who here speaks more than 1 language?

[Laufen]

I speak english, I expect those that I interact with to speak english as well. I wouldnt go to some other country and expect folks to learn english for me, I will not learn another language just because someone thinks I should learn their language because they are here in this country.

Funny thing, most American tourists here expect just that and are appalled when people don't speak English.

Learning a new language is a great way to gain new perspective...it's benefits extend well beyond communication.

 

[strider12]

Funny thing, most American tourists here expect just that and are appalled when people don't speak English.

Learning a new language is a great way to gain new perspective...it's benefits extend well beyond communication.

You can get lazy though. I've traveled throughout Europe and with the exception of Eastern Europe, you can pretty much find english speakers everywhere.

 

[Beerman]

English, Some Spanish and German and a lot of Redneck..

 

[Laufen]

You can get lazy though. I've traveled throughout Europe and with the exception of Eastern Europe, you can pretty much find english speakers everywhere.

And unfortunately most Germans are so excited to practice their English it can be tough to practice German. That's quite a different attitude from most Americans who take it as an insult to speak anything but English.
Learning another language gives you another skill/

 

[rugerceltics13]

unless that language is ebonics?

 

[b.a.customkydex]

Funny thing, most American tourists here expect just that and are appalled when people don't speak English.

Learning a new language is a great way to gain new perspective...it's benefits extend well beyond communication.

I don't expect people to speak anything but their native tongue in their native land. If I was too travel to Germany, I'd either learn German, or find a translator.

 

[sparked1]

I speak english, I expect those that I interact with to speak english as well. I wouldnt go to some other country and expect folks to learn english for me, I will not learn another language just because someone thinks I should learn their language because they are here in this country.

Huh?

 

[b.a.customkydex]

No chip on my shoulder.

Would you immigrate to Russia and expect Russians to speak English because you do?

 

[Ace_357]

English & Spanish

 

[GeauxLSU]

so being that i speak viet and english, i wonder about who here speaks multiple languages.


here's my reason: i was talking to my lil cuz on the phone and he and his sister don't speak viet at all any more. what's worse is they can't even read vietnamese. now i grew up speaking reading writing it. i had to learn. my parents told me that it was the last connection i had with my culture if i lose everything else. i'm proud that i know vietnamese and that i will teach my kids one day when i have some. my wife was adopted from korea as a baby by white folks. she doesn't know anything about her culture other than kimchi.

here's my question? should we (people who are not of american descent) speak our native tongue? i don't often speak except when i talk to my relatives or the occasional trip down to buford hwy to the markets.

My grandparents on both sides were not native speakers (different languages). My parents both spoke those languages other than English but as youngsters were whipped in school if caught speaking something other than English. The Cajun Culture (and native speakers) for one example is a fraction of what it once was. I do not speak French (used to). I think it's sad when a generation loses their connection with their culture but if you live in this country, you should work to be fluent in English and use it exclusively in common company and you should NOT have an expectation that your lack of English skills will be catered to by the government (even though it is... ). It's a melting pot, it's not a tossed salad.