I live in the Us - Should I have to learn Spanish to adapt to changes?

Wow! What a rude woman! I think that everybody should be able to speak the official language of the country in which they are living and working. That way there is a country wide means of communication. While not essential, I do think it beneficial for people to learn a second language. To me a language isn't just words - it's a means of understanding a culture and a people. I think learning a language other than your own teaches tolerance and acceptance. Unfortunately this theory of mine seems to have been somewhat disproved by the woman you encountered!

I know many people will disagree with what I'm about to say but on the other hand I know many people feel the same way! I live in the United States of America, there is no national language but the predominant language that is spoken here and has been spoken here since the 13 colonies were formed has been English. If you want to live here you NEED to learn English. You can't just assume that everyone is going to adapt to YOUR needs because you are too lazy to learn English. I can NOT stand when I call my cable company, or my phone company and I need to press 1 for English. I should not even have to be faced with pressing a button just to speak to an English operator. I agree with what you said, I think it's great that we have people from so many different cultures and countries living here and they bring all their differences here and make the United States what it is but honestly. Do you see Americans moving to France or China or Italy and expecting everyone around them to adapt to THEM and learn English to speak to them? Nope you don't see that at all. So I don't see who sooooo many Spanish speaking people think that WE need to adapt to THEM. I'm not trying to be mean and disrespectful or racist, I am just offering up my opinion. :o) You can take it or leave it, it doesn't effect me in any way if you disagree with me.

No you should not have to learn any other language. It is a benefit to know a second language but is should not be a mandatory thing. If we are to relocate to another country we are expected to learn their language and customs, the way they are suppose to do the same when they relocate to the USA.

check on You tube, in the search, put: press 1 for english (song, husband/wife team, singing.).. that's just about says what I feel. this is the USA! I was born here, I was raised here... and I'll die here. I'll be d** if somebody gonna tell me to learn another language just so I can understand them in MY country. our ancestors had to learn English when they got here... the people can now, when they get here. .... ok, off my soap-box now.

Well im sorry but in my opinion is that this is the US and believe that people who come here should learn english.

I think its a bunch of BS, this is america, if we go to another country we have to learn there languages. I think if someone comes her from another country they should have to learn english, we shouldn't have to learn theres to help them. I think its absolutly crazy how many companies only hire english and spanish speaking people, whats wrong with this county. If you can't speak it why should you be able to live it.

I have read some of the comments and it amazes me that someone that has never been here can talk so harsh about America. Im sorry I dont think that you should have to learn another language and no other American should have to either. They are coming here so I really feel they should learn English and adapt to where they are living. I hate having to push 1 for English! I hate more when I call and get someone that doesnt really talk English and Im trying to either pay a bill or something. I have gotten to the point that I ask for someone that talks ENGLISH!

I have lived in the United States all my life as well and I DONT think we should have to learn another language,I think anyone who comes here should be required to learn and speak English. I am not racist or prejudice either,I think that lady was very rude to you and seems like she is the prejudice one I believe I would have had to tell her what I thought about her yelling in English. I believe that the american people will one day be the miniorites in our own country.You have a great night.

I think the same thing applies for people from all the nationalities. Well, you haven't been to my country maybe but many english speaking people complain if someone who interacts with them doesn't speak that language. However, I am living in Turkey and the primary (and the only) language of Turkey is Turkish. But in the other hand they are right because if you are someone who has to interact with other people then you should speak English. Well, they won't complain much about french,itallian or others because the most commonly used foreign language is english. I don't know what sector you are working in but some sectors especially service sectors (I mean restourants,hotels etc.) really need to have some workers who speak the secondary language. It is why there are thousands of companies here are looking for workers who speak english,so I wouldn't find it very strange if some companies out had the condition to speak spanish and some customers to expect spanish speaking workers. The thing applies for spain too. There are many people who can speak english there but most of them won't answer you if you ask them something in english. it is because of their national emotions and something usual...

I may be in the minority when I say this but here is my take. America is a melting pot of cultures and people, but the primary language here is English. I never learned spanish because it wasn't necessary for me to do so, and I still do not think it is NECESSARY for me to do so. Being bilingual is something good, it gives you an advantage, but it is not a requirement. I do not want the borders between here and Mexico to be eliminated, there have been enough problems with people jumping the border for DECADES, what would be the point of making that legal? We already experience problems from being overloaded with immigrants as it is, coming here for 'a better life'. After awhile, there is not going to be any better life for anybody because there are too many people and not enough resources to provide for the influx. Uneducated?! There is no law that says AMERICANS have to learn another language. If we are living in *our* country where our official language should be english, what is the point? If I moved to another country, I would learn THEIR primary language. People need to consider that when they move HERE. I'm not sorry for my opinion about this, I am not going to cater to people who want to come here and make this mexico the second. That is not how it is and that is not how it should be. The nerve of that lady, screaming at you in ENGLISH that she wanted someone to speak with in spanish! People should have a choice whether they want to stick within their own culture or not - BUT - if you move to another country with another culture, then you damn right ought to learn about it and fit in. If you don't want to do that, you have no business moving to another country. If you go somewhere else and demand people cater to YOU, that is disrespectful and wrong and offensive to the citizens of that country. I wish that there was a requirement that in order to move here, you had to learn english. I think it may be that way in Australia or even Canada. I would not dream of moving to Mexico if I did not speak decent spanish! How unfair it would be for me to expect THEM to speak english if I were in THEIR country!

My thoughts are that you should learn spanish if that is what you wish. I am not sure what the woman's problem was bur but a lot of companies have spanish help hot lines, and even if they did not that does not justify being rude to anyone on the phone.

For me as an european citizen it is hard to understand why the american people think it is special to learn another language. We have to learn english and later in school we have to learn a third language, for me it was french. Some choose latin or danish, spanish, now a days chinese or russian. Believe me the fact that english talking people are only able to talk english is special not the other way round. You are the only that always come a long with your mother-tongue. Don`t see it as a burden, see it as a chance. :)

the us has no official language but not y learn spanish?

Ok...so the question is is it necessary to learn spanish to adapt in the united states? Yes. Absolutely. Being bilingual is definitely going to be to your advantage. I myself have been learning spanish for the past 5 years and knowing the little that I know puts me that much more ahead of people that speak only one language. The United States is a world power and the underdeveloped countries that are in less fortunate circumstances come to our country in hopes of making a better life for themselves and their families("living the american dream"). Besides which when you are in a country where immigration is so rampant, it would benefit you or anyone for that matter to learn their language.

I don't think it should be mandatory to learn it. If we go to other countries we are expected to learn enough to get by and get what we need, whether that is just enough or completely fluent. These people are coming here not to make this their home but to take what they can take from our country and then leave. My husband who lost his job to illegals was told over and over again how they (the illegals) hate this country and how they don't respect anyone here, yet they want everything they see in front of them for free (and are getting it). The idea of them taking jobs that American's don't want is a bunch of bull****. They took my husband's job of over 20 years and they took over the factory that I work at myself, we wanted those job but they came and took them with cutthroat wages and illegal manipulation of the system by finding people who are just as corrupt as them. In my opinion they need to be rounded up and sent back over the boarder, build the fence above and below and secure it tight. If you want to come here, come the right way, if not stay out. But don't expect me to bend over backwards to accommodate you when you come here for the sole purpose of inconveniencing me. My ancestors came through Ellis Island and went though all the changes that were needed to become an American so what is their excuse other than being too lazy to do the same. They are cheating the ones who come here legitimately and go through all the proper channels, including learning English, so why should anyone give them a break and learn their language to make it that much easier for them. If I choose to learn another language it will be because there is someone that I respect enough to learn it for. I don't respect criminals esp., ones that take the food out of my childrens' mouths. Don't get me wrong I understand the desperation of their countries but wrong is wrong, not matter how you look at it.

Oh, I would love to learn Spanish! I actually learned a bit of it by myself. I don't think there's any harm in learning other people's languages. It's good that you also learn their language in order for you to be able to communicate with them as well. Not all of us have the same language, so I think it's also good if you allow yourself to adjust to their own language and be able to adapt as well. But if you have no interests in learning their language, then atleast show that you respect theirs even if you don't intend to actually learn it.

When I was young, second graders in my elementary school became part of a study and we had to learn French. We had to take it until 7th grade, then we could continue with French or choose German or Latin. I took French from 2nd until part way through 12th grade. By then, not only was I reading entire novels in French, but I really did read them in French (as opposed to reading them in French and automatically translating it in my head). I wish now that I had continued learning and speaking it. The only thing I remember is a poem I had to learn in 11th grade. Back then, everyone had to take some kind of language. We had to have at least 2 years of a foreign language for college. I know that it helped us with our own English language to study another one. But I don't think everyone should rush out and learn Spanish. Spanish speaking people who have come here legally usually try to learn English, or at least make sure their children speak English. It's the illegals who seem to think that they don't have do that. Learning another language is a good idea for everyone, I think. But I think if I were young, I'd probably try learning sign language and Chinese. There are many who think that we'll be taken over by the Chinese one day and it might be good to know.

I think what she did was really wrong. I think you not being able to speak Spanish shouldn't be a big deal for her since you are living in a place where it is not the main language. Since I'm a European languages major I studied Spanish and French not to make others feel that they are discriminated but rather to communicate with others who know this language as well and to teach it to those who don't know it

I do not think that you should have to learn Spanish. I think that it is ridiculous what is happening. Why can't they just learn English? I've had the exact same thing happen to me. People getting mad at me cuz I don't speak spanish. It makes me so mad. I'm getting so frustrated just thinking about this BS, so I'm just going to stop typing.

Many years ago I turned down a job offer because I refused to learn Spanish. After living in Texas for a while, I can and have picked up a few words in Spanish but do not care to learn it. I stand firm on my belief that any newcomer to America should have to speak English and take drivers liscense courses in English. America is being bout out by foreigners as we speak. No, speak English and speak it LOUDER!