School secretary axed for speaking Spanish

[Manic]

Has it been mentioned yet that English is one of the most difficult languages to learn?

"Remember, children: I before E, except after C."
"What about words like neighbor, weigh, leisure, seizure, and weird?"
"Look, just spell ceiling the right way for the spelling test, kid."


And my personal favorite bit of insanity regarding the English language: "ough" words.
-Cough is pronounced Cahff or Coff
-Tough is pronounced Tuff
-Though is pronounced Tho
-Through is pronounced Throo



English be an evil language, says I.

 

[Darthphere]

You miss the point and try to insult me at the same time.
If you are sitting with two other people, and they start whispering to each other, you wouldn't find that rude? It's doesn't matter what language the person is speaking, it's rude. Spanish is just the language I've had the most experience with.

No, it's not rude. You're just being paranoid. Frankly, if they're sitting with you and whisper to each other, it's probably because it's none of your damn business.

 

[Wylie Times]

I'm going to modify this sentence just a little.
"How is it OK to be living in ANY country fro years, decades even, and have ZERO, knowledge of the NATIVE LANGUAGE? How is that justifiable?"

To elaborate a little, if I was going to move to Russia, I would feel obligated, to at least acquire a good working knowledge of the language first. I'd also feel that it was my responsibility to my new home country to do my best to intigrate into the existing society. I think that for any immigrant to expect the country they are moving to, to accommodate them is a bit selfish.

I don't even think it's possible for someone to live in a country for years and have ZERO understanding of that countries native language. The problem in the U.S. is that if someone doesn't speak "perfect" or if their English is very bad people still get pissed off.

Oh and I never said it wasn't ok for people to speak in a language other than English, I said it's rude to carry on a PERSONAL conversation in ANY language in front of a third party in the workplace.

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

You're not supposed to wear that until the third date, fyi.

Can I wear the moustache, too?

 

[terry78]

See, the thing is that the U.S. is known as the melting pot, the place everyone else in the world can come and basically do their own thing, have their own little shanty towns or whatever that's just like the old country. You can't pull that in any other country except maybe the UK or Australia. The rest of the world is too full of themselves in that sense. You don't speak French, you don't speak Japanese, you'll be a novelty, but they'll be screwing you over so much it ain't funny.

 

[bell110]

Yet, the United States doesn't have an official language, and Spanish is either the second most spoken language in the country or it's tied with English. Knowing it is just as important as knowing English nowadays, and I will say that I think everyone should learn another language, not just those who don't speak English natively.

No, it's not tied with English. I don't want the US to have an official language, but damn, lets not make things more difficult for us.

I love the ignorance and total stupidity behind these type of statements.

So you will bend over backwards for people that can't communicate with you?

It won't matter anyway when all them Mexicans become the majority in the next few years.

It's kind of sad. I really think Latinos will get to a point that they will refuse to learn English and hold it against us.

If one is able to make do without knowing the most prominent language of the nation, then it's up to them if they wish to learn it or not.

Exactly. If I move to a country, and don't want to learn their language, and they have to accomodate me, well, then I'm an *******.

It really depends on the purpose of speaking in a foreign language. My wife and her family are Puerto Rican. My mother-in-law speaks better Spanish than English. When she visits, she and my wife will converse in Spanish from time to time. It's just easier for my mother-in-law. But I know that they are not doing it to purposefully exclude me from their conversations. However, as I stated earlier, I've worked with people, and had customers, who did speak Spanish, for the sole reason of keeping me and others out of a conversation. Kind of like whispering. This I found to be very rude.

I agree with you about your wife and mother and law. I don't know about people talking spanish to keep you out of the conversation though. I can't comment because I wasn't there. But, how do you know it was to keep you out of the coversation instead of it was just easier for them?

Let's not forget that some people come to this country and do try to learn English, but just aren't very good at it. Back when I was working at an electronics store, I had a couple walk up to me who spoke mostly Spanish. I couldn't find any of the people in the store who spoke Spanish, so I had to sell them an antivirus in what had to have been the most hilariously broken conversation of all time. I've forgotten most of the Spanish words I learned in high school, I've completely forgotten how to conjugate verbs in anything other than passive present tense. I had to run to the books section to grab an Spanish/English dictionary. Here's me, trying desperately to speak Spanish. Here's them, trying desperately to speak English.

They were making an effort to learn the dominant language, but do you know what would've been mighty useful right then and there? A bilingual employee.

Oh, and I made the sale. Most trying day I had since that time I helped one lady find an E-rated Playstation 3 game for her kid.

Both of my worse customer service situation was people who were deaf. I don't know sign language, and could not communicate effectively. I feel bad because it's not their fault they can't hear, but it's not my fault I don't sign. But, there is no reason you can't learn English. And if you don't, it should not be our problem.

 

[SuperFerret]

Exactly. If I move to a country, and don't want to learn their language, and they have to accomodate me, well, then I'm an *******.

I think you misunderstand me. I'm saying that if you're able to make do without learning the primary language of the country that you're in and you don't want to learn it, more power to you. It's your choice to make whether or not you learn it or not.

 

[Manic]

Both of my worse customer service situation was people who were deaf. I don't know sign language, and could not communicate effectively. I feel bad because it's not their fault they can't hear, but it's not my fault I don't sign. But, there is no reason you can't learn English. And if you don't, it should not be our problem.

Seriously? Deaf customers are easy. I've almost always got a pen on me, so it just becomes a matter of us writing messages back and forth.

As someone who works in customer service, dealing with customers who you can't communicate with is your problem. It's your job to provide service. If someone else can provide service to a customer by speaking multiple languages, then they've got a valuable skill that you don't. Saying that all people who walk around this country should speak perfect English is an academic statement that is completely unrealistic. The entire US southwest is made up of former Mexican territory, and the immigrants are here. Be realistic. There are a ton of people in this country who speak better Spanish than English, and unless the government creates a series laws that punishes them for that--a government that dictates how you can speak to one another--that's not going to change.

That's why we need bilingual workers at our stores, offices, and support call lines. Because we live in a country that will never be lingually homogeneous. It's never been that way.

 

[Wylie Times]

No, it's not tied with English. I don't want the US to have an official language, but damn, lets not make things more difficult for us.



So you will bend over backwards for people that can't communicate with you?



It's kind of sad. I really think Latinos will get to a point that they will refuse to learn English and hold it against us.



Exactly. If I move to a country, and don't want to learn their language, and they have to accomodate me, well, then I'm an *******.



I agree with you about your wife and mother and law. I don't know about people talking spanish to keep you out of the conversation though. I can't comment because I wasn't there. But, how do you know it was to keep you out of the coversation instead of it was just easier for them?



Both of my worse customer service situation was people who were deaf. I don't know sign language, and could not communicate effectively. I feel bad because it's not their fault they can't hear, but it's not my fault I don't sign. But, there is no reason you can't learn English. And if you don't, it should not be our problem.

You mean other than the fact that English is an incredibly difficult language to learn and that it becomes exponentially more difficult to learn languages as you get older?

 

[Darthphere]

So you will bend over backwards for people that can't communicate with you?

Nobody is asking you to. If you don't want to deal with someone who doesn't speak English, then don't. That easy. No need to be rude or anything. Say "Sorry, don't speak Spanish" and move on.

It's kind of sad. I really think Latinos will get to a point that they will refuse to learn English and hold it against us.

No offense, but you're coming off like one of these people who is arming themselves to the teeth for the coming invasion. Latinos learning or not learning English will have nothing to do with you or holding it against us (whoever us is supposed to be).

 

[bell110]

I think you misunderstand me. I'm saying that if you're able to make do without learning the primary language of the country that you're in and you don't want to learn it, more power to you. It's your choice to make whether or not you learn it or not.

Well, that's my fear. They don't have to learn English. My fear is that American won't become bilingual, but duel-lingual. People who speak Spanish will have no reason to learn English, and English speakers have no reason to speak Spanish. So we'll end up with one country who can't communicate with itsself.

Seriously? Deaf customers are easy. I've almost always got a pen on me, so it just becomes a matter of us writing messages back and forth.

As someone who works in customer service, dealing with customers who you can't communicate with is your problem. It's your job to provide service. If someone else can provide service to a customer by speaking multiple languages, then they've got a valuable skill that you don't. Saying that all people who walk around this country should speak perfect English is an academic statement that is completely unrealistic. The entire US southwest is made up of former Mexican territory, and the immigrants are here. Be realistic. There are a ton of people in this country who speak better Spanish than English, and unless the government creates a series laws that punishes them for that--a government that dictates how you can speak to one another--that's not going to change.

That's why we need bilingual workers at our stores, offices, and support call lines. Because we live in a country that will never be lingually homogeneous. It's never been that way.

No, it's their problem. I can communicate perfectly well. The customer is not always right, and if you can't communicate to someone making minimum wage, well it's your problem. They are the ones that were deaf, they need to accomodate me.

You mean other than the fact that English is an incredibly difficult language to learn and that it becomes exponentially more difficult to learn languages as you get older?

Yeah, because Spanish is easy to learn as you get older.

Nobody is asking you to. If you don't want to deal with someone who doesn't speak English, then don't. That easy. No need to be rude or anything. Say "Sorry, don't speak Spanish" and move on.

No offense, but you're coming off like one of these people who is arming themselves to the teeth for the coming invasion. Latinos learning or not learning English will have nothing to do with you or holding it against us (whoever us is supposed to be).

Well no, the original post I responded to said many jobs require you to be bilingual. So yes, employers are asking me to learn a whole new language to get a job in America.

Well yes, it will have everything to do with me. How am I supposed to interact with someone who doesn't speak English? There has been a huge increase in latinos in my area. I don't mind that, but if they don't bother to learn English, yes that is a problem.

 

[Wylie Times]

Yeah, because Spanish is easy to learn as you get older.

It is compared to English.

 

[bell110]

It is compared to English.

Holy crap. It's America. Why should everybody learn Spanish because they don't want to or can't learn English?

 

[Wylie Times]

Holy crap. It's America. Why should everybody learn Spanish because they don't want to or can't learn English?

I'm not saying everyone should have to learn Spanish. I'm just pointing out that as difficult as things may be for you for someone learning English it may be even more difficult.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I hate Spanish. So many goddamn verb tenses. How the hell do they keep it straight?

 

[bell110]

I'm not saying everyone should have to learn Spanish. I'm just pointing out that as difficult as things may be for you for someone learning English it may be even more difficult.

Well, thats my problem. I was born and raised in an English speaking country. If people want to thrive in an English speaking country, they should learn English. It should not be the other way around.

 

[BlackLantern]

I'm going to modify this sentence just a little.
"How is it OK to be living in ANY country fro years, decades even, and have ZERO, knowledge of the NATIVE LANGUAGE? How is that justifiable?"

To elaborate a little, if I was going to move to Russia, I would feel obligated, to at least acquire a good working knowledge of the language first. I'd also feel that it was my responsibility to my new home country to do my best to intigrate into the existing society. I think that for any immigrant to expect the country they are moving to, to accommodate them is a bit selfish.

if someone is trying to learn English, even if they aren't that good, they are trying at least...I have extended family (on the Puerto Rican side) that outright REFUSES to learn English and that's a problem

we need to get across the idea that learning English isn't going to rob you of your culture/heritage (because that seems to be the concern with some), its just the dominant language here

 

[Sundancer]

Well, thats my problem. I was born and raised in an English speaking country. If people want to thrive in an English speaking country, they should learn English. It should not be the other way around.

Until the Spanish speakers out-procreate English speakers.

Average american Spanish speaking family size compared to English speaking? Check the with the Census Bureau.

 

[NotAHenchwench]

"Remember, children: I before E, except after C."
"What about words like neighbor, weigh, leisure, seizure, and weird?"
"Look, just spell ceiling the right way for the spelling test, kid."


And my personal favorite bit of insanity regarding the English language: "ough" words.
-Cough is pronounced Cahff or Coff
-Tough is pronounced Tuff
-Though is pronounced Tho
-Through is pronounced Throo



English be an evil language, says I.

I know this is slightly off topic, but I have a few German exchange students who are taking lessons from me because they want to have better control over their voices, and in doing so they told me they want to improve their english by helping their pronounciation... I feel like I'm teaching a reverse diction class because they actually WANT to have an American accent. Not that it's permanent, but when they do public speaking they want to be able to be widely understood.

 

[Hotwire]

if someone is trying to learn English, even if they aren't that good, they are trying at least...I have extended family (on the Puerto Rican side) that outright REFUSES to learn English and that's a problem

we need to get across the idea that learning English isn't going to rob you of your culture/heritage (because that seems to be the concern with some), its just the dominant language here

Bingo!

 

[Hotwire]

"Remember, children: I before E, except after C."
"What about words like neighbor, weigh, leisure, seizure, and weird?"
"Look, just spell ceiling the right way for the spelling test, kid."


And my personal favorite bit of insanity regarding the English language: "ough" words.
-Cough is pronounced Cahff or Coff
-Tough is pronounced Tuff
-Though is pronounced Tho
-Through is pronounced Throo



English be an evil language, says I.

You forgot the wonderful sentence....
The bandage was wound around the wound.

 

[Darthphere]

Well no, the original post I responded to said many jobs require you to be bilingual. So yes, employers are asking me to learn a whole new language to get a job in America.

Well yes, it will have everything to do with me. How am I supposed to interact with someone who doesn't speak English? There has been a huge increase in latinos in my area. I don't mind that, but if they don't bother to learn English, yes that is a problem.

Well it depends on the job. I mean, I think everyone should learn a different language anyway.

And no. It's not like latinos had a meeting and said "Oye, no vamos aprender ingles para joder bell110."

 

[Bad Superman]

if someone is trying to learn English, even if they aren't that good, they are trying at least...I have extended family (on the Puerto Rican side) that outright REFUSES to learn English and that's a problem

we need to get across the idea that learning English isn't going to rob you of your culture/heritage (because that seems to be the concern with some), its just the dominant language here

So true.

Well it depends on the job. I mean, I think everyone should learn a different language anyway.

And no. It's not like latinos had a meeting and said "Oye, no vamos aprender ingles para joder bell110."

Man, that last sentence is sig worthy.

 

[Darthphere]

if someone is trying to learn English, even if they aren't that good, they are trying at least...I have extended family (on the Puerto Rican side) that outright REFUSES to learn English and that's a problem

we need to get across the idea that learning English isn't going to rob you of your culture/heritage (because that seems to be the concern with some), its just the dominant language here

No, wrong. Try again.

 

[LouFerignoDemon]

Conquerors would take over a land, and force them to speak their language. It would naturally alter their culture to more fit the conquerors.