Thread: Every immigrant who comes here should be required within five years to learn English

I have to say I'm an outsider in this, but I think people should learn English when living in the states. English is not hard to learn as a second language.

I'm a French Canadian. Of course my English is not perfect; I sometimes make dumb mistakes, some words I simply don't know even if some kids know them, and my verb tenses are sometimes just wrong. But I can understand people and people can understand me. With daily practice, one can come with a really good English in maybe 2-3 years. Some will learn faster, some slower. I think 5 years to learn English isn't exagerated.

But I still am ****ed when I see people who lived in Quebec for generations and can't even say "Bonjour" or "Merci" right (Hello and thanks).

The title looks rather familiar Where have I seen that before?

Icedog, Your Grandpa was a credit to your family and to this nation! I am also glad he wasn't deported!

I know this is going to be a really hot topic. My grandmother immigrated to the US after WWII from Germany. She states that in order to become a citizen she had to learn english and pass a written test in english. There was more of a pride of becoming a citizen back in the day, and people worked hard to contribute.

IMVHO todays society in America in general is all about...what can this country do for me...because im entitled, rather than...I need to work hard to get ahead. The English thing for me is frustrating as well...being a healthcare worker..seeing so many that get a free ride on our tax dollar...who DEMAND people to speak their tongue..while living in America and not even attempting to speak the language that is providing them with so much.

ok, somebody name our official language! quick!

Wait, we don't have one.

Originally Posted by Nickelking

ok, somebody name our official language! quick!

Wait, we don't have one.

While we dont have an official language....it is understood that English is the primary language spoken in the states. Heck...the quote is by a former president of the united states.

True, as JMS said in chat we do have a traditional language. I'm just saying no legislation could be passed until congress approves a native language; So the point is moot.

Maybe or maybe not.
Whether there is a recognized state language or not has nothing to do with the need for aspiring citizens to be able to demonstrate their ability to function with respect to all parts of their new society. This includes the commonly spoken language, whether it has been recognized officially or not. Its use as a requirement for citizenship makes perfect sense. When a police officer says "stop" or a sign says "Yield to Pedestrians" it might be important for someone to know this. It is also important, because new citizens vote just like everyone else. It might be nice if they could understand the candidates. Read the newspapers. Do a number of things.
Those who come here (often illegally-there's a difference wrt those) and demand to have someone speak to them as above, in their native tongue, neither truly desire nor deserve citizenship and IMHO should be escorted post haste on the first cargo flight/ship/etc with a meal and water, back to his or her home country. Save the passenger planes and ships for the real immigrants who work and whose efforts are cheapened by the actions of the former.
Just my opinion, anyway.

John P.

Its funny...

In fact just today..I was working..and one of my patients asked me if I speak spanish. When i said No, the patient said...why not..you live on the border..you should speak spanish. Now they said all that in Spanish and I understood more or less. I asked in my broken spanish....Where do you live? Do you live in America...Because I do...and I speak English...and when I go to Mexico..I dont expect anyone to speak my language..because I am a guest, In fact...I try to speak the language there. The patient then began to tell me that she doesnt need to speak english and requested a nurse that spoke spanish.

Its interesting...living on a border city. In America..your expected to speak both languages....when you cross that border, Hardly Anyone will speak to you in spanish. If you dont know spanish, your S.O.L for the most part. There is no..why dont you speak english..you live on the border talk.

Just venting 30 years of frustration out here...

When non-immigrants can speak English, then I'll worry about the newcomers. It would look pretty sad if the immigrants spoke better than the "natives."

Oh, wait...

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

Its interesting...living on a border city. In America..your expected to speak both languages....when you cross that border, Hardly Anyone will speak to you in spanish. If you dont know spanish, your S.O.L for the most part. There is no..why dont you speak english..you live on the border talk.

Just venting 30 years of frustration out here...

¿Possiblé usted significó inglés?
Your signature says you are in New York City. Are you saying that is a "border city"?
I agree with you. In other countries we are expected to speak the official language of the country. However, those countries don't bill themselves as the "melting pot". Having said that, I have travelled a bit and never had any trouble Speaking English in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, Norway and Sweden. It appears the schools in many countries teach English.
If it were not for immigrants, the USA would not exist. Here there are neighborhoods that are completely non-English and that is far from limited to Spanish. There are people that are born in the USA but grow up rarely speaking English. Our major cities have Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Greek, German, Italian, Polish, Isreali and other sections that, because of heavy concentration of a given nationality can seem quite convincingly foreign.