Immigrants: Should they learn English?

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2003-01-24 07:52am

I think that it's in their best interest to learn English, but it's not something I'd deport them over...

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2003-01-24 07:55am

Yes, I ithnk it would be better for them, as well as us, if they learned English. Then, we wouldn't have people demanding expensive and ineffective bilingual education programs at schools, and the Immigrants would be able to do more in America.

Post by **Dalton** » 2003-01-24 08:02am

If you want to live in this country, you should at least learn one language that most of the people you deal with can understand.

Post by **Kuja** » 2003-01-24 08:30am

If I'm in Miami, and I want to order a cheesburger, I'm ordering it in English, goddammit!

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2003-01-24 08:36am

You will learn English if not we promise to conqure your contry and force it down your throats!

We need a standerised Lanugage and we already have everything from Aviation to Miltary Communcation standerised in English and its required to be taught in several other countrys

Might as well go all the way

Post by **Lagmonster** » 2003-01-24 09:10am

Not to be too melting-potish, but if you immigrate to an English-speaking nation, learn how to speak English.

There's NOTHING in the godamn universe that prevents even a dullard from learning to speak two or even three languages!

ArmorPierce · Post by **ArmorPierce** » 2003-01-24 09:12am

I think they should at least learn the language as it ends up being better for everyone.

Here is someone elses from another board's argument against them learning the language

Edit: forgot to put the other guys argument

The guy was basing his argument against them not learning English on Freedom of speech (

)and that the United States doesn't have no official language, just a language that government affiliated papers are written int.

Slartibartfast · Post by **Slartibartfast** » 2003-01-24 09:31am

I think they don't really have a choice, I mean English has already been shoved down all our collective throats and we don't even live in the US or such (I'm talking about the entire world)

CyberianKnight · Post by **CyberianKnight** » 2003-01-24 09:40am

How about it is made a requirement before they are even considered for immigration?

That goes for all countries with their respective languages.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2003-01-24 09:48am

actually everbody should learn english, so the other languages can slowly fade away. a world language or for the beginning a euro language would be cool.

Wicked Pilot · Post by **Wicked Pilot** » 2003-01-24 10:17am

I'd just like to say that I admire anyone who can speak two languages. When I was in high school, the highest grade I made in any foreigh language class was an F.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2003-01-24 10:33am

I'd just like to say that I admire anyone who can speak two languages. When I was in high school, the highest grade I made in any foreigh language class was an F.

HA I'll bet that, I took a to a 140 Question Mutiple Choice Test for my Spanish Mid-term in High school

AND I GOT A @$#%@% ZERO!
I missed EVERY single question on a 140 Mutiple choice test and I WAS TRYING

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-01-24 10:37am

I think they damn well better. America is an English speaking country and anyone that wants to live here damn well better know English. You don't have to abandon your cultural heritage but you should learn the language.

Fuck bi-lingual education and all that. They should learn English or not become citizens.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2003-01-24 11:39am

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't a working knowledge of the English language a requirment for legal imigration?

Quite honestly, knowing the language of the country you are in will only help YOU succeed in that country. If you insist on having the country and the goverment cater to you, you will never attain anything but become dependent on the goverment to provide services for you so you can interact with the rest of the country.[/b]

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-01-24 11:56am

I think people here (Latino immigrants especially) should at least

SPEAK THE STUPID LANGUAGE YOU %#$%#$@^%!!!!

I swear, these people are the most segregated lot in the nation

They stick to themselves, breed like mad, and speak Spanish-spanish-spanish-spanish-spanish...ALL the time.

You can't have self-segregation like that. And this is not racism. It's fact.

apocolypse · Post by **apocolypse** » 2003-01-24 12:31pm

Shinova, I have tried soooo hard to be all PC touchy feely open-minded....but I live in L.A. and I so feel what you are saying. I don't get why the Latin population feels the need to have 5.9 kids per family. There is no way in hell they can afford to get all these kids college education, or even do a good job making sure they get a decent one in the first place. You can't work your way up when you do crap like this. Makes me wanna become president and militarize the border.

But I need to stop cause I could gripe for hours.

Edit: sorry, didn't mean to almost thread-hijack....yes, they need to learn english.

Datana · Post by **Datana** » 2003-01-24 12:47pm

English should definitely be required for immigrants; having a few extra languages under one's belt never hurts, and as everything here is already in English, the effort should be made. What really gets me are people who refuse to even try and learn a new language when going to another country -- the tourists who insist on speaking English regardless of where they are or who they're speaking to, or those Mexican immigarants who won't even respond to you unless you're speaking in Spanish. If you don't know it now, fine -- just start learning it. Revelling in one's ignorance, though, is unforgivable.

The Dark · Post by **The Dark** » 2003-01-24 01:09pm

Knife wrote:Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't a working knowledge of the English language a requirment for legal imigration?

No. Most countries do have such laws; the United States does not. In fact, a working command of the language is not (IIRC) even required to become a citizen. All that needs to be shown is understanding of the oath through a translator.

Quite honestly, knowing the language of the country you are in will only help YOU succeed in that country. If you insist on having the country and the goverment cater to you, you will never attain anything but become dependent on the goverment to provide services for you so you can interact with the rest of the country.

Quite true. I've read a book by a Mexican immigrant saying he considers ESOL the worst possible thing for an immigrant. Besides, how does it help the non-Spanish speakers? I've had next-door neighbors from Norway and Germany, and they were stuck in ESOL classes because they didn't know English. Unfortunately for them, they were the only students in ESOL who didn't speak Spanish, and thus ESOL was worse for them than regular classes, because they weren't even picking up the common language of the USA.

Larz · Post by **Larz** » 2003-01-24 02:36pm

English speaking country = you should speak English.

I hate that group of assholes who are trying to make Spanish a language of the US (and the fucktards who try to make Ebonics a US language). If your to lazy to learn a second language, then no point going to the country only to fail (which is more likely if one is to lazy to even attempt to learn some english, even functioning english is better than none).

Shadow WarChief · Post by **Shadow WarChief** » 2003-01-24 02:41pm

And here's my answer to add on to the plethora of answers who's overall message is "yes":

When in Rome, do as the Romans.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-01-24 05:07pm

Shinova wrote: You can't have self-segregation like that. And this is not racism. It's fact.

You owe me $200 dollars, because as per SD net union regulation 122(c),
only I can make comments like that on Latinos......

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2003-01-24 05:09pm

The fact of the matter is that if you want ti move to a country you should make even an effort to learn the language and the culture. But if you point that out to left wing UK politicians you are branded a rabid right wing asshole, i have been.

apocolypse · Post by **apocolypse** » 2003-01-24 05:20pm

Darth Pounder....I've heard about the problems that England has been having with immigration, something about they sneak over from France. But where are they coming from exactly? I've heard something about the Middle East and Eastern Europe, but I wasn't sure how accurate it was, cause it came from an American.

Oberleutnant · Post by **Oberleutnant** » 2003-01-24 05:37pm

Methinks those refugees camping near the channel tunnel mainly come from various places in the middle east.

In my opinion the knowledge of the official language in the country must be a precondition for a citizenship, just like it is here in Finland. Otherwise you'll end up with immigrants who become sealed off from rest of the people.

Oh, if you have problems coping with just one foreign language, be glad that you are not a Finn. All children in Finland must learn three languages at school... I speak four languages, though I have occasionally problems with them all.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-01-24 05:53pm

I think a more important question is, should the people already living in the US of Abe forced to learn to speak english PROPERLY.

Oh sure, you have to take english in highschool, but WTF is with this ebonics and spanglish shit? Jesus christ. Most kids today cant speak properly, whats going to happen in 30 years when these very kids are the people running the nation? I fear, I truly do.