Category: the Rant Board
The city I live in is a melting pot of culture, and wonderfully diverse, but there are those who come to this country, and can't bother to even attempt to learn the language.
It seems that some places I go, I try and communicate with whomever is at the counter, and they do not speak English. While I understand that it may not be there first language, I feel it would behoove them to at least try and master some of it, if customer service is the field they choose to work in.
I find this especially disconcerting because i can not see visual cues that are given to me. These are not limited to, but include: pointing, gesturing, and other non-verbal cues.
Does anyone else confront the same issues?
Here in Texas, where I live, we have a large population whose primary language is Spanish, in fact for some of them it is their only language.
I find it very frustrating, because, as you say, it's difficult to communicate without hand signals etc. I've learned a little spanish in self defense, and we can usually work things out.
However, when I really get mad about the situation, I think about how I struggled with a foreign language in college and have a lot more respect for them.
If you think it's frustrating for us, think how much more frustrating it must be for a deaf/blind person. Hardly anyone--including myself--"speaks" sign language.
In fact, I've trained some deaf/blind people, and I thank God that I know Braille. But, once you get past the initial awkwardness, most of them are really neat people. Sorry, I didn't mean to get away from your topic.
Thanks,
Bob
I find the opposite the large asian community where I live have great grasp of english, but they will still talk amongst themselves in their own language, especially when discussing the natives, which I found irritating, I sorted the problem by answering in Italian.
lol Goblin. You do amuse me sometimes! I can see both sides of the situation. Having parents who came over from another country and seeing how hard they try to learn English has taught me that not all foreigners are as horrid as the one mentioned above. However, my fiance's parents don't seem to have any interest in learning English at all therefore, making it very hard for me to be able to communicate properly with them. It's so frustrating when I want them to approve of me. lol But I am trying to learn his language and am finding it extremely difficult to master. I must confess that I am guilty of saying something negative about someone in my own language. heheheh But isn't everyone? lol It's just that what I say happens to be in a different language, that's all.
i understand it may be frustrating sometimes, but the same could be asked of you. why don't you learn their language so you can communicate effectively with them? for instance, since texas has a lot of spanish speakers, i'm taking it in school. it's extremely helpful, cuz no one would ever think a white girl could speak spanish.
Working in customer service, a lot of customers we get are horible at english. We only offer spanish support so if you arn't spanish verizon makes us try to work with these customers, I don't know how many times I have muted my phone and said "why don't you learn english then maybe you can understanding what I'm saying!" There was this one guy I had once that couldn't even tell me what was on his screen, so I politely had to said "I'm sorry but it seems we are having a language berrier here can you have someone help you out and call us back? The good thing is they usually understand that statement and don't take it personally which is good.
Troy
Iv'e found the english to have the most arrogant attitude towards non english speakers, they travel abroad to find the real France or Spain ect,then have the audacity to complain that hardly anyone speaks english?!.
True, Beautiful_Dorian. It's funny how people right away assume things because of your skin color. My sister is light complected and she's had Spanish-speakers talk about her, thinking she couldn't understand or answer back to them. But she can both speak and understand Spanish, as she mostly grew up with my grandma whose main language was Spanish. On the other hand I'm a little darker, and some people come up to me and speak Spanish, assuming that I can understand and speak it, but although I can understand some of what they say and know some basic words and phrases, I still can't speak it well enough to carry a regular conversation because I haven't gotten used to the grammar part of it.
As for people learning English, I think it should be encouraged when people are here in the United States and are going to stay here for awhile, but I also agree that English-speakers should be equally encouraged to learn other languages as well, just as nonEnglish-speakers are expected to learn English. For example, I try to learn at least basic words and phrases in other languages because if I ever meet someone who speaks that language, I at least want to understand something of what they're saying, and of course I might learn more of that language in the process, but I wouldn't expect them to speak or be that good with English if it isn't their first language. This would be especially true if I were to travel to another country where English was not the first language. But even if I didn't leave the United states, it'd still be good to learn some languages other than Spanish, even if it's just basic words and phrases (if not to speak them at least to understand them) because the United States does get a lot of people coming from all over the world. It'd probably feel more welcoming to the nonEnglish-speaking person knowing that someone understands some of what they're saying just as English-speakers feel better when people from those countries understand or can speak some English. But as I mentioned, both sides should be encouraged to learn the language of a country when the main language is not in theirs.
Agreed, the frustrating thing is that even for us who know the customer's language verizon does not allow us to speak the language, stupid in my ioppinion but that's verizon for ya. So even if I did no french or something I'm not allowed to speak it for the customer.
Troy
Here's how I feel! No, we shouldn't have to learn their language, as the majority of Americans speak English! Why should we have to cave for the minority? None of the other countries do! Learn English if you wanna communicate in the U.S., and especially if you want to do customer service! Duh stupid! Ok, rant over.
First of all, I've always said that if I lived in another country, I'd do my best to learn, and try and master the language.
After all, isn't that a survival skill?
Well, if I come to live in a country, in my opinion, it is absolutely essencial to learn the language. I mean, how lonely are those who hardly speak the language!!! I know a couple who has lived in Spain for ten years and still don't know a word of Spanish!!! That really is strange.
I don't agree with you at all, Jesse. Soon, the majority will speak Spanish not English and a lot of foreign countries offer many languages for their pupils to learn. Americans are well known for their ignorence over knowing a foreign language and it will keep being this way if us Americans refuse to teach/learn other languages besides Spanish or French.
I agree. But if you live in a foreign country, it is essential to learn the language.
Like many people said, I can see both sides. However, if I live in a country that doesn't speak a language I know, then it is essential for me to learn it. On the other hand, if someone else lives in my country it would be nice for me to learn some of their language to improve communications with them.
The difference is between nice, and essential. The responsibility is up to the person who is in my country. If I'm smart, I'll learn some of their language, but it's not essential for me to do so.
Just my thoughts.
Roberto
Courtesy, I can give you, but if I went to Germany, and wanted to communicate with the average person, I'd have to learn German! If I wanted to go to Spain, I'd have to learn Spanish. If I wanted to go to France, I'd probably have to learn some French, and then there's China, Japan, and all the rest where I'd have to learn their language! If they're gonna come here, they should learn English! Why should a double standard be imposed? And don't tell me we're an advanced culture here! What's good for them's good for us, too. Learn English!
China is ensuring that 300,000 children learn english at school, in preperation for their economic domination of the planet.
I think we should all learn esperanto, then we wouldn't have this problem. Seriously, because of the internet and our economic domination, english is quickly becoming a dominant language.
See? It's English, folks! Learn it, or get left out!
Point well taken!!!