Do you think learning spanish here in the United States should be a necessity?
By sweetjeanie
@sweetjeanie (121)
United States
July 2, 2008 6:44am CST
To me, I do not think that we should have to learn Spanish to keep our job that we had before our bosses or company head office demanded it. My opinion on the subject is this, i live in America and i'm proud where i live. Where I live has always been English. And therefore i do not think we should have to learn Spanish just because people from Mexico are coming here to live and work. That is their choice. But if I was to go to Mexico and live and work, should they be demanded to learn my language? No. If i choose to go there, then i should have to learn their language, not the other way around. Therefore, I feel that jobs here in the states that require us to know Spanish just to be hired is wrong, and I think it is discriminating. What do you think? Everyone's opinions count. There is no right or wrong answer/opinion.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@fpd1955 (2074)
• United States
2 Jul 08
This is a very sore point with me. When looking for a job, I found several I was qualified for in every way except one. I don't speak fluent Spanish!! It's bullsh** that we have to know a foreign language to get a job in an English speaking country!! This country is catering to spanish speaking foreigners, and only spanish speaking foreigners!! There are many other people in this country that speak foreign languages,, Russians, Germans, Poles, French, Italian, etc.,etc.,etc. I have never seen a job posting requiring that those languages need to be spoken in order to attain the job!
It is my opinion that if someone wants to live in this country they should learn freaking English!!!!! After all, how many spanish speaking people have jobs and they don't speak nor understand English. How is that fair???!!!
PEACE
1 person likes this
@sweetjeanie (121)
• United States
2 Jul 08
That right there, says it all. I do not know if I could have said it better myself. Thank you.
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
10 Jul 08
I think you are looking at it from the wrong perspective. If you were required to know HTML for a job would that aslo be wrong? Hyper Text Markup Language is just that. A language.
However I do feel that English must also be used to get the job. If someone who lives here can not speak English, they need to be taking classes or learning the language.
I have lived in and been around the United States. I have seen many job listings for different languages. One in particular was German. It was a job in Florida to cater to German tourists. Therefore it was a legitimate prerequisite for the job.
@ctrymuziklvr (11057)
• United States
2 Jul 08
I don't believe it should be in fact I think it's a horrible thing that it's come to this but it's come down to we almost have to learn Spanish in the US since it's practically a necessity.
1 person likes this
@sweetjeanie (121)
• United States
2 Jul 08
the problem is, I feel it shouldn't have to be a necessity. But like you said, it has gotten to a point to where it basicly is. And it is wrong. But the way i see it is if someone gets fired because they don't know spanish and won't learn it, then it is discriminating against the american worker.
@mynameismine (771)
• United States
10 Jul 08
No I don't. They came here, we didn't go there, when are they going to figure it out.
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
10 Jul 08
As a business owner speaking, English is a requirement for employment. I don't think it is wrong to require someone to also speak Spanish for a job. It is a skill. Just like knowing how to use a specific program.
However people immigrating to this country should have to learn English. If I went to Mexico to live I would learn Spanish. It is ignorant as well as disrespectful to move to a country and not learn the language.
@sweetjeanie (121)
• United States
10 Jul 08
I can see your point, but is it right for one to lose their job ,after having it for so many years, due to not wanting to learn the spanish language? I myself do not think it is right. All it is telling us to do is to accommodate to the spanish. I am sorry, but I am not living in mexico, i live in the United States. I was born and raised here and I have always spoke english. I have hispanics in my family and i love them dearly and i also have major respect for them because of the fact they chose to learn our language here. Instead of choosing not to and have that way of thinking to where they think we should learn theirs and accommodate to them. They knew they came here because they wanted the freedom of our country and were willing to live by our rules as a country. Therefore, i feel they have every right to be here just like everyone else who is here legally. I am not against people from mexico being here and living here, but i want them to treat us with the same respect as we would them if we were over there. And thank you for your opinion. It is always welcomed..have a good day.
@travibabiesgirl (1690)
• United States
2 Jul 08
I agree that this is the United States of America and to live here should mean that we should only be required to speak English because that is our language . All other languages are optional. I do not think it is right for all other nationalities to come here and expect us to learn their language. I do not think it is right for our work places to fire us or not hire us based on the fact we do not speak these other languages. I am however encouraging my children to learn as much Spanish as they can in school. I know that they can make more money if they can translate in the work force. I don't ever see them not needing to know how to speak it. I also think there is a few other languages they should learn as well but Spanish is almost a must now a days.
1 person likes this
