and noticed that.
But surprisingly, most of the Cubans that I met could
also speak English quite nicely when they were in the
presence of English speakers.
However, now that I’ve returned to California, I’ve
noticed that the “Mexicans” are really bad at speaking
English or can’t speak it at all, and they seem to
avoid speaking English as if it were a plague.
Ricardo A. López Said,
December 17, 2010 @ 11:57 pm
A.T., A bit of background may shed some light on that issue. Miami became “little Habana” after the Cuban revolution: when many Cubans left the island escaping the communist Castro regime. Unlike most Latino immigrants who come to the U.S. for financial reasons, Cubans came for political reasons. Many of the first to leave the island were educated professionals and business owners who recognized communism and disagreed with Castro. They had they education and know-how to start from scratch in Miami. The children and grand children of these Cuban immigrants make a large part of the Miami Cuban population. These Cubans are unique because, unlike other second and third generation Latinos, they kept the Spanish language and their Cuban culture. However, they are also acculturated and fully bilingual.
In contrast, most of the Spanish speaking Mexican immigrants have a lower education level, have been in this country less than 10 years, and have not enjoyed the same opportunities to learn the language. For example, many Mexicans work long hours on blue-collar jobs where they only interact with other Spanish speakers. The Cubans in Miami most likely received a bilingual education and work in white-collar positions where they usually interact in English.
Cautionary note:
I AM generalizing (which is what we do in research). There are many educated Mexicans in white-collar jobs; as there are Cubans working in construction!
elayne Said,
February 8, 2011 @ 8:50 pm
My son lost his job because he didn’t speak spanish. Others I know also. The only people working here in Reno are Hispanics (mexicans)…and, most everyone is fed up with the politics and greed. I know people who are homeless and cannot find a low income apt because of the illegals…
So, go to the nearest Welfare Office or Social Security office and see for yourselves. And, frankly, I wouldn’t eat at a Mexican Rest or go to Mexico or give one more dime to them. And, yes…once upon a time I loved Spanish and culture. Not now. Oh, and I don’t drive a Escalade either…
Hispanic brother Said,
June 2, 2011 @ 11:21 pm
I believe everyone who wants to come to the greatest country in the world should be required to learn to speak English . My grandfather became a citizen and had to learn it. So if a fifty year old Man can learn so can everyone else! He told me the day he became a citizen it was the proudest day of his life. He was so proud he was a American . But that in the early seventies and I guess people had more respect for themselves and this country. By the way I do speak Spanish and so does my son but I refuse to speak it in public. Hispanic people get mad at me because they think I should speak Spanish to them I just say this is the united states and the language is English here so make a effort to fit in like everyone else and quit degrading my race , we are better people than that!!
Mary Ann Said,
July 16, 2011 @ 8:35 pm
Why should the Hispanic population be allowed to slap the United States and its people in the face? Why are they allowed to speak their fowl language when every other nationality, who have come to this country learn AMERICAIZE/ENGISH.
Who the hell do the Hispanics think they are? I say there are dirt and should either learn the language or get the hell our of my county you bastards and bitches Let send them to hell
antonio Said,
August 11, 2011 @ 10:33 am
maybe bacause there are so huge numbers of hispanics gather together form a self-sufficient community that they dont need to immerse themselves to the main american culture,come on english is the only official language in US,you wanna to be a well-payd white-collar employee,especially in the domains like medicine or laws,communicating with other people by english is prerequisites,otherwise you just stick with your blue-collar low-paid jobs….
antonio Said,
August 11, 2011 @ 10:38 am
its not a matter whether we think we are special or something like that. I am hispanic and I speak both languages. The reason Hispanics are not assimilating as fast as others group is because the hispanics as others have mentioned are being served in their own language and their are a huge population in the United States. The people that came from German, poland and many other came in small groups, you cannot control such a huge mass and make them learn English. It will take time for them to assimilate. This is not the case anymore, however. I have seen numerous american learning spanish and many hispanic speaking english
both languages are equally being spoken
everyone need to learn english to get by in this country,why
are you so special?i need to point out that it isnt the matter most latino cant contact much english-speaking worlds due to a huge population or whatever,its compulsory as this is US.not your southern home
Ricardo A. López Said,
August 11, 2011 @ 10:49 am
As I have said before, I feel very strongly that Latinos in the U.S. need to speak English. My point is that it is usually not for lack of desire that they do not learn the language- it is often very difficult when everything around them is in Spanish. And for the record, the U.S. does not have a declared official language (at least at the federal level). See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_the_United_States
Donald Said,
August 19, 2011 @ 11:53 am
This article perfectly states the problem. This culture makes it entirely too easy to not learn English. Bilingual packaging, etc., should be eliminated. English should be made the official language of our country. A house divided cannot stand. For America to remain strong and remain truly “The UNITED States”, she needs to be the melting pot she once was. One people, one language, one common culture.
Ricardo A. López Said,
August 19, 2011 @ 2:42 pm
Thank you Donald, that is exactly my point; we cannot have it both ways.
susy Said,
September 25, 2011 @ 7:58 pm
Ricardo,
Thank you so much for your comments. I am not Latino, but I live in a small community that has a very large Hispanic population. Many people were “lured” here by big farmers (fruit farmers, asparagus farmers, etc. and processing companies). I get so mad when I hear neighbors and co-workers complaining , “those Mexicans need to learn English”. Most people I know who are from Mexico are hard working people and would love more than almost anything else, (in addition to providing a better life for their children than they had), to become fluent in English.
I teach special education. Every student I’ve had from a Spanish-speaking home had parents who wanted their children to learn English. They always try to communicate with me in English. I have gotten to know many, many men and women from Mexico over the last 17 years. I cannot recall one of those people ever not trying to do his/her best to communicate in English to the best of his/her ability.
Many of these people are “lured” here by big farmers and corporations that create these segregated environments …they build apartment complexes, provide daycare and even school. The children of these workers do have more opportunities than they would have had in Mexico, but the workers don’t have the chance to assimilate into their larger communities because they’re stuck in the cycle of work and home and maybe church on there day off. When would they learn to become fluent in English? They spend their days working with others in the same situation.
These are the same people that when talking to their child’s teacher, will try very hard to speak English, but I can tell you as an English speaking person who has taken many Spanish classes, when put on the spot it’s very hard for me to remember my Spanish as hard as I do try. So, I can relate… wanting to learn a second language and trying to learn a second language are very different from actually being successful at it, unless you are completely immersed in the new language. I wish more Americans would make more of an effort to try to learn more about other people, other countries and other cultures before passing judgment.
RANDOM BLOGGER Said,
October 4, 2011 @ 11:19 pm
Its wrong that they come to the United States don’t learn English and want everything in Spanish, and companies, cities, municipal governments cave in, then they make it very difficult for regular American citizens to survive in places that have a high Hispanic population like Miami Dade and Broward county in South Florida, where employers want spanish speaking employees, so only hispanics who barely speak english get hired everywhere, from working in Walmart to city commissioners. its a very high probability that by 2150, the United States will be a Latino country and the American culture will be gone forever, unless a law can be made that would make English the official language of the United States, which should be done, so regular American citizens can survive and shouldn’t be forced to cater to illegal aliens and people who have no repsect for the country that they came to.No other country is as dumb as the United States, no other country would cater to a bunch of outsiders and give them everything even if it means that the countries own citizens have to suffer,before people try to call me racist or intolerant, I am a Hispanic myself, who doesn’t speak Spanish, adopted from south America and raised by an American family in the US.
Val Said,
October 22, 2011 @ 8:24 am
pure and simple explanation here. Most of them have the attitude “WE WILL NOT COMPLY.” And those that wont, don’t have to. PERIOD.
Al Said,
October 29, 2011 @ 11:07 am
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.
bittone Said,
November 9, 2011 @ 12:34 am
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.
Danielle Medina Said,
November 15, 2011 @ 3:15 pm
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!
Fleming Said,
December 11, 2011 @ 11:11 pm
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”
American FF Said,
December 12, 2011 @ 2:16 pm
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.
American FF Said,
December 12, 2011 @ 2:24 pm
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
American FF Said,
December 12, 2011 @ 2:28 pm
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…
samuel Said,
December 19, 2011 @ 2:27 am
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.