Should forgeiners be made to learn basic English?
Mar 31st 2005, 12:41 am
#106
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 21,886
Re: Should forgeiners be made to learn basic English?
Originally Posted by NC Penguin
I don't think you've visited the States recently, have you?
The Spanish speaking population (both legal and illegal) has seen an incredible increase in the last 8-10 years.
See-
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...-spanish_x.htm
I live in North Carolina, hardly close to the USA/Mexico border and there are Spanish speakers living and working here from all over South and Central America.
For example at the DMV office near me (I live in Durham, NC) where you go for driving licenses and the like, signs are in Spanish too and the Drivers Handbook is available in Spanish (as well as 2 other non-English languages).
NC Penguin
The Spanish speaking population (both legal and illegal) has seen an incredible increase in the last 8-10 years.
See-
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...-spanish_x.htm
I live in North Carolina, hardly close to the USA/Mexico border and there are Spanish speakers living and working here from all over South and Central America.
For example at the DMV office near me (I live in Durham, NC) where you go for driving licenses and the like, signs are in Spanish too and the Drivers Handbook is available in Spanish (as well as 2 other non-English languages).
NC Penguin
you don't think Americans pick the cherries do ya?
Mar 31st 2005, 1:11 am
#107
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Should forgeiners be made to learn basic English?
Originally Posted by Manc
Traverse City Michigan is the cherry capital of the world. This area, approximately 200 miles south of CANADA, produces over 75% of the USA Cherry produce.
you don't think Americans pick the cherries do ya?
you don't think Americans pick the cherries do ya?
Of course not...its out of work british IT people.
Mar 31st 2005, 2:00 am
#108
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,176
Re: Should forgeiners be made to learn basic English?
Originally Posted by Manc
you don't think Americans pick the cherries do ya?
well they pick all the spuds and blueberries...but it does cause a stir of excitement when the odd bus load of mexicans turn up to pick things...oh such a diverse state maine is *lol*
Mar 31st 2005, 8:37 am
#109
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 4,525
Re: Should forgeiners be made to learn basic English?
Originally Posted by Tone
Ban all people who can't spell foreigners, bloody forgeiners
anyone can make a typo 
Ash
Mar 31st 2005, 8:51 am
#110
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Posts: 4,525
Re: Should foreigner's be made to learn basic English?
Originally Posted by Jenney & Mark
Why do you assume the grandmother lives in the States? Maybe she was visiting.
Like I said before I have had customers with store charge cards that cannot speak english either. To open a charge card you need a vaild US License/ID and a bank or credit card. So someone who opens an account has strong ties to the US... When someone has been here 4 years (it shows the card issue date on the card) I think they should be able to speak basic english instead of depending on a child... just my opinion.
Ash
Mar 31st 2005, 8:52 am
#111
You Are All Diseased
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Farnham, UK
Posts: 4,511
Re: Should forgeiners be made to learn basic English?
Originally Posted by ImHere
Of course not...its out of work british IT people.
Mar 31st 2005, 9:21 am
#112
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Should foreigner's be made to learn basic English?
Originally Posted by Jenney & Mark
I taught English at Berlitz in Chile several years ago -- only the target language spoken in the classroom. I taught at a couple of other language schools before Berlitz and it makes a world of difference when the students are not permitted to speak their native language in class. The Berlitz method really is the best -- none of this word-for-word translation crap. You learn it by speaking and hearing it, period.
It fails miserably at higher levels. For example, try to explain the difference between despite and although without using a modicum of grammar to an adult.
Mar 31st 2005, 10:44 am
#113
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Should foreigner's be made to learn basic English?
Originally Posted by fatbrit
....It fails miserably at higher levels. For example, try to explain the difference between despite and although without using a modicum of grammar to an adult.
Mar 31st 2005, 10:59 am
#114
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Should foreigner's be made to learn basic English?
Originally Posted by ImHere
How many native English speakers who havent studied language would know the grammatical difference?
Very few. That's why it's necessary to have a knowledgeable and experienced foreign language teacher who can explain it in the way most likely to be understood by the student. What you can't do with most adults (young children are very different!) is pretend that grammar doesn't exist!
Apr 1st 2005, 1:11 pm
#115
Lapine Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Should forgeiners be made to learn basic English?
Everything I do in Spanish happens *now* (in the present tense ) I really need to learn to conjugate.... I understand if someone uses it, though.
) I really need to learn to conjugate.... I understand if someone uses it, though.
Apr 2nd 2005, 5:58 pm
#116
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 8,266
Re: Should foreigner's be made to learn basic English?
Originally Posted by Ash UK/US
your right that is an assumption however i was not only talking about that one woman... this is quite common.
Like I said before I have had customers with store charge cards that cannot speak english either. To open a charge card you need a vaild US License/ID and a bank or credit card. So someone who opens an account has strong ties to the US... When someone has been here 4 years (it shows the card issue date on the card) I think they should be able to speak basic english instead of depending on a child... just my opinion.
Ash
Like I said before I have had customers with store charge cards that cannot speak english either. To open a charge card you need a vaild US License/ID and a bank or credit card. So someone who opens an account has strong ties to the US... When someone has been here 4 years (it shows the card issue date on the card) I think they should be able to speak basic english instead of depending on a child... just my opinion.
Ash
As someone pointed out, English is an extremely difficult language to learn. Couple that with the age of the person, plus the community in which the person lives, and you'll find that it is not that easy.
Spanish is here to stay.
Apr 2nd 2005, 9:02 pm
#117
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Waynesville
Posts: 13
Re: Should forgeiners be made to learn basic English?
Oh and I dont think Spanish is likely to overtake English, but its nice to be proficient in more than one language, and Spanish is, after all, spoken by more people than English world wide.[/QUOTE]
I'm sure somebodys come back on this point already but the threads too long to check and I'm too lazy ! (
)
The most spoken languages are...
1. Chinese (Mandarin) 1,075,000,000
2. English 514,000,000
3. Hindustani 496,000,000
4. Spanish 425,000,000
5. Russian 275,000,000
Time to learn Mandarin I think
I'm sure somebodys come back on this point already but the threads too long to check and I'm too lazy ! (
) The most spoken languages are...
1. Chinese (Mandarin) 1,075,000,000
2. English 514,000,000
3. Hindustani 496,000,000
4. Spanish 425,000,000
5. Russian 275,000,000
Time to learn Mandarin I think
Apr 2nd 2005, 9:09 pm
#118
Lapine Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Location: Austin, Texas in my own little world
Posts: 21,691
Re: Should forgeiners be made to learn basic English?
Have you looked at birth rates in Latin American countries lately?!
Yesterday morning I took my eldest (12) to sign up for courses at her new school (Hi Woodsey! I believe you just went through this?). She wanted to do the slower Spanish course but at 12 with years of Spanish in elementary school behind her you gotta start getting serious. It isn't simply speaking Spanish -- it's speaking another language, which is one of the first steps to curing American ignorance and intentional myopia where the rest of the world is concerned.
I have offered to take a conversational Spanish class with her this summer.
Yesterday morning I took my eldest (12) to sign up for courses at her new school (Hi Woodsey! I believe you just went through this?). She wanted to do the slower Spanish course but at 12 with years of Spanish in elementary school behind her you gotta start getting serious. It isn't simply speaking Spanish -- it's speaking another language, which is one of the first steps to curing American ignorance and intentional myopia where the rest of the world is concerned.
I have offered to take a conversational Spanish class with her this summer.
Apr 3rd 2005, 12:22 am
#119
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: yorkshire
Posts: 7
Re: Should forgeiners be made to learn basic English?
fortunately my fiance in Florida is Puerto Rican so spanish lessons is a must to be able to speak with her family better than i do at the moment
Apr 3rd 2005, 1:01 am
#120
Just Joined
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 6
Re: Should forgeiners be made to learn basic English?
Hello guys ,
I am a native spanish speaker , I am studing english .Unfortunately my english isn't good but i am trying to get it better. If you know something about spanish or you want to improve your spanish i will be glad to help you.
I think that my english could improve if i would be able to practise with you
I am a native spanish speaker , I am studing english .Unfortunately my english isn't good but i am trying to get it better. If you know something about spanish or you want to improve your spanish i will be glad to help you.
I think that my english could improve if i would be able to practise with you
