"Most Americans Don't Like Speaking Spanish."

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Not exactly on topic, but this is "Off Topic", so here goes.

Israel has a very large Russian population. Most of them came in the early 1990s right after the fall of the Soviet Union when they could finally travel freely. There are about 1 million of them in Israel, and there are occassional heated exchanges between Russians and "native" Hebrew speakers who resent the influx of Russian speaking people, signs, radio, newspapers, etc. For the most part they are assimilating though and speak Hebrew, especially the younger ones.

However, enterprising businesses are always looking for opportunities, so they cater to this large demographic with things like dedicated all-Russian cable TV channels (like Telemundo etc. here do for the Latino community).

My last name is Russian in origin, since my grandfather left Russia in the 1920s. I've never been there, don't speak a word other than "da" and "nyet".

But somehow my last name showed up in the cable marketers sights as an obvious Russian. For years living there I was getting regular junk mail entirely in Russian inviting me to subscribe to their Russian TV packages. Needless to say, not being able to read a word, they got tossed out even faster than the regular Hebrew junk mail which at least got glanced at.

why do you hate russians?

[trinket 30]

I just start speaking in Hindi or Bengali whenever some weirdo tries to give me a sermon on GOD at road side or bus stop Works everytime

[scandal 951]

Not exactly on topic, but this is "Off Topic", so here goes.

Israel has a very large Russian population. Most of them came in the early 1990s right after the fall of the Soviet Union when they could finally travel freely. There are about 1 million of them in Israel, and there are occassional heated exchanges between Russians and "native" Hebrew speakers who resent the influx of Russian speaking people, signs, radio, newspapers, etc. For the most part they are assimilating though and speak Hebrew, especially the younger ones.

However, enterprising businesses are always looking for opportunities, so they cater to this large demographic with things like dedicated all-Russian cable TV channels (like Telemundo etc. here do for the Latino community).

My last name is Russian in origin, since my grandfather left Russia in the 1920s. I've never been there, don't speak a word other than "da" and "nyet".

But somehow my last name showed up in the cable marketers sights as an obvious Russian. For years living there I was getting regular junk mail entirely in Russian inviting me to subscribe to their Russian TV packages. Needless to say, not being able to read a word, they got tossed out even faster than the regular Hebrew junk mail which at least got glanced at.

why do you hate russians?

coz they're fvckin commie rat bastards.

And worse - they're not even commies for christ.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

Not exactly on topic, but this is "Off Topic", so here goes.

Israel has a very large Russian population. Most of them came in the early 1990s right after the fall of the Soviet Union when they could finally travel freely. There are about 1 million of them in Israel, and there are occassional heated exchanges between Russians and "native" Hebrew speakers who resent the influx of Russian speaking people, signs, radio, newspapers, etc. For the most part they are assimilating though and speak Hebrew, especially the younger ones.

However, enterprising businesses are always looking for opportunities, so they cater to this large demographic with things like dedicated all-Russian cable TV channels (like Telemundo etc. here do for the Latino community).

My last name is Russian in origin, since my grandfather left Russia in the 1920s. I've never been there, don't speak a word other than "da" and "nyet".

But somehow my last name showed up in the cable marketers sights as an obvious Russian. For years living there I was getting regular junk mail entirely in Russian inviting me to subscribe to their Russian TV packages. Needless to say, not being able to read a word, they got tossed out even faster than the regular Hebrew junk mail which at least got glanced at.

why do you hate russians?

coz they're fvckin commie rat bastards.

And worse - they're not even commies for christ.

[Lisa and Ian 7]

I went to a new barber today - a Latina immigrant who struggled with English. She was amazed that I didn't mind speaking Spanish with her. "Most Americans don't like to hear, let alone speak Spanish!" she told me while she cut my hair. I hear this all of the time.

What are your opinions on this comment?

I personally like Spanish. I took 3 years of it in high school/college. We have Mexican immigrants in our apartment complex, and one little girl (about 3) doesn't speak English at all, so I either find Spanish words to speak to her, or ask her brother to interpret.

I frequently say "hello" by saying "hola" to people at work. This seems to irritate one person in particular, who always has something rude to say when I forget how much he dislikes anything "not English".

I think it's pretty close-minded to shut off all things "not English".

[panamania79 2]

I just start speaking in Hindi or Bengali whenever some weirdo tries to give me a sermon on GOD at road side or bus stop Works everytime

Teach me a few phrases so I can use it on the Jehova's Witnesses who are forever knocking at my door !

I love speaking and hearing Spanish. I especially love that because I'm the super white girl with the reddish hair, no one expects me to understand anything in Spanish

Seriously, I don't have a problem with any other language being spoken around me, not even if people in a store speak it. However, I do have a problem with people living in the US and not making ANY attempt to speak/learn English. Especially if they are WORKING in a store. Call me a racist if you wish, but were I to go to Germany and try to get a job, I would be expected to speak German.

On the same token,I get very annoyed at people like my ex-best friend who are here for 25 friggin' years and refuse to learn English.And if anyone dares to suggest he learn English,he calls them a racist !

i've run into a guy that has been here as long and can't even carry on a conversation in english. 1986 amnesty winner too.......

OMG ! My ex-best friend is an 1986 amnesty winner also.Are we talking about the same dude by any chance ?

not unless he lives in texas.

Nope,he's here in RI.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I'm speak Spanish fluently and take every opportunity to do so. My kids are often mistaken for Hispanics, but only the two oldest speak the language, because we used to live in South America. People do get angry with the younger ones who don't speak it because they assume they should. No one assumes I should, so when i do, there is such a look of surprise tat is so amusing. I remember one time I was at hammam with my MIL, and a Moroccan woman started speaking Spanish. I responded, and we lapsed into a spirited conversation. My MIL's mouth dropped to the floor! It was so funny!

I speak 4 languages everyday at work, and find my English is only getting worse

tu eres muy caliente.

yo se

[Vi Mazzella 4]

Hubby loves it,specially now that we have a baby in the house and he hears me speaking it to her all the time..

[Sofiyya 1,687]

And Sophyyia, where did you get the time to learn 4 languages???? SO jealous!

Don't be jealous I grew up in a polygot family. It's just expected from babyhood. I love to learn more, and have a few I'm passable with.

[Kar98 0]

I went to a new barber today - a Latina immigrant who struggled with English. She was amazed that I didn't mind speaking Spanish with her. "Most Americans don't like to hear, let alone speak Spanish!" she told me while she cut my hair. I hear this all of the time.

What are your opinions on this comment?

I understand Spanish. But why should _I_ be the one struggling with a foreign language if they want something from _me_? If the first words out of somebody's mouth are "Hablammy escargot?', I always reply in German.

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

I think the personal replies here on VJ will be skewed toward not minding as we are all connected to other countries, many where English is not the native language.

I think there are the intolerant folks that believe that only English should be spoken. Kind of crazy and unrealistic in my opinion.

There are situations where it's best to speak primarily in English. For example, my wife is a manicurist and her salon is 100% Vietnamese. Her boss has an English only rule when working on or around customers. The reason is the belief that people are talking about you in a language you don't understand. And it does make some folks uncomfortable. Here is a comedy clip that explains it in a funny way. ->

It makes my wife howl with laughter and her boss used it as an example in a staff meeting.

I try to use my work Spanglish when I am trying to bridge the language gap. Plop me down in a non Englsih speaking country and I am in tough shape. So I admire anyone else who does so. Sometimes that means using sign language and/or asking for help. What's the big deal?

you would be amazed about some members of this forum...

[panamania79 2]

I went to a new barber today - a Latina immigrant who struggled with English. She was amazed that I didn't mind speaking Spanish with her. "Most Americans don't like to hear, let alone speak Spanish!" she told me while she cut my hair. I hear this all of the time.

What are your opinions on this comment?

I understand Spanish. But why should _I_ be the one struggling with a foreign language if they want something from _me_? If the first words out of somebody's mouth are "Hablammy escargot?', I always reply in German.

Escargot is snail in French.

I'm speak Spanish fluently and take every opportunity to do so. My kids are often mistaken for Hispanics, but only the two oldest speak the language, because we used to live in South America. People do get angry with the younger ones who don't speak it because they assume they should. No one assumes I should, so when i do, there is such a look of surprise tat is so amusing. I remember one time I was at hammam with my MIL, and a Moroccan woman started speaking Spanish. I responded, and we lapsed into a spirited conversation. My MIL's mouth dropped to the floor! It was so funny!

I speak 4 languages everyday at work, and find my English is only getting worse

tu eres muy caliente.

yo se

Jamas lo esperaba ................

[msu17 0]

And Sophyyia, where did you get the time to learn 4 languages???? SO jealous!

Don't be jealous I grew up in a polygot family. It's just expected from babyhood. I love to learn more, and have a few I'm passable with.

Oh, my mom is fluent in 3, but we weren't allowed to speak it at home cause my dad thought we were talking about him... Now I have just a few words left of spanish and no french at all She did sit over my crib making the french and spanish r's so at least I have an easier time saying them than most Americans

[Kar98 0]

I went to a new barber today - a Latina immigrant who struggled with English. She was amazed that I didn't mind speaking Spanish with her. "Most Americans don't like to hear, let alone speak Spanish!" she told me while she cut my hair. I hear this all of the time.

What are your opinions on this comment?

I understand Spanish. But why should _I_ be the one struggling with a foreign language if they want something from _me_? If the first words out of somebody's mouth are "Hablammy escargot?', I always reply in German.

Escargot is snail in French.

[merijan 0]

This is a funny topic ( not hahah funny) if you live where I live. Fresno, California where Spanish is spoken everywhere, and many many jobs in business, medical and government require you to be bilingual speaking Spanish.