The Vent - Part 2

[Sprailenes 47]

Just because someone takes an ESL class doesn't mean they're going to come out knowing the language just like that. English is one of the hardest languages to learn. Who's to say that the man you were talking to didn't just arrive in Canada recently?

An official language doesn't mean forced language.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Theres a cheesesteak place in Philly that has a sign on it's window that says: "ORDER IN ENGLISH ONLY!"

and I always see shirts down at the shore for sale that say: "Welcome to America, SPEAK ENGLISH!"

I dunno, that kind of attitude disgusts me. I understand the frustration of language barriers, BUT imagine how someone must feel coming here. They are probably more frustrated and overwhelmed than we are. I mean we deal with it off and on, and for them it's constant.

I heard about that steak place... I would NEVER give them any business! Bunch of bigots

So it's a sign of bigotry when a business expects customers to speak in that country's dominant language? Interesting. I guess every American should learn every other language, so we can better accommodate those who enter the U.S. and refuse to learn themselves.

What's really fascinating is that Americans are called "bad tourists" if we expect people in other countries to know and speak English. We're called "bad tourists" if we refuse to speak in that country's language. But if Americans demand that foreigners speak English, well... we're bigots.

Edited July 20, 2009 by DeadPoolX

[Sprailenes 47]

Theres a cheesesteak place in Philly that has a sign on it's window that says: "ORDER IN ENGLISH ONLY!"

and I always see shirts down at the shore for sale that say: "Welcome to America, SPEAK ENGLISH!"

I dunno, that kind of attitude disgusts me. I understand the frustration of language barriers, BUT imagine how someone must feel coming here. They are probably more frustrated and overwhelmed than we are. I mean we deal with it off and on, and for them it's constant.

I heard about that steak place... I would NEVER give them any business! Bunch of bigots

Yea Sarah Palin gave them some business when she was here GO FIGURE!

PS: their steaks suck anyways!

[JillA 2]

Theres a cheesesteak place in Philly that has a sign on it's window that says: "ORDER IN ENGLISH ONLY!"

and I always see shirts down at the shore for sale that say: "Welcome to America, SPEAK ENGLISH!"

I dunno, that kind of attitude disgusts me. I understand the frustration of language barriers, BUT imagine how someone must feel coming here. They are probably more frustrated and overwhelmed than we are. I mean we deal with it off and on, and for them it's constant.

I heard about that steak place... I would NEVER give them any business! Bunch of bigots

So it's a sign of bigotry when a business expects customers to speak in that country's dominant language? Interesting. I guess every American should learn every other language, so we can better accommodate those who enter the U.S. and refuse to learn themselves.

Are you serious? Do you think it's right and OK to turn away customers if their english isn't 100% proper and cannot order a cheesesteak in perfect English? This cheesesteak shop's owner went on record to say that he wants NO foreigners at his store, only English people. You don't think that's being a bigot, turning away someone that wants a cheesesteak that may speak French or Spanish or Chinese and has a hard time ordering a steak!?

[Sprailenes 47]

Theres a cheesesteak place in Philly that has a sign on it's window that says: "ORDER IN ENGLISH ONLY!"

and I always see shirts down at the shore for sale that say: "Welcome to America, SPEAK ENGLISH!"

I dunno, that kind of attitude disgusts me. I understand the frustration of language barriers, BUT imagine how someone must feel coming here. They are probably more frustrated and overwhelmed than we are. I mean we deal with it off and on, and for them it's constant.

I heard about that steak place... I would NEVER give them any business! Bunch of bigots

So it's a sign of bigotry when a business expects customers to speak in that country's dominant language? Interesting. I guess every American should learn every other language, so we can better accommodate those who enter the U.S. and refuse to learn themselves.

What's really fascinating is that Americans are called "bad tourists" if we expect people in other countries to know and speak English. We're called "bad tourists" if we refuse to speak in that country's language. But if Americans demand that foreigners speak English, well... we're bigots.

No you're just ignorant.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Theres a cheesesteak place in Philly that has a sign on it's window that says: "ORDER IN ENGLISH ONLY!"

and I always see shirts down at the shore for sale that say: "Welcome to America, SPEAK ENGLISH!"

I dunno, that kind of attitude disgusts me. I understand the frustration of language barriers, BUT imagine how someone must feel coming here. They are probably more frustrated and overwhelmed than we are. I mean we deal with it off and on, and for them it's constant.

I heard about that steak place... I would NEVER give them any business! Bunch of bigots

So it's a sign of bigotry when a business expects customers to speak in that country's dominant language? Interesting. I guess every American should learn every other language, so we can better accommodate those who enter the U.S. and refuse to learn themselves.

Are you serious? Do you think it's right and OK to turn away customers if their english isn't 100% proper and cannot order a cheesesteak in perfect English? This cheesesteak shop's owner went on record to say that he wants NO foreigners at his store, only English people. You don't think that's being a bigot, turning away someone that wants a cheesesteak that may speak French or Spanish or Chinese and has a hard time ordering a steak!?

There's a difference between knowing a language perfectly and being able to speak it well enough to communicate. If someone knows English well enough to order food in English, then I can't see there being a problem. The store owners probably don't know Spanish or anything beyond English. So it's unrealistic to expect them to learn a foreign language simply to accommodate those customers who refuse to learn English after coming to the United States.

Edited July 20, 2009 by DeadPoolX

[Sprailenes 47]

Last time I checked its a country full of (mostly) immigrants... not everyone is going to have perfect English.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Last time I checked its a country full of (mostly) immigrants... not everyone is going to have perfect English.

Immigrants at one time or another, yes. But immigrants USED to learn English, if for no other reason, finding work without knowing it can be very difficult.

Once again, having complete mastery of a language is different from being able to communicate it in well enough to understand others and have them understand you.

Edited July 20, 2009 by DeadPoolX

[JillA 2]

Oh my gosh, I have no words. Sigh, I miss Canada and it's diversity and all that goes along with it.

[Sprailenes 47]

Theres a cheesesteak place in Philly that has a sign on it's window that says: "ORDER IN ENGLISH ONLY!"

and I always see shirts down at the shore for sale that say: "Welcome to America, SPEAK ENGLISH!"

I dunno, that kind of attitude disgusts me. I understand the frustration of language barriers, BUT imagine how someone must feel coming here. They are probably more frustrated and overwhelmed than we are. I mean we deal with it off and on, and for them it's constant.

I heard about that steak place... I would NEVER give them any business! Bunch of bigots

So it's a sign of bigotry when a business expects customers to speak in that country's dominant language? Interesting. I guess every American should learn every other language, so we can better accommodate those who enter the U.S. and refuse to learn themselves.

Are you serious? Do you think it's right and OK to turn away customers if their english isn't 100% proper and cannot order a cheesesteak in perfect English? This cheesesteak shop's owner went on record to say that he wants NO foreigners at his store, only English people. You don't think that's being a bigot, turning away someone that wants a cheesesteak that may speak French or Spanish or Chinese and has a hard time ordering a steak!?

There's a difference between knowing a language perfectly and being able to speak it well enough to communicate. If someone knows English well enough to order food in English, then I can't see there being a problem. The store owners probably don't know Spanish or anything beyond English. So it's unrealistic to expect them to learn a foreign language simply to accommodate those customers who refuse to learn English after coming to the Untied States.

I like how you say they "refuse". Assuming that just because a person can't speak English they are "refusing" to speak it.

It's unrealistic to expect a foreigner to learn perfect English right away. It takes YEARS.

Oh my gosh, I have no words. Sigh, I miss Canada and it's diversity and all that goes along with it.

Moi aussi!

[DeadPoolX 9]

Oh my gosh, I have no words. Sigh, I miss Canada and it's diversity and all that goes along with it.

So in other words... it's okay for people to refuse to learn or even acknowledge English and French and thereby demand that Canadians learn their language instead. Got it, thanks.

[JillA 2]

Oh my gosh, I have no words. Sigh, I miss Canada and it's diversity and all that goes along with it.

So in other words... it's okay for people to refuse to learn or even acknowledge English and French and thereby demand that Canadians learn their language instead. Got it, thanks.

Oh please. I'm not even having a discussion with you as I prefer to discuss with open minded individuals and not ones that are ignorant, sorry.

Edited July 20, 2009 by JillA

[DeadPoolX 9]

It's unrealistic to expect a foreigner to learn perfect English right away. It takes YEARS.

What part of "not needing complete mastery" are you having trouble understanding? The point is that immigrants need to learn the language well enough to communicate effectively. If they can understand English well and get others to understand them when speaking it, then there's no problem.

[Sprailenes 47]

Oh my gosh, I have no words. Sigh, I miss Canada and it's diversity and all that goes along with it.

So in other words... it's okay for people to refuse to learn or even acknowledge English and French and thereby demand that Canadians learn their language instead. Got it, thanks.

You should change your SN to 'brick wall'.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Hey, #######!!! I thought fighting was NOT allowed in the Canada forum.