Recently, I came across one of those facebook groups that people make. This one is called “You came to our country, you learn our language”.
Of course, one could argue that nobody really knows what country they’re talking about, or what language is being suggested here. However, it is clear that it refers to the United States and to English. For the most part, Americans are so ethnocentric that they assume everyone on facebook should know what they are talking about—and we do. Let’s not pretend like we are oblivious to what they are referring to.
Here is the point I want to make, though. I speak both Spanish and English to the point that when I am in America, nobody realizes I’m a foreigner. I’ve fooled people by pretending I’m from [blank] and they totally buy it. Works every time. I also do understand the frustration of many Americans when they are told they should learn Spanish simply because other people have migrated to their country and they fail to know their host’s official language. Up to this point, I will agree with every claim made by every person that considers immigrants should learn English. What I don’t understand is the xenophobia that is usually contained in almost every American citizen. Is learning Spanish (or any other foreign language) a bad thing? Would you not grow academically and intellectually if you were to tackle another language other than your mother tongue? Do you expect the entire world to speak your language but make no effort at learning another one? It seems to me that it is an arrogance problem. Most people in Europe learn at least two languages, even if they consider theirs to be the superior one. Most people in Latin America know at least a bit of English, and they don’t feel like they are being pushed to do it. Why the vendetta against anything that is perceived as foreign?
Some people make the claim that before America was actually Mexico and before the languages spoken were different, and before whatever...
I realize that what happened before is long gone and we have to focus on what is happening now.
Yes, immigrants should make an effort to learn English. It is only in their best interest to speak the language if they expect to get a good job and better opportunities in America.
—and—
Yes, Americans should make an effort to learn new languages so they can acquire more knowledge and grow intellectually.
Note: It is funny that on the facebook page, the creator makes several spelling and grammar mistakes. Perhaps they are right in not wanting to learn a new language if they can’t tell the difference between “hear” and “here”.
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3 comments:
I couldn't agree more.
The mob rule argument really is the weakest excuse for blatant racism that I've ever heard. Listen to Rush Limbaugh for an hour and I bet he goes on an anti-immigration rant. Keep in mind that asshole has 20 million listeners.
These were the same people that said "You're with us or you're against us".
English Only speakers in places like SoCal and Texas had better learn, and learn quick. Pretty much all of the jobs dealing with the public require bilingual skills.
When you spicks take over,
don't forget I had your back.
I KID, I KID :)
Signed,
yet another ugly, under educated gringo on youtube.
Re: US citizen's learning a foreign language, most do take foreign language classes. However, because our public education system can not teach, we fail to actually learn to speak those other languages, instead we learn to read them and write them a little. Both of my children took two foreign languages in school (French and Latin) with the main benefit being a better understanding of English (as a correction to the poor public instruction they received in English); only my older daughter is conversationally proficient in a non-English language, because she has spent time in France on an extended vacation and a semester at the Sarbonne.
I disagree with the idea that "almost every" US citizen is xenophobic. In general, we work, live, and intermarry with foreigners. We embrace others cultures in festivals, food, and the adoption of aspects of their language into our own. From my observations, when we meet someone from another country, we are fascinated and ask lots of questions to learn more about life and language there.
In contrast, I have observed that many other countries have significant anti-foreigner issues. For example, Britain and France have overtly racist nationalist parties running for office. South America has developed serious issues of populist aboriginal political movements violating the rights of individuals who are descendant from immigrants ("colonizers"). When my niece was studying in Cairo, she left because of the racism against blacks that she experienced from the natives; in contrast, she found Russia to be much more welcoming and she was treated as a native because of her fluency.
Ironically, my niece who speaks six languages secured her last job overseas because she spoke English.
A short story about misconceptions created by the US media, back in the 80s, I relocated to a small southern city so that my wife could finish college there. Just before, a news account with supporting man on the street interviews argued, as it was not objectively factual reporting, that that city was rife with racism. This was a big concern for me as I was moving my interracial family there. However, in the couple years that I lived there, we never had any problems and everybody was friendly.
OK, back for a second read and a second comment.
I seriously hope you didn't take my ironic racial joke offensively. Obviously you have a better grasp on "my" language than I do... so my comment was really aimed at the ignorance in the US.
It must be interesting for you, being able to speak fluently enough that people have no idea where you're from.
My uncle, who raised me, lived in Honduras for a while and speaks fluent Spanish. I've often seen the surprised and positive reaction he gets when he meets someone and can speak their language. He genuinely enjoys it, and sees it as an opportunity to practice. Truth is, he has a serious affection for your culture and will probably retire somewhere in Central America.
Embarrassingly, I have yet to invest the time to learn and thus I limit myself.
Like my uncle says, wish in one hand and shit in the other... let me know which one gets filled first. All these people ranting about how everyone should do as they do, are just beating their heads against a wall and limiting their own opportunities.
Eventually the US will be as multilingual friendly as Europe, and the folks who refused to move forward will be left behind.
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