Philadelphia's Geno's Steaks Adopts English-Only Ordering Policy

[sparkofcreation 0]

They're always busy in there, with the line out the door into the parking lot, they don't have time for ums and ahs...you've stood in line for 10 minutes already, you should know what you want!

This is a general pet peeve of mine...when people who have been waiting in line don't know what they want. For Heaven's sakes, you've had 10 minutes to make this decision and it's not life or death people.

What about people like me who have severe vision problems and can't see the menu until they reach the front of the line? Where it's feasible I try to have my husband hold my place so I can walk up close and find a spot to stand (without making it look like I'm cutting in line or taking someone's place and without getting in anyone's way) and read, but it's usually not possible.

As for the rest, there is certainly no law requiring Geno's or anywhere else to serve customers in their native language or any other. There is, however, a law against refusing to serve people because of their national origin.

Edited June 14, 2006 by sparkofcreation

[AlmostMex 0]

Would anyone here go and live in Mexico and expect to get by without ever knowing how to say "please", "thank you", "I'd like..." and the names of key items in Spanish?

I didn't see your question yesterday, or I would have posted then.

You're underestimating the Americans' belief that everyone worldwide speaks English. You'd be amazed at all the Americans I met who were living in Mexico (not just visiting) who couldn't say even these basic terms. I worked with many of them at the English school I worked at, and I met others while I lived there.

[Fischkoepfin 1]

I'm still wondering: How many immigrants has anyone met who actively refuse to speak English?

I've worked with a lot of people who don't speak English natively and everyone I met made a conscious effort, and could make themselves understood even if they had only been in the country for a week or so. English - despite what native speakers might think - is not an easy language to learn...

[Mirorgate 0]

I'm still wondering: How many immigrants has anyone met who actively refuse to speak English?

I've worked with a lot of people who don't speak English natively and everyone I met made a conscious effort, and could make themselves understood even if they had only been in the country for a week or so. English - despite what native speakers might think - is not an easy language to learn...

3 actively refuse.. apparently the US "owes" them for something

12 dont like to because they feel wierd speaking english

8 feel their english is bad

the rest (many many many of them) at least try

[choji 0]

I'm still wondering: How many immigrants has anyone met who actively refuse to speak English?

I've worked with a lot of people who don't speak English natively and everyone I met made a conscious effort, and could make themselves understood even if they had only been in the country for a week or so. English - despite what native speakers might think - is not an easy language to learn...

I have not met anybody who actively refuses to speak English, but I know a lot of people who are unable to. Some of them live in environments where they don't need any other language but their native one, others "don't have the time" to learn the language above the most rudimentary level.

It is by the way amazing how much money some people spend to get additional tv channels in their native language, so even the incentive of being able to watch and understand programmes in English is not there.

[hockeygal 0]

you should have seen me trying to communicate in Beijing. My dictionary, a map, a lot of mime and bowing, and I still got tossed out of a cab when the driver couldn't decipher what I wanted!

After that, I had the concierge in my hotel write things out for me on pieces of paper that I carried around in my pocket!

a little off topic, but I was reminiscing. sorry!