Should immigrants have to learn English in order to come to America?

[gabemcg]

I've had this discussion with friends before, I searched for "immigrant" and "english" and diddn't see a previous poll, so I thought I'd post it.

I'm probably going to get chewed out if I have any gramatical errors in this post, it's late. Give me a break.

 

[amol]

it's "immigrants"

and they should have a basic grasp on the english language

 

[callmesteve]

Yea of course, its hard to decipher what they're saying.

 

[FleshLight]

I think they should be able to pass a 6th grade english exam. Of course, this would be impossible to enforce.

 

[t3hmuffinman]

they should have a basic grasp to function... but also have to remember that there is no official language of the united states of america.

 

[Lyfer]

YES!

 

[nageov3t]

No. "Give me your tired, your poor, your Huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

their not knowing English really only effects them.

 

[Buck Armstrong]

Whether they should "have to" or not, I don't know...but it sure would be nice.

 

[Chaotic42]

Make English the official language and they can speak whatever they want.

 

[jamesbond007]

It's not so bad in society, but some TAs in my college classes are foreign and it's EXTREMELY hard to comprehend what they are saying, only to be followed by a quiz on what was lectured.

In this case, it's a terrible thing and is becoming an issue at my university.

 

[gabemcg]

Originally posted by: loki8481
No. "Give me your tired, your poor, your Huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

their not knowing English really only effects them.

are you kidding? It effects everyone they come in contact with, if they are in the workforce it shoud be a must. Should I have to learn spanish just to get my lanscaping done correctly?

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: gabemcg

Originally posted by: loki8481
No. "Give me your tired, your poor, your Huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

their not knowing English really only effects them.

are you kidding? It effects everyone they come in contact with, if they are in the workforce it shoud be a must. Should I have to learn spanish just to get my lanscaping done correctly?

hire a different landscaper. it's the only way to convince employers not to hire people who don't speak English, which in turn is the best way to get immigrants to learn the language.

 

[GoingUp]

Yes. In order to be a functioning member of society everyone should have at least some basic comprehension (reading/wrighting/speaking on at least a 5th grade level)

 

[cheapgoose]

Originally posted by: jamesbond007
It's not so bad in society, but some TAs in my college classes are foreign and it's EXTREMELY hard to comprehend what they are saying, only to be followed by a quiz on what was lectured.

In this case, it's a terrible thing and is becoming an issue at my university.

i have professors that I can barely understand.

imo, our society makes it way to easy for someone to live in this country without knowing a word of english. you can't force anyone to learn for the sake of learning. take away all the special services in other languages, driving tests in 15 different languages, then they're forced to learn for the sake of surviving.

 

[Calin]

Originally posted by: gabemcg

Originally posted by: loki8481
No. "Give me your tired, your poor, your Huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

their not knowing English really only effects them.

are you kidding? It effects everyone they come in contact with, if they are in the workforce it shoud be a must. Should I have to learn spanish just to get my lanscaping done correctly?

They must have a basic comprehension of english wheter they are in the workforce or not. Just imagine that they need to be hospitalized - what would the doctors understand?

Calin

 

[Philippine Mango]

Yup

 

[hjo3]

I don't feel too strongly about it. I do feel strongly about our tax dollars being used to accommodate non-English speaking aliens/citizens.

Let 'em speak whatever they want; just don't make me pay for the privilege.

 

[thirdlegstump]

I don't mind visitors...but people who work in or run businesses IMHO MUST speak proper English.

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: cheapgoose

Originally posted by: jamesbond007
It's not so bad in society, but some TAs in my college classes are foreign and it's EXTREMELY hard to comprehend what they are saying, only to be followed by a quiz on what was lectured.

In this case, it's a terrible thing and is becoming an issue at my university.

i have professors that I can barely understand.

imo, our society makes it way to easy for someone to live in this country without knowing a word of english. you can't force anyone to learn for the sake of learning. take away all the special services in other languages, driving tests in 15 different languages, then they're forced to learn for the sake of surviving.

Those professors are there because they are researchers. Teaching is a MINOR component of their lives, so if you can't fully undersatnd them, either sit closer to hear better or try a different teacher. EVery teacher I've that barely speaks English usually its pretty good because they are more straightforeward than professors who like to turn their lectures into soliliquies.

And NO. Immigrants should NOT be forced to speak English. That is just stupid and ridiculous. You don't have to speak English in this country, but it is MUCH easier to be economically successful if you did speak English. I have friends whose parents can BARELY speak that language, yet they get along just fine. Their kids speak their native language fluently, AS WELL AS English. Its just that parents OFTEN have to be parents~ they are WAY to busy to learn English. and in the end it shows~ one of my friends' mom does have a very good job and her family is more lower middle class, while another the father can speak english horribly and the mother can't but they can both understand it and they are more middle middle class.

The xenophobia that you people have is when you see people who can't speak English driving BMWs and whatnot, and trust me when I say there were rich BEFORE they came to the USA~

But I think to require to learn English to live in this country is stupid anyways~ right now we live in a time when the percentage of people that wants to learn English is at its greatest-->so why force what many people will do anyways? Others will learn the hard way, and in the end their kids will learn to speak English irregardless of all your excuses.

 

[eLiu]

YES.

 

[tami]

yes, but i voted wrong. oops.

it is quite annoying to have to learn spanish or whatever language to communicate with someone you HIRE (e.g. like a cleaning lady, which friends of mine have done). it's also annoying to have to push someone because they don't know how to respond to "excuse me." and it's annoying when people mumble something in spanish to you thinking that you actually understand what they are saying. i ultimately go "uh, what?" and they have nothing to say for themselves so they run away.

 

[jst0ney]

Originally posted by: tami
yes, but i voted wrong. oops.

it is quite annoying to have to learn spanish or whatever language to communicate with someone you HIRE (e.g. like a cleaning lady, which friends of mine have done). it's also annoying to have to push someone because they don't know how to respond to "excuse me." and it's annoying when people mumble something in spanish to you thinking that you actually understand what they are saying. i ultimately go "uh, what?" and they have nothing to say for themselves so they run away.

You're from NYC. When did you start saying excuse me?

 

[GiLtY]

Topic of thread and topic of poll are not the same question.

To answer the topic: not necessarily. I didn't know English when I frist moved here.. and here I am seven years later
To answer the poll: People definitely need to have some conversational skills in order to be a functional member of the society.

--GiLtY

 

[Aimster]

You no do me this. I do like not. I come America to escape home I baby. You want me learn tongue speak you? In me country I boss I family. You wash horse.