Why do immigrants need to learn English if the IRS, DMV, Federal Government and companies deal in Spanish?
455231
HAve you noticed this discussion is turning more and more and more aggressive, aren't we here to play a game, to talk about our ideas, and to share information.\nWe don't have the solutions, but believe me, the aggression would create more aggresive environment, wich is not what is needed here!\nI believe the immigrants don't need to learn english but MUST learn english, just as many people in the world learn english to get better oportunities, and - wheter we like it or not - like many people had to learn spanish to make business or get to important positions al over the world.\nRemember, we live now in a globalized world, don't take that apart!
996342
Its a distraction for sure, and it has almost no practical value.  Don't get me wrong, I'm all for it.  And no doubt it has a certain surface appeal to those who don't think it through.  But would it mean no more Spanish language newspapers?  Nope.  No more teaching in native languages in primary grades in school?  Probably not.  Would service workers still need to be able to speak another language?  Probably (in L.A. you can't get a job in a fast food restaurant unless you're bi-lingual -- think about how many people that excludes).\n\nIn fact, it would mostly mean that the government is only required to conduct business in English.  Of course if they want tax returns filed or foreign language criminals convicted the IRS and the courts will be doing business as usually: multilingually.
451833
My Great Grandparents were immigrants but THEY even learned to speak English.  Where I live there are so many immigrants they make a point not to learn English. I feel like an outsider in my own Country.  We need to look at what we're doing, we need to be much, much stricter in our laws and it should be a requirement that the immigrant speaks fluent English.  Enough is Enough.  PS: Report your boss.
551980
This is the USA.   English is the primary language, the second is decided by the country of origin.   No one made the current Hispanic immigrants come to the US.  They came for the opportunities as did people from cultures around the world.  America is made up of hundreds of nationalities so why should the Hispanic culture think they are the primary language.   If they don't like what they "see", then go home to the country they so quickly escaped.
79612
If its used in your job than yes.\nI would guess the spanish speaking people get a benefit because they use spanish more often in speaking with non-english speaking people.
1187912
Because there are some Spanish people. If it automatically went to English it -might- be troublesome.
585
i agree with you; noone should be able to immigrate into this country unless they can first prove some sufficiency in speaking the english laguage. english is rapidly becoming the international laguage of business, so why should we not require everyone here to speak the language in order to interact in our society?
895731
The retailers and companies because they don't want to shut out those who don't know English.  So, they cater to them so that they can communicate.  Same thing on products at the store -- they will sell more if those who only know Spanish can read the labels too.\n\nI don't think it is considered a "second language."  They just want to make everyone happy, including themselves by selling more.
1038405
Yep, Spanish is the new English.\n\nSeriously, though, in many other countries it is expected that everyone is fluent in at least two langagues.  Especially in Europe.  \n\nAs more immigrants come to the US, the English-only speakers will become more and more isolated as the minorities become majorities  This trend is prevalent in Texas, and shows no signs of reversing.  Better that you know more (learn Spanish) and gain the advantage over your competition.
251643
I wish I had an answer for you.  This is a sore subject with me.  You forgot to mention that not only are out schools overcrowded but they are also doing bi-lingual teaching which, if memory serves me correctly, is illegal in CA, and it hinders the learning process for the children who are english speaking only.  How do I know this?  Because my child went to a school where literally most of the teachers only taught in spanish and neglected the english only speaking students and my childs grades and learning abilities went into the toilet along with friends.  I quickly yanked my kid out of that particular school, went into another school district where  the non-english speaking children were taught in a different class for a certain amount of time during the school day so the other children were not distracted by the different language and they did not suffer in their studies.   Oh and let's not forget that it seems like all the stores now have all their signs posted in spanish first and english second, if we are lucky.\n\nOur country seems to do so much for the illegal aliens yet don't do jack crap for the citizens who were either born and raised here or who came to the country legally.\n\nLike I said, it is a sore subject with me so I guess it's time to get off my soapbox.\n\nps:  I highly doubt that California would be crippled economically if there were not illegal immigrant workers (illegal aliens).  The illegals don't pay taxes so the State already suffers.
395194
Because some people are just too lazy to learn that there are another countries where people speaks spanish.\n\nNow, imagine people so lazy that they didn't even learn about the existence of El Salvador. Now, imagine how much they care about what american goverments have made in El Salvador. Now imagine this lazy guys replacing a "salvadoreño" by doing his job after he is expelled from the US for being an illegal.
695631
this sounds like a homework question.  Perhaps, think about it a little for yourself.  Here are a few ideas to ponder:\n\nIn favor:\n(1) It's a cost-saving measure.  With an official language the government needs only print documents in one language, so you don't have to print ballots, bills, notes, etc. 2, 5, 10 times for every possible language under the sun that anyone MIGHT use.\n(2) It encourages assimilation.  We are a VERY diverse country, but what kept our country together (outside of armed military conflict in the 1860s of course) was the fact that when people got here, they learned the language, they learned "American" traditions, and they melded together.  Today, with so many cultures striving for cultural identity, we've become a less cohesive country, which has caused lots of strife. At a minimum, mandating English as an official language will send the signal that all Americans have the responsibility to communicate using the same tongue.\n\nAGAINST:\n(1) It's racist.  Just because English is the language spoken by the Founders of our country doesn't mean it's "official."  Official language makes people feel like second-class citizens, like their identity and culture are not important.  It also marginalizes the large minorities in this country who have not yet learned English.\n(2) It denies people equal access to the government.  There are many LEGAL immigrants and others who have not learned the language.  Making English "official" means that many of them cannot access government services (such as VOTING, social services, knowledge of the government, etc.) because they cannot read or communicate in English.  Such a result is unfair, unreasonable, and is probably violative of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendement, thus unconstitutional.\n\nSo you think about it.
706679
Anyone who looks Hispanic and does not speak English in public is subject to being an illegal.  As far as I am concerned, they have to prove their innocence.  They are rude to not speak English in public.  We live in America.
393301
I agree. I guess we should ALL LEARN SPANISH and forget American History.  Who needs English, we should BEND OVER BACKWARDS FOR LATINO IMMIGRANTS, and IGNORE THE ASIAN IMMIGRANTS WHO BUST THEIR HUMP TRYING TO LEARN ENGLISH. WE SHOULD IGNORE THE HAITIANS WHO COME TO AMERICA AND HAVE TO BUST THEIR HUMP TRYING TO LEARN ENGLISH. WE SHOULD IGNORE THE AFRICAN AND EASTERN EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS WHO COME TO AMERICA AND LEARN THE LANGUAGE. WHY ARE SOME AMERICANS SO STUPID? WHY DO SOME AMERICANS GET OFFENDED WHEN YOU TELL THEM THAT HISPANIC IMMIGRANTS NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH. WHY SHOULD WE BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO HAVE THINGS IN SPANISH IF WE DON'T ACCOMODATE OTHER IMMIGRANTS THAT HAVE COME IN THE PAST AND ARE CURRENTLY COMING FROM OTHER PLACES LEGALLY. TO ME THAT IS VERY, VERY RACIST. WHAT IS SO SPECIAL ABOUT SPANISH? OUR FOUNDING FATHERS SPOKE ENGLISH, OUR CONSTITUTION IS IN ENGLISH, OUR STATE LEGISLATURES AND CONGRESS IS HELD IN ENGLISH, THE PRESIDENT GIVES HIS SPEECHES IN ENGLISH,ETC. IF YOU COME TO AMERICA, LEARN ENGLISH. This directed at TishaTiger,lynda_vosbein,PANCHA,kid_rigo92, and wongmoxy. As for those that said that we should learn a native tongue is missing the point. Why don't the Mexican government speak Nauhautl(the Aztec language)? Why don't Spanish-speaking countries learn the native language of the indigeous people? Because the Spaniards and Spanish-speaking governments see these languages as being INFERIOR to Spanish AND BECAUSE SPANISH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THESE COUNTRIES.IF YOU EXPECT TO IMMIGRATE TO A SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRY LIKE ARGENTINA OR CHILE, IMMIGRANTS ARE EXPECTED TO SPEAK SPANISH. THAT IS FOR ALL OF THE GERMANS, ITALIAN, FRENCH AND EVEN IRISH IMMIGRANTS TO THOSE COUNTRIES. SPANISH COUNTRIES DO NOT HAVE FORMS IN ITALIAN FOR THE ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS, FRENCH FOR THE FRENCH IMMIGRANTS, GERMAN FOR THE GERMAN IMMIGRANTS, OR EVEN GAELIC FOR THE IRISH IMMIGRANTS. IT IS EXPECTED THAT IF THEY WANT TO IMMIGRATE TO THESE SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES, THAT THEY KNOW THE LANGUAGE, SPANISH. WHY SHOULD THE UNITED STATES HOLD OURSELVES TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD THAT SOME OF THESE SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES HOLD THEIR IMMIGRANTS TO?AGAIN, I think that's racist. \n  I know I am rambling on, but the point is if you come to America, learn English, don't expect us to learn your language if the SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES WON'T DO IT FOR THE NATIVES OR FOR THEIR IMMIGRANTS. It is expected that if you want to immigrate that you should learn the language. The US should be no exception to that rule.\n\n I AGREE WITH YOU 100%.
804321
Because this is a diverse country which I think is one of the charms of living in the United States. Our country doesn't have an official language so technically, they can speak whatever they want. It just so happens most of the country speaks English. \n\nAnd most employees can speak at least limited English, although it may be harder to understand. Rather than getting upset about it, take it as an opportunity to help their conversational skills.
763445
Foreignors can legally come to America without knowing English.  But they will get by much easier if they do learn English.
514090
They should pay back taxes because if you are a worker who pays taxes, those taxes that are deducted from your check every time you receive it....those taxes pay for those immigrants & childrens Medical exspenses ( all of it ) it pays for their education ( to have spanish speaking schools cater to them by having teachers who speak only spanish to these kids because they do not know English ) that's $$$ of yours that goes to that, brings down wages and hobs for Americans....they are a burden and need to pay back what they took from you and all of us!!