Should Immigrants to the USA learn English?

[Frisivisia]

It would probably be a good idea for them to, but America shouldn't be about forced assimilation.

[Gallup]

It would probably be a good idea for them to, but America shouldn't be about forced assimilation.

For once, you and I agree!

[Kyuji]

Why does everyone keep using France as the example? They're language snobs, hardly something we should emulate.

How about Québec instead ... the majority are Francophone but it's bilingual by policy.

Language snobs? Well, that's not very nice. Everyone in France learns French, we don't have neighborhoods full of Anglo people only speaking English and living in poverty, do we?

Nope , besides the canadians are bigger language snobs then the french ever will be.

[Pilotto]

It would probably be a good idea for them to, but America shouldn't be about forced assimilation.

Well, when it comes to citizenship, shouldn't we give priority to those that already speak English?

[The Kingdom Of Griffins with Swords]

Another simple question. Should Immigrants to the USA learn English? Should they be forced to take English classes? And who would pay for them?

I think that, yes, immigrants to the US should learn to speak English. That doesn't mean they can't speak their native language. Rather, it means they can better participate in the USA's economy. If you know a county's language, you have a leg up on those who don't. I would also make the classes optional, and paid for by the government.

They should but they shouldn't HAVE to. . .

[Imperializt Russia]

Make it an official language, then we'll talk.
See who gets the Hispanic vote then.

[Frisivisia]

It would probably be a good idea for them to, but America shouldn't be about forced assimilation.

Well, when it comes to citizenship, shouldn't we give priority to those that already speak English?

We shouldn't give priority to anyone, we should let everyone who passes go in in the order they lined up like we do now.

It would probably be a good idea for them to, but America shouldn't be about forced assimilation.

For once, you and I agree!

You can have good ideas!

[Albasta]

English is the official language here, if you want to live in America, learn OUR language if you expect to get anywhere. If no English, no work visa, its common sense.

[Frisivisia]

English is the official language here, if you want to live in America, learn OUR language if you expect to get anywhere. If no English, no work visa, its common sense.

>Wrong.
>In many parts of the US, Spanish is the official language.
>That's not common sense, that's bigotry.

[Islamic Commune]

Anyone migrating to any country should learn the language of that country, at least to be able to communicate with the locals.

[Frisivisia]

Anyone migrating to any country should learn the language of that country, at least to be able to communicate with the locals.

Which is a belief that doesn't apply to the US because we have no official language and the language spoken in an area is largely dependent upon who lives there.

[Pilotto]

Well, when it comes to citizenship, shouldn't we give priority to those that already speak English?

We shouldn't give priority to anyone, we should let everyone who passes go in in the order they lined up like we do now.

Why not? Way more people want to be citizens than we can or will ever accept. So we get to be picky when deciding who we want to allow to acquire citizenship. We want the most qualified people possible to become citizens, and a huge part of that is knowing how to speak English.

[Big Jim P]

We shouldn't give priority to anyone, we should let everyone who passes go in in the order they lined up like we do now.

Why not? Way more people want to be citizens than we can or will ever accept. So we get to be picky when deciding who we want to allow to acquire citizenship. We want the most qualified people possible to become citizens, and a huge part of that is knowing how to speak English.

Indeed. We are the elite.

[Rosov]

For the sake of avoiding a clusterfuck, I think they should have to take English classes enough to be able to carry on some sort of relevant conversation.

[Costa Leon]

Should immigrants to the US learn English. I, being an immigrant, must agree with the op. The main language of the US is English. You'd have a better life speaking the language that the rest of the people in your current nation of residence speak. It's just the smartest thing to do, and not just in the US, anywhere. )

IMO you can get by here by just speaking Spanish if you live in certain areas. Yes, English makes your life better, but it's not necessary to have a life here.

Exactly, learning the main or official language of your place of residence will undoubtedly make life easier. You can, for the most part, live in some places without knowing much English, mostly relying on Spanish. One such place, I think, is Miami. After all, it's called the "capital of Latin America"

[Islamic Commune]

Which is a belief that doesn't apply to the US because we have no official language and the language spoken in an area is largely dependent upon who lives there.

The obvious truth is that those who can speak a language that the majority of people in a country can speak is at a higher advantage that those who cannot.

Imagine if you went to a country that has absolutely minimal speakers of your language. You're going to struggle with absolutely everything, from finding a job to socializing to paying taxes to even trying to buy things at a store.

For a while, you are absolutely useless in that country, or at least incredibly inefficient, because you cannot communicate with anyone. Of course, with enough interaction you will learn that language, but someone who already knows the language can get started right away, and become efficient almost as soon as they enter the country. If you had two practically identical people, but one spoke the language of the locals and the other didn't, which would you prefer?

Think of it in smaller terms. Imagine renting your house away to a family that does not speak the majority language. You are definitely going to have problems trying to communicate with them in regards to the renting terms. Why would you do that to yourself when you can just rent your house to someone you can easily communicate with?

Should immigrants to the USA learn English? The better question is, "Is it in their best interest for immigrants to the USA to learn English?" And that answer is yes, yes indeed.

[Gallup]

English is the official language here, if you want to live in America, learn OUR language if you expect to get anywhere. If no English, no work visa, its common sense.

>Wrong.
>In many parts of the US, Spanish is the official language.
>That's not common sense, that's bigotry.

De Facto, there is no official.

[AiliailiA]

Why not? Way more people want to be citizens than we can or will ever accept. So we get to be picky when deciding who we want to allow to acquire citizenship. We want the most qualified people possible to become citizens, and a huge part of that is knowing how to speak English.

Indeed. We are the elite.

Well part of the elite. Scandinavia and the Gulf States are comparable.

[Pilotto]

Why not? Way more people want to be citizens than we can or will ever accept. So we get to be picky when deciding who we want to allow to acquire citizenship. We want the most qualified people possible to become citizens, and a huge part of that is knowing how to speak English.

Indeed. We are the elite.

Hell ya!

[Soviet Russia Republic]

Another simple question. Should Immigrants to the USA learn English? Should they be forced to take English classes? And who would pay for them?

I think that, yes, immigrants to the US should learn to speak English. That doesn't mean they can't speak their native language. Rather, it means they can better participate in the USA's economy. If you know a county's language, you have a leg up on those who don't. I would also make the classes optional, and paid for by the government.

They should, it would be beneficial for them to do so. I would also agree that the government offer classes free for immigrants...at the very least for the one that could not afford to learn English otherwise.

[Chaunceys]

Don't the have to take a test in English to be able to come into the US legally?

[Costa Leon]

Don't the have to take a test in English to be able to come into the US legally?

that would seriously hurt tourism I think

[AiliailiA]

Indeed. We are the elite.

Hell ya!

8th richest, according to the CIA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co ... per_capita

Or perhaps you'd prefer the International Monetary Fund ranking ...

English is the official language here, if you want to live in America, learn OUR language if you expect to get anywhere. If no English, no work visa, its common sense.

To judge by your grammar, half the population of India could take your job.

[Chaunceys]

Don't the have to take a test in English to be able to come into the US legally?

that would seriously hurt tourism I think

I don't mean tourists I mean people who want to come and live here

[Ifreann]

Why not? Way more people want to be citizens than we can or will ever accept. So we get to be picky when deciding who we want to allow to acquire citizenship. We want the most qualified people possible to become citizens, and a huge part of that is knowing how to speak English.

Indeed. We are the elite.

It's rude to masturbate in public.