What's new

English Only?

Should One Be Required to Speak the Language of the Country One Wishes To Live In?

  • Yes

    Votes: 45 78.9%
  • No

    Votes: 12 21.1%

  • Total voters
    57
A person must struggle really hard not to learn the language of the country he is living in. I mean, honestly, is it not hard? I know there are people who manage to accomplish it somehow, but say, after living in that country for 10 years, I wonder how they do it. And this ain't a matter of talent or whatever.


In America people do it all the time. They live with people who speak the same language, they work with people who speak the same language and they shop in stores who speak the same language.
 
I concur with veg, Derfel. People live in "gaijin bubbles" in Japan all the time. Think of English teachers, for example. Many have to use English-only in the classroom, and when they try using Japanese with their J co-workers, they often find themselves getting English back because even the teachers want practice!
 
It's isn't hard to learn a language, it's only the mood and the courage to do so. Many people always make troubles to fit themselves in the local language. And I don't understand some people for example: A belgian guy wanted to live in Spain so he immigrates to Spain and once he is there he want to build a house etc... but the problem is this guy doesn't know anything about Spain nor the Spanish language, then I ask myself sometimes why are people immigrating to another country while they don't know anything about it?:eek:
So in short terms: If you are going somewhere try to learn the language at least, not because you wanna communicate but do it also for yourself.
What difference does it make if you know 1 or several languages? It's always useful for in the future.

:)
 
If you wanna live in the country peacefully and not just drifting with absolutely no clue as to what the people around you are talking about, learn the language. That'll get you somewhere.
 
To me, it isn't that English would mean to be a languague monopoly in the world, but a common language that makes things easier to dial with anything all over the world.
What gives to be English, Japanese, Zulu, Esperanto...? The thing is to have a common languague no matter which one.
It could have been other instead of English, but History made it to be English, because the most industrialized country in the world speak it. Well, what gives one or another?
Thanks to English we can talk to almost everybody in the world!! while learning other languagues if you want to.
 
Keep hearing this talk of 'it's not that hard,' and 'if you want to...'. We're talking about desire here, the motivation to do something. If someone comes up with an incredibly effective way to change motivations, they'll could get filthy rich that way. How many people have a list of 'should dos' that they just can't do, such as lose weight, quit smoking, learn a language.

I don't think there's a one way that would work for everyone. We're all a mass of DNA instilled desires and subconscious associations, and they're all different messes of wiring.
 
Slightly off-topic, but I think that people working for call centres for UK-based companies and/or those where the majority of callers are native English-speakers, should have a requirement to have English language to a certain standard. People may have a good theoretical knowledge of the language but on the phone accent is very important and can make it really difficult to understand someone! I wouldn't expect to be able to get a job working for a call centre where the majority of callers were from Russia, for example, until I had attained a really good standard of pronunciation, very clear. Why can't that be the same for most companies?! :angryfire:
 
Same here in the US Kinsao (BTW ltns). When one calls any customer service whether it be for a major corporation or even for local city and government services we usually get someone in India who claims his name is "Sam", but his English is terrible making for a very frustrated call especially when he reads from a set script. "Yes! I have unplugged my device and reset it!" etc. I have completely given up on these calls and hang up and keep dialing until I get a US call center. If they are paying for the call, I'll dial 20 times if need be.

How long will it be before the Chinese and Koreans learn Japanese well enough that all customer service calls will be routed through China or Korea? Hmmmm. Just a thought.
 
Slightly off-topic, but I think that people working for call centres for UK-based companies and/or those where the majority of callers are native English-speakers, should have a requirement to have English language to a certain standard. People may have a good theoretical knowledge of the language but on the phone accent is very important and can make it really difficult to understand someone! I wouldn't expect to be able to get a job working for a call centre where the majority of callers were from Russia, for example, until I had attained a really good standard of pronunciation, very clear. Why can't that be the same for most companies?! :angryfire:

Just to make sure, I am not objecting to the poor quality of customer service described above.

I'm just curious about what you meant by the term pronunciation and the term native English-speakers. Technically, the definition of "native speaker" does not specify which dialect one speaks. As long as the person's first language or dominant language is English, the accent should not be questioned.

When it comes to the issue of accent, I believe they are lots of native speakers with non-standard accents even among American workers at call centers (Sorry, I'm not familiar with the situation in the UK). And this rarely causes trouble. Most of the communication difficulty with non-native speakers must be caused by poor grammar not by poor pronunciation. Native speakers might point out the issue of accent first, because it is the most noticeable feature, but I don't think it is a healthy attitude to spontaneously connect a heavy accent with a poor command of the language. Emotionally difficult, but these two should be separated.
 
It would impress the people of the country if you could speak alittle of their language. It would make life easier.

In the United States, we have had one language for everyone to speak. Spanish was never the language of our country until the illegals aliens came in, but that is other thing to talk about.
 
It would impress the people of the country if you could speak alittle of their language. It would make life easier.
In the United States, we have had one language for everyone to speak. Spanish was never the language of our country until the illegals aliens came in, but that is other thing to talk about.

Technically, that is not true. It is almost like Japanese politicians saying Japan is a homogeneous country without minorities. What about languages spoken by native Americans? German was spoken in certain areas (e.g. Pennsylvania Dutch). French was spoken in Louisiana (e.g. Cajun French). Various pidgins were spoken by slaves taken from Africa. What is more, speakers of these languages were/are not illegal aliens.
 
In the United States, we have had one language for everyone to speak. Spanish was never the language of our country until the illegals aliens came in, but that is other thing to talk about.
You couldn't be more wrong. What language do you think the pre-Mexicans were speaking when they lived here before the Pilgrims landed? Swedish?

What languages do you think the Native Americans spoke, too? Swahili?

How many languages do you think were spoken throughout the country for decades, as settlers came from nearly every country in the world?

English is not even the official language of the U.S., or didn't you know that? In fact only 60% of the states have made English an official language.
http://www.proenglish.org/issues/offeng/states.html

Study harder in HS next time. Meanwhile, chew on this for a while.
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JWCRAWFORD/question.htm
 
We have a similar rule here in Australia that if you wish to live here as a permanent resident you have to take an english test and an Australia test, about Australian history and culture. If you fail either, you will be denied.

I think it's because alot of people have started to dislike the amount of immigrants that come to our country and remain in their own societal groups, and never branch out into mainstream society. I think many australians think that if we let too many people in, our customs and culture will vanish. I don't agree with this, but luckily my husband passed the english test, and he got a visa before the australia test was brought in by the government. Some of those questions on the australia test i think some Aussies would have a hard time with!

I didn't know you could live in japan without speaking the language. I personally would find it hard to not know the language of the country i live in because i want to be involved, and i want to be able to navigate my way around without carrying an electronic dictionary or guidebook, but that's just me. :)
 
Navigation in bigger cities doesn't require those things. Lots of English on signs & public transport.
 
Should One Be Required to Speak the Language of the Country One Wishes To Live In?

Of course! What kind of a question is that. If you want to speak your native language you either speak it with your family at home, or go back to your native country. Easy as that.
 
Should One Be Required to Speak the Language of the Country One Wishes To Live In?

Of course! What kind of a question is that. If you want to speak your native language you either speak it with your family at home, or go back to your native country. Easy as that.

It's easy for us who are fortunate to move around the world according to our intention. But there are millions of refugees who had no choice but to move out of their countries for survival. For those people, going back to their countries mean death, and it is not that easy for old people to learn a new language in a short time.
 
Well, even if you talk the language of the country, people answer you in English...

I have some friends who were in Japan this summer.

They tried talking in Japanese and nearly each time, the person responded in Engish (and we are French...)

A little bit disheartening...
 
Well, even if you talk the language of the country, people answer you in English...

I have some friends who were in Japan this summer.

They tried talking in Japanese and nearly each time, the person responded in Engish (and we are French...)

A little bit disheartening...
I don't think it's the language, it is the looks of the person. The same thing happens in the US all the time. Asian Americans are often mistaken as foreigners and spoken slowly or praised that their English is "fluent", despite Asian Americans are monolingual native speakers of English without accent.
 
Last edited:
Should One Be Required to Speak the Language of the Country One Wishes To Live In?

Of course! What kind of a question is that. If you want to speak your native language you either speak it with your family at home, or go back to your native country. Easy as that.
I'm afraid it is not that easy.

The question word that should be paid most attention is "required". Should foreigners be required to speak the language of that foreign country?

1. In some jobs, it's not needed. Military for one. English teachers for another. There are more. Tell Ghosn that.

2. If you are a spouse or child of the person who came for business, why should you have to have such an extra burden put on you? Unfair, especially if the company sent your spouse/parent there and you are merely tagging along to keep the family together.

3. Required to speak to what level? Who judges? How will proficiency be tested? What happens if you miss by 1%? Unfair.

4. What if you learn of a change to the requirements while you are already living there? If you can't speak the language well enough (see #3), are you going to get kicked out of the country, lose your job, perhaps lose family? Unfair.

So, you can see, it's not cut and dried.
 
I don't think it's the language, it is the looks of the person. The same thing happens in the US all the time. Asian Americans are often mistaken as foreigners and spoken slowly or praised that their English is "fluent", despite Asian Americans are monolingual native speakers of English without accent.

Yep, ignorant boobs abound no matter where you go. Same stuff has happened to some of my Asian American friends too. Then again, I am from Nebraska.. what can you really expect right? haha, I remember talking to one guy who though Japan was city.

Well the majority of people are not THAT stupid, but still, couldn't believe what i was hearing.
 
I think a person should know some part of a country's language before they visit much less live there! But not all of it is necessary.
 
This has been a bit of a subject of thought with me since I moved to Japan.

Growing up American I always heard the argument that if they want to live in America they should speak English. Yes, it is true that English is not the official language of USA but really shouldn't it be? In my opinion if all government and official affairs are conducted in English the language of that nation is English. I think maybe we are pointing out a small technicality (probably spelled wrong) of law.

I moved to Japan for work. Basically a 3 year business trip. I came here speaking no Japanese, and always feeling guilty for trying to always get explanations in English. I always (and still do) make tremendous efforts to learn and study Japanese, but language takes time to learn. Turns out Japanese are required to study English in grade school for years. My guilt has faltered.

Nonetheless in my opinion it is essential that if you plan to live in a foreign country to also plan to make an effort to learn the local language. Not only does it make life easier but it is courtesy to make an effort. In my experience in Japan I have gotten people that are pissed I am not fluent on to people that are appreciative that I make the effort. 10 colors 10 people?

As a guest to this country I have a new found patience for immigrants to the United States. Also I have gained a huge respect to my ancestors who made the incredibly bold move to build a life in a foreign land. Now I know what it feels to be illiterate and to fear social interaction because I'm not fluent.

Just my thoughts.
 
Back
Top Bottom