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Is it important to be considerate to those who can't speak English well?

Is it important to be considerate to those who can't speak English well?

  • Not sure

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    39

Luna Tick

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I speak three languages: English (my native language), German (fluently as a 2nd language), and French (on a rudimentary level). I can tell you that it's hard to learn another language. It's not something that you accomplish in easily in 30 days, despite what some marketers of language courses may tell you. I feel for people new to the country who are struggling to get up and running with English, but are not always treated respectfully.

Hence, my question on whether it's important to be considerate toward people who aren't good at speaking English yet. Note: The poll is not about people who come to the US and never bother to learn English. It's about people who come here and commit to learning the language, but who have not yet reached proficiency. They may speak with a heavy accent, use bad grammar, use poor word choices, or lack the vocabulary to say what they mean. But they're trying.

By being considerate to them, I mean speaking slowly to help them understand or sticking to basic vocabulary, or defining a word for them if they say they don't understand it. It could mean speaking in their language if you happen to know it.
 
In everyday life, it's important to be considerate of other people on a regular basis for a number of reasons, including understanding them and they understanding you. When I meet someone on the street who is lost or looking for something, I have no way of knowing if they have been living here a long time, just moved here, or simply visiting on vacation. It would never dawn on me to be ignorant or insulting to them simply because they were struggling with the English language.

As for learning a new language, I for one am terrible at it so I'd never criticize someone else having trouble with English - after all, my pre-alzheimers English is not always the greatest either.

What I have noticed, however, here in Toronto, is that there are pockets of Asians who have emigrated to Canada and bought up sections of the city, including shops and malls, and turned them into single language Asian areas where English is not spoken and English is not used in any signs or products solds. I personally find that to be ignorant and rude and disrespectful of the great country that invited them in.
 
It's actually not hard to learn another language if your young but it gets harder as you gets older. I think you should be considerate, considering I am one here in Belgium right now. I am proficient at French but it's different form Quebec French which I learned. I try as hard as I can, but some of the vocabulary is lost on me.
 
In everyday life, it's important to be considerate of other people on a regular basis for a number of reasons, including understanding them and they understanding you. When I meet someone on the street who is lost or looking for something, I have no way of knowing if they have been living here a long time, just moved here, or simply visiting on vacation. It would never dawn on me to be ignorant or insulting to them simply because they were struggling with the English language.

As for learning a new language, I for one am terrible at it so I'd never criticize someone else having trouble with English - after all, my pre-alzheimers English is not always the greatest either.

What I have noticed, however, here in Toronto, is that there are pockets of Asians who have emigrated to Canada and bought up sections of the city, including shops and malls, and turned them into single language Asian areas where English is not spoken and English is not used in any signs or products solds. I personally find that to be ignorant and rude and disrespectful of the great country that invited them in.

Well from my very limited experience, some of them know English especially ones form Hong Kong are fairly good.
 
Well from my very limited experience, some of them know English especially ones form Hong Kong are fairly good.

Indeed - when out of their area, they speak English fairly well, but they rudely create blocks where clearly those who speak English are not welcome. I find that disrespectful of a country that welcomes you in.
 
I selected "Other". In my mind it's a matter of time and intent. When you decide to come to a new country, I would like think that one of the first things you would do is to learn the main language spoken in that country. Even if you're not fluent in it when you arrive, I would suggest that it should be a main priority until you speak/read/write the language reasonably well. For a period of time (I'll say 18 months as a guess) there should be some accomodations made for these people. Those accomodations should be people to assist them in filling out the english-language forms for whatever they may need. After that 18 month period, they would need to find someone on their own to assist them in filling out forms, dealing with government agencies, etc....
 
yes, it's important to be considerate. even if they don't speak the best English, their kids will. I only speak one language myself.
 
yes, it's important to be considerate. even if they don't speak the best English, their kids will. I only speak one language myself.

That's a nice idea but don't necessarily count on it. The city I grew up in has a significant third to fourth generation Sicilian population and I went to high school with kids for whom English was essentially a second language even though they had never been to Sicily.
 
I speak three languages: English (my native language), German (fluently as a 2nd language), and French (on a rudimentary level). I can tell you that it's hard to learn another language. It's not something that you accomplish in easily in 30 days, despite what some marketers of language courses may tell you. I feel for people new to the country who are struggling to get up and running with English, but are not always treated respectfully.

Hence, my question on whether it's important to be considerate toward people who aren't good at speaking English yet. Note: The poll is not about people who come to the US and never bother to learn English. It's about people who come here and commit to learning the language, but who have not yet reached proficiency. They may speak with a heavy accent, use bad grammar, use poor word choices, or lack the vocabulary to say what they mean. But they're trying.

By being considerate to them, I mean speaking slowly to help them understand or sticking to basic vocabulary, or defining a word for them if they say they don't understand it. It could mean speaking in their language if you happen to know it.

As far as I am concerned if they are trying to use the local language I am cool with it. When I was in country in the middle east I used Arabic when I wasn't on base and out and about in Dubai and Kuwait City. I sucked badly but hey I got cut lots of slack and everybody got laughs from my crappy skills. When in Rome and all.
 
That's a nice idea but don't necessarily count on it. The city I grew up in has a significant third to fourth generation Sicilian population and I went to high school with kids for whom English was essentially a second language even though they had never been to Sicily.

i've never met a second generation immigrant who didn't speak perfect English, but i'll take your word that you have. it doesn't matter. they'll become part of America just like every other immigrant group has.
 
i've never met a second generation immigrant who didn't speak perfect English, but i'll take your word that you have. it doesn't matter. they'll become part of America just like every other immigrant group has.

Really? I''m not sure what part of the United States you live in, but here in the urban centers of the Northeast I can easily find you second and third generation Americans who not only don't speak reasonable English, but do not consider themselves Americans, in terms of loyalties. They are Irish-Americans or Italian-Americans or Mexican-Americans, etc..... Note which of those nationalities is SECONDARY in every case.
 
I speak three languages: English (my native language), German (fluently as a 2nd language), and French (on a rudimentary level). I can tell you that it's hard to learn another language. It's not something that you accomplish in easily in 30 days, despite what some marketers of language courses may tell you. I feel for people new to the country who are struggling to get up and running with English, but are not always treated respectfully.

Hence, my question on whether it's important to be considerate toward people who aren't good at speaking English yet. Note: The poll is not about people who come to the US and never bother to learn English. It's about people who come here and commit to learning the language, but who have not yet reached proficiency. They may speak with a heavy accent, use bad grammar, use poor word choices, or lack the vocabulary to say what they mean. But they're trying.

By being considerate to them, I mean speaking slowly to help them understand or sticking to basic vocabulary, or defining a word for them if they say they don't understand it. It could mean speaking in their language if you happen to know it.

I think it's (almost) always important to be considerate to others, so yes, I think we should be considerate to people who are learning English as a second language. However, I think that being considerate only goes so far. We shouldn't have to bend over backwards for people who came to this country without being able to speak the language fluently. For example, I'm all in favor of having interpreters available for use at doctors' offices, or government offices or the like, but the person who can't speak English should pay for them, not the government or the doctor or whatever.
 
Untill someone is inconsiderate to you you should always strive to be considerate to them. If you want t be the bigger person you should still strive to be considerate to them, though it is much harder.
 
Slang and contractions and regional dialects probably make learning American English a pain in the butt.....As long as they are trying it is fine with me. It ain't like I don't speak no perfect English myself.
 
Slang and contractions and regional dialects probably make learning American English a pain in the butt.....As long as they are trying it is fine with me. It ain't like I don't speak no perfect English myself.

If they stay out of the South they should be fine then.
 
Really? I''m not sure what part of the United States you live in, but here in the urban centers of the Northeast I can easily find you second and third generation Americans who not only don't speak reasonable English, but do not consider themselves Americans, in terms of loyalties. They are Irish-Americans or Italian-Americans or Mexican-Americans, etc..... Note which of those nationalities is SECONDARY in every case.

like i said, that hasn't been my experience. i live in a town that has a large tomato processing plant nearby, and this company brings in a lot of migrant workers from Mexico. some stay, some migrate. when they arrive, their English isn't the best, but their kids attend the schools and learn English just fine.

anecdotal evidence vs anecdotal evidence, so i guess this discussion is a bit of a wash unless someone has done a study showing that it's common for third generation Americans to not speak English. i truly doubt this is the norm, though.
 
I speak three languages: English (my native language), German (fluently as a 2nd language), and French (on a rudimentary level). I can tell you that it's hard to learn another language. It's not something that you accomplish in easily in 30 days, despite what some marketers of language courses may tell you. I feel for people new to the country who are struggling to get up and running with English, but are not always treated respectfully.

Hence, my question on whether it's important to be considerate toward people who aren't good at speaking English yet. Note: The poll is not about people who come to the US and never bother to learn English. It's about people who come here and commit to learning the language, but who have not yet reached proficiency. They may speak with a heavy accent, use bad grammar, use poor word choices, or lack the vocabulary to say what they mean. But they're trying.

By being considerate to them, I mean speaking slowly to help them understand or sticking to basic vocabulary, or defining a word for them if they say they don't understand it. It could mean speaking in their language if you happen to know it.

Of course it is important. It is part of being curteous to others. Whether or not it is important we adapt and our legal system so others may understand is a different story. (I am not supporting the 'this is 'MERCA! We speak english, and so should you!')
 
Depends, to be honest. On how long they've been here and their age among other things. I don't expect a Venezuelan lady who came here with her family at nearly 50 to speak nearly perfect English.
 
If they stay out of the South they should be fine then.

Sure because nobody really cares what the busboys and dishwashers have to say up north anyway.
 
Yes, it is important.
I came to this country in 1985, unable to speak a word of English. I am very grateful to many people who were patient and considerate with me.
 
In general, yes. I would say that there are factors to consider, including length of time in the country, age of the speaker, etc. If they've been here 20 years and barely speak rudimentary English, they're probably pushing it.
 
It is always the right thing to do to be considerate of people. But it is equally important for them to be doing the right things as well. If you know you don't speak english well, you probably shouldn't be doing a job that requires you to speak english well. And certainly shouldn't be getting mad if you aren't given said job until you do.
 
I speak three languages: English (my native language), German (fluently as a 2nd language), and French (on a rudimentary level). I can tell you that it's hard to learn another language. It's not something that you accomplish in easily in 30 days, despite what some marketers of language courses may tell you. I feel for people new to the country who are struggling to get up and running with English, but are not always treated respectfully.

Hence, my question on whether it's important to be considerate toward people who aren't good at speaking English yet. Note: The poll is not about people who come to the US and never bother to learn English. It's about people who come here and commit to learning the language, but who have not yet reached proficiency. They may speak with a heavy accent, use bad grammar, use poor word choices, or lack the vocabulary to say what they mean. But they're trying.

By being considerate to them, I mean speaking slowly to help them understand or sticking to basic vocabulary, or defining a word for them if they say they don't understand it. It could mean speaking in their language if you happen to know it.

And that's all I want. If someone is trying to learn English, I'll work with them. I know it's difficult, I learned as much Korean as I could when I was stationed there, and I never got fluent, even after two years. The ability to speak another language also greatly diminishes if you don't speak it for a while.
 
I started learning English more than 20 years ago an still... Mother tongue is mother tongue. :)
 
I respect the effort. Learning another language is hard, especially if they started as an adult. If they're trying, I'm all about helping. And let's not forget, some of us don't speak the easiest dialects of English.

I remember one time I was conversing with a French woman and a Cockney English man. I myself have a very neutral midwestern accent -- almost kind of news broadcaster-ish. If it could be said that anyone doesn't have an accent, it's me.

There were several times when the Cockney guy would say something, and the French woman would turn to me to translate for her.

I can't fault her. Even as someone who is exceptionally proficient in English, some English accents are challenging.
 
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