i wasn't allowed to learn my father's native languag. he said yo live in AMERICA and you will speak ENGLISH. w
339829
He most likely had a such a hard time learning english and fitting in in America, he doesn't want you to have the same problem. Ask your father if you can learn just a few basic words.
259643
I dont even know where to start on this one. I really hope you dont speak english as your main language. \n\nSTANDARD AMERICAN ENGLISH MOTHERF***ER DO YOU SPEAK IT?!
645862
Not a native English speaker.
966635
Oh stop! ...from what I have seen the Irish have never learned to speak English even now. Besides that is part and parcel of any group coming to America, or any other country for that matter. That is why they gather into ghettos like little Havana and little Haiti in Miami or Ybor City in Tampa and what about the China towns in cities all over this this country and Canada. The older immigrants have a real hard time learning a new language. Your ability to learn a new language is greatly diminished after the age of twelve, that was determined in many studies conducted throughout the 20th century. I was In the Air Force  years ago, and my tests indicated I might be able to learn a language and become a translator. The test consisted of spoken sentences which sound like this... "IF IGNATZ WHA BENEY, means she is a nice girl... then what does, "YAHOOLY CO DESPECZENY!" Mean? HUH!!! Needless to say I still speak only English. If I was forced to move to another country for whatever reason, I truly know in my heart I could never learn another language and I would have to hide in a ghetto speaking American English to all the other immigrants who had come to China to find work after the collapse of the Bush Brothers economy. Give it up. These people are not lazy!!!  I would like to see some of your other answerees here spend 12 to 14 hours day in the hot sun picking the tomatoes and other crops these people pick for less then minimum wages, consistantly year after year. You might call them uneducated, and have some meaning, but to call them lazy just points out your own blatant ignorance. Capitalism, as a system, needs a large underpaid working class to function. Our own Middle Class, which consists of nearly everyone but the ultra rich, would never do what these people do. Look what happened to Ford, GM, and Chrysler (before the Germans bought them) when everyone who worked for them became middle class, even if they only swept floors... Bankruptcy. The same will happen to this country as a whole when we throw all 12 million of these "illegal" immigrants out. Oh they do create problems, but so does all population growth. Every American state government knows that new arrivals only pay for 84% of the infrastructure it takes to manage their arrival, even if they are rich Americans. Go Figure...? Besides, Hispanics will be the majority population (51%) in 2051. Then they will vote Spanish in as the only spoken language in America, and you will have to push #2 to hear it in english, and then you will know how hard it is to learn a language (even if it is free) after having spent 12 hours in the fields picking hot peppers for the rich Hispanics who will then be running this country.
54665
I think you should speak the majority language of the country you are in...USA would be English, China would be Chinese, etc...
955545
I GOT YOUR BACK, BRO!\n\nThe peopel who founded this country spoke English, so why can't those who come here from other countries learn to speak OUR language? They sure don't bend over backwards to accommodate us when we visit their countries. Or even if we move there, we have to learn THEIR language if we intend to survive.\n\nThey have TESL classes in our schools (Taking English as a Second Language)...IT SHOULD BE THE FIRST, LAST AND ONLY LANGUAGE...IF you are an American!!!!!!!
495779
I think you are a paranoid and racist dweeb. If you cannot understand the language, then do not assume. Also, do not assume legal status by the language spoken. There are too many examples out there that prove YOU wrong for saying that. Get over your stuck up self.
636074
Ignore it. Some folks think it's not your right to speak your native language because it means they can't understand what you say - even when it's none of their business!\n\nAnother solution would be to abruptly switch into English and say something (indirectly) that will startle them into more appropriate behavior. I've been in the reverse of this situation - people speaking badly about me in Spanish when they don't know I speak it (not fluently, but well enough to make myself understood), but if I say something in Spanish during a pause in the conversation, they'll usually apologize or stop treating me like I'm dumb. \n\nMy suggestion would be to switch into English and say something like "look at that woman's dress, I love that color." That shows that 1) you're not speaking badly about them, 2) you ARE aware that there are other people around you, and 3) you're not stupid (this is an unfortunate but true assumption of many Americans who don't speak Spanish and hear someone else speaking it). It almost always works for me when going in reverse (switching from English to Spanish)!
998223
If you live in this country it should be mandatory to have a least a small grasp on the english language. Yea it pisses me off also but there isn't alot I can do.\nYo I called the IRS a couple of years ago and it was in Spainish! Not even an option for english that time, at least I don't think but who knows they were speaking spainish,lol.  I was livid!!\nUntil I move to another country I don't have to learn ANY other language.
430136
if it isnt your first language, and you live in america, it is important to learn english as your second language because so many every day interactions are in english. many people in this country only speak english, so you would have a tough time if you couldnt speak it-- thats why its better to learn it if you can, to help you function in social interactions.
144829
Where to you get your information?????  Only the older generation immigrant has problems learning a new language (English) but the younger ones eagerly learn it and unfortunately forget their native languages.\n\nYour opinion clearly shows your prejudices.  What is so very sad as can be seen from many posters is that many, many Americans are not able to write in English and needless to say in any other language.\n\nI have lived in many other countries where there are expatriate americans living and they do not speak the local language nor make any attempt to do so.  They are under the idea that everyone, everywhere must speak English (as though they could really understand it)\n\nPlease change your bigoted ideas.  Nearly all immigrants make a greater effort to learn and understand than the anglo-americans do to understand them.
494311
Marifa5970 don't get me your liberal politically correct bullsh*t. It's America, in America you speak English, and if people don't like it get out !!!
1131734
People can speak whatever language they want.  Just don't expect the Americans who speak English to change.  I think it'd be like going to France and forcing them to speak English.
683178
Maybe you should learn to speak, read AND write PROPER ENGLISH, the language spoken in the USA!!!!!!!
988636
spanish not allowed here :)
816020
Great. Find a Fil-Chinese in the Philippines. You learn English more from a Filipino than any other.
489380
I am currently engaged to a Hatian American (born in Haiti rasied here)he speaks both english,french and creaole perfectly. I very much want our kids to speak creole and french as part of their heritage thats what its all about heritage if your siblings dont feel its important that there choice but as a mother take pride and teach your kids the language and history of your country it's something to be proud of not enough people feel that way so make your decision with that in mind.