Why do immigrants come here and not learn english?
477032
It Is ONE OF The Requirements For American Citizenship That You Must Learn The ENGLISH LANGUAGE\n\nAnd The TRUTH Is That MANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DO NOT WANT TO BECOME CITIZENS\nMANY Would Rather LEECH Off The US TAXPAYERS- A Majority Of ILLEGAL ALIENS Live And Work In This Country And Then Send Their Money Back Home To Their Families (Whatever Nation Their Families Live In) Therefore DRAINING The Economy Even Further. \nWhen The US Dollar Leaves The US... Its GONE From The American Economy.\n*****************************\n\nPosted by The Watchdog - April 6th, 2006 \nDavid M. Bresnahan\nApril 1, 2006\nNewsWithViews.com \n\nDear President Bush: \n\nI’m about to plan a little trip with my family and extended family, and I would like\n to ask you to assist me. I’m going to walk across the border from the U.S. into Mexico,\n and I need to make a few arrangements. I know you can help with this. \n\nI plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws.\n I’m sure they handle those things the same way you do here. \n\nSo, would you mind telling your buddy, President Vicente Fox, that I’m on my way over?\n Please let him know that I will be expecting the following: \n\n1. Free medical care for my entire family.\n2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.\n3. All government forms need to be printed in English.\n4. I want my kids to be taught by English-speaking teachers.\n5. Schools need to include classes on American culture and history.\n6. I want my kids to see the American flag flying on the top of the flag pole at their school with the Mexican flag flying lower down.\n7. Please plan to feed my kids at school for both breakfast and lunch.\n8. I will need a local Mexican driver’s license so I can get easy access to government services.\n9. I do not plan to have any car insurance, and I won’t make any effort to learn local traffic laws.\n10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from Pres. Fox to leave me alone, please be sure that all police officers speak English.\n11. I plan to fly the U.S. flag from my house top, put flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.\n12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, and don’t enforce any labor laws or tax laws.\n13. Please tell all the people in the country to be extremely nice and never say a critical word about me, or about the strain I might place on the economy. \n\nI know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all the people who come to the U.S. from Mexico. I am sure that Pres. Fox won’t mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely. \n\nThank you so much for your kind help. \n\nSincerely, \n\nDavid M. Bresnahan\n\nPosted in Border crossing, Pro-Illegal Groups, Mexico
891831
For illegals I suppose it is very stressful living as a criminal in hiding in a country where you don't know the language.  \n\nSimple relief... go back to your own country before we catch you!\n\nFor legal immigrants it would be stressful trying to learn a new language and adopting a new culture.\n\nNeither group gets any stress from low paying hard jobs as that is what they came here for., to do the jobs that no one wants.  That's what they tell us all the time anyway.
1127405
Part of the issue is ignorance, another part is ego-centrism.  People seem to always assume when they hear two people talking in another language that the speakers must be somehow talking about the non-speakers.\n\nAnother part is that many people here feel put off  and less 'superior' if there are people speaking other languages around them.  I speak three languages other than English.  I am a LEGAL immigrant.  I take every chance to speak any of my languages as a chance to share, develop and practice skills.\n\nIt also gives me an understanding of how people think from other cultures.  If you refuse to learn other languages/deal with non-English speakers, you limit yourself.\n\nEnglish, for the most part will always be 'under attack' and will also always be the common language in the US.  As new groups come here from other countries (not just South America and the Carribean) those languages will be heard as well.  Give the current group of immigrants two generations and let's see how many still can't speak English.
668240
I agree with the three first question, QuestionWyrm  - gave you a great answer.\n\nThis must be because of the quantity of people with whom you (Americans) make business. \n\nSpanish is the fourth language in the world in terms of numbers of speakers ,over 330 million. While other sources list it as the second or third most spoken language. \n\nhttp://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApkLGf3tU7WA4seOsS0ljaLsy6IX?qid=1006051010802\n\nThose are the reasons, that's all, it has nothing to do with anybody trying to be more important or even trying to steal your country, life or anything like that.\n\nOn the other hand, i agree with you that immigrants should learn english, as long as they want to get better oportunities. And i'm sure many of the immigrants are aware of this situation, and they are learning english, i can bet on it!!!
663583
The U.S. government hasn't really had an issue with immigrants not knowing English.  This is more of an issue for a few stray politicians who are trying to make themselves visible, or who are supposedly representing a constituency who cares about this issue because it's an obvious way of pointing out "foreigners."\n\nThe U.S. government is (supposedly) more concerned about ... well ... I don't know what.  Jobs?  The government has encouraged companies to send jobs overseas for years.  Crime?  Per capita, more crimes are committed by U.S. citizens than illegal immigrants.  Population?  The government has never cited this as an issue.\n\nThe whole "illegal immigrant" thing is a way for the Republicans to distract attention from the fact that they are failing miserably in the things that are important ... the economy, the deficit, homeland security, health care, education, the environment ... the list goes on.\n\nWhenever a politician tells you that your problem comes from someone from another racial/social/ethnic group who, like you, is just trying to make a living, beware.  Most likely, that politician is trying to get you worked up over something that is a distraction from a real problem that that politician is unable to solve.
721151
I think it's a combination of the fact that they don't know the language and because they are different (physical, cultural, etc.) from citizens.
651861
No I just want them to know if they live in a place that's speaks a different language they need to learn to speak it too. and not expect us to learn Spanish because they can't speak English
27766
Well, since unlike the immigrants who come here from countries such as Germany, Poland, Hungary, etc, Spanish people are not required to learn English (I guess we really are not created equal, since some groups of people can learn the language and others just are not smart enough)I guess it helps those of us born here, since we have to cater to them.
526191
Well most ppl who are immigrating here are not following this law...my suggestion is to follow the law and want to be here and become american...if you dont want to be american dont come here...for those that will argue that southamerica is america...well dont come here then if you dont want to assimilate into OUR culture which means trying your best to learn the language...language is key to assimilaton...there are free classes at all the public schools so there is no excuse...i know its hard to learn another language but if you want to be "american" thats your best bet at being one...everything else will all fall into place if it is in ur heart.
779486
That's because our government has catered to them. Instead of following the laws that state they have to learn English. My feelings are if you live in a country learn the language. But our government gives them to many incentives to not learn our language.
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.
411901
I completely agree with you on everything!  My grandparents had to learn English when they came here, so did all the other immigrants that came at the time they did.  So why shouldn't the Spanish speaking immigrants have to learn it?  Are they too stupid?  Or too arrogant?  Maybe someone else is happy to have their taxes go to some lady that waddled across the border, had her baby here, and now collects welfare "for the baby" but I am not.  I say if they want to be here, go through the legal process, learn the language, and get a job and pay taxes like the rest of us.\n\nAnd oh yeah - while you like in the US, you fly the US flag.  That's another thing - they claim they are so oppressed where they are from, yet they want to wave the flag of where they re from and be "loyal" to where they came from - well they should be loyal to the country that gives them the things their own country won't!
1020962
See the problem here is you should be asking why illegal immigrants are allowed to be here? Yes a lot of our ancestors were immagrants, but this is now... Why are there illegal immagrant children in US schools expecially if they can't speek english well, how much can they learn like that? But ultimantly you can blame the politicians they always promise better education until they're elected then it gets pushed to the side.
670986
Yeah, boy those illegal English aliens are takin' over the country and they don't even try to learn Gaelic.  I bet they'll want free medical care and education (in English, no less).
417337
After 9-11, there was talk of making immigration alot more strict.  Now this country's strength comes from the talent of people from other countries.  Let us not forget that.  We have a history of inventions by citizens who were born else where.  Einstein was German by birth.  The inventor of the helicoptor, foreign born.  So when we say no more immigrants, remember that the great talent of the last century were immigrants.  But illigal immigration is against the law.  POUNT BLANK\n\n\nI seems that Mexicans and those of spanish origin have enjoyed a so called, favorite immigrant status.  They climb a fence, cross a desert and they are Americans.  wE HAVE TURNED THE OTHER CHEEK.  Now is time to unturn that cheek. This is American.  immigrants from outside of the Americas have come here amd learned english.  So, Why should the spanish speaking immigrants be given special treatment and have businesses cater to them, signs in english and spanish, tv stations of spanish language??  Are hispanics that dumb that they cannot learn english.  History has proven that this country is a country of immigrants.  But englsih has become their first language. not spanish..\nThank you!!
1071902
I agree with you.  Three of my grandparents were born in Europe...two in non-English speaking countries..  My mother's parents both learned to speak English.  My mother never learned how to speak their languages...German and Swedish.  \n\nYou asked, "If you love your native country so much, then why did you leave?"  To that I would add a second question...."Why don't you go back?"
440202
In the Toronto, Ontario area immigrants cacoon themselves in ghettos wherein they may operate in their foreign language, practice their culture and never become part of the Canadian mainstream.  And when they retire they take their money and "go home" to live well.  If they don't "go home" whilst they're alive, they do when they're dead.