Foreigners who come here and don't learn English

HovaBaby · 15-12-2011 08:35PM

Willow Icy Salesman wrote: »

You have an intermediate level of Spanish from going there on holiday every 4 or 5 years? Either you're a linguistic genius or your idea of 'intermediate' is very different from mine.

I didn't learn what I know from going there and listening. I got a book on how to speak Spanish.

EDIT: Post #100 ^_^

MisterEpicurus · 15-12-2011 08:38PM

El Weirdo wrote: »

Could you not give us an exact figure considering the small sample size?

The irony of this post in this thread...

Apologies - it's definitely 2 ;-)

St.Spodo · 15-12-2011 08:42PM

Sure the Irish never bothered learning American when they immigrated. They still speak English to this day.

MrPain · 15-12-2011 08:48PM

Antomus Prime wrote: »

Irish is the Native language of Ireland, regardless of whether or not it's the primary language

So is Na–Dené and Algic considered the Native languages in the US?

marcsignal · 15-12-2011 09:06PM

nicechick! wrote: »

awwwww!! Are you feeling left out?

they're probably all on MSN & SKYPE and talking amongst themselves about how grumpy and intolerant the OP is

just kidding OP

, or should I say solamente bromeando (I think) :pac:

Doc Ruby · 15-12-2011 09:09PM

MrPain wrote: »

So is Na–Dené and Algic considered the Native languages in the US?

Technically English isn't even a language, it should more rightly be called Franco-German-Gaelic. And despite the best efforts of our beloved nearest neighbours, most of the people in this country are the same as have been here since the ice receded.

Captain McDuck · 15-12-2011 09:13PM

I'm living in spain and I haven't learned to speak spanish ....;yet

Motley Crue · 15-12-2011 09:18PM

Tá sé seo in Éirinn, táimid ag labhairt na Gaeilge in Éirinn, más mian leat labhairt Béarla dul go Sasana

scopper · 15-12-2011 09:22PM

I live in Germany and the Irish are well-known as some of the worst for learning German, but Germans pay no mind. They know that a few words go a long way, and that so long as you can do the basics you don't need too much of the language.

So relax; what effect does it really have on your life?

Further to the point language learning is a long, difficult process involving long stays in new contexts. Give people a break! It's not an easy skill to acquire. It may appear so because you are free to speak almost anywhere, but that's just a trick of your global position.

Robdude · 15-12-2011 09:24PM

I hate immigrants.

KeithAFC · 15-12-2011 09:33PM

They should have respect for the country they are going to and at least try to learn the language. Otherwise they should not be allowed to work or live in that country. Seeing how liberal society is now in the UK and the ROI, they can come over, take jobs, not pay the money back into the system and off back home they go.

15-12-2011 09:39PM

KeithAFC wrote: »

They should have respect for the country they are going to and at least try to learn the language. Otherwise they should not be allowed to work or live in that country. Seeing how liberal society is now in the UK and the ROI, they can come over, take jobs, not pay the money back into the system and off back home they go.

Oh there is so much wrong with this when you apply it to Northern Ireland.

watna · 15-12-2011 10:02PM

There's a big problem in NZ with this too, like another poster pointed out there was in Australia earlier on.

People come from overseas (mainly the Pacific islands) and then bring their whole families over with them when they are settled - mostly in Auckland. There are a lot of people, particularly elderly women who don't speak a word of English and aren't involved in society beyond their own community. I just think it's really sad. It must be very bewildering to be old in a country where you don't speak the language. They have huge family and community support but I still think it must be very hard. There's also a lot of younger people (again, mainly women) who never learn English either. I can't understand not wanting to be able to communicate with anyone outside their own communities.

A lot of public service documents etc here have to be printed in Samoan etc plus Mandarin and some of the Indian languages because there are a lot of people who don't speak English. I think it does create ghettos (for want of a better word). I have a friend who can't speak to her grandparents because they don't speak English and she doesn't speak Mandarin (her parents spoke English to her at home) - everything has to be translated by her parents. I think that would be awful

marcsignal · 15-12-2011 10:07PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6D1YI-41ao

Killer Pigeon · 15-12-2011 10:07PM

English is the Global Lingua Franca. Migrants workers who come here to work should be able to speak it and should be obliged to have a high competency in the language. There is no excuse. If a shop owner wants to make some profiles, it's in his interest to hire someone who can communicate with the locals and provide the best service.

If an Irish person were to go abroad merely for a holiday to a non-English speaking region, they are not obliged to have a high competency in the local tongue if they are not working there.

Also, it is in the interests of workers in non-English speaking countries to have a certain literacy in the English language given the fact that it is the Global Lingua Franca.

Tourists (both from English and non-English speaking countries) would use that language to communicate with locals. I'd say over a billion people use the English language in this way on a daily basis. This is one thing we can thank the British Empire for, I guess.

Latin was used in this way, both in diplomacy and in academia until the late medieval period, as a form of communication between two people who didn't have competency in the other mother tongue (say a Spaniard who didn't speak German trying to communicate with a German who didn't speak Spanish).

ejmaztec · 15-12-2011 10:12PM

Doc Ruby wrote: »

Technically English isn't even a language, it should more rightly be called Franco-German-Gaelic. And despite the best efforts of our beloved nearest neighbours, most of the people in this country are the same as have been here since the ice receded.

Last February?

Herrick · 15-12-2011 10:16PM

watna wrote: »

I have a friend who can't speak to her grandparents because they don't speak English and she doesn't speak Mandarin (her parents spoke English to her at home) - everything has to be translated by her parents. I think that would be awful

Thats really sad

Carlow52 · 15-12-2011 10:21PM

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

Latin was used in this way, both in diplomacy and in academia until the late medieval period, as a form of communication between two people who didn't have competency in the other mother tongue (say a Spaniard who didn't speak German trying to communicate with a German who didn't speak Spanish).

Easy:
Spanyard: Hastalavista Baby
Kraut: ......Achtung......Baby

Dudess · 15-12-2011 10:24PM

If I was abroad with a bunch of English speakers I sure as sh1t wouldn't bother learning the local language if I didn't have to. Can't see why it's worth getting bothered about. They'll pick bits up eventually when they have to.

FinnLizzy · 15-12-2011 10:25PM

I'll take this into consideration when I go over to Spain, like everyone here has at some point, and speak ONLY English, going to Irish pubs and English chippers.

Zorbas · 15-12-2011 10:25PM

LOL Remember when the English in London used to think the Irish workers in the 70s should learn the language because they English couldnt understand a word from the good boyoos from Cork & Kerry.
English for many of us did feel like a foreign language.

saa · 15-12-2011 10:28PM

Ah jaysus I would so go to Spain to work without learning Spanish.
As long as I/they are not/will not be employed in any role where we have to talk to people so what.

Ellis Dee · 15-12-2011 10:29PM

I know quite a few British, Irish and American people who have lived in Helsinki for years, but speak little or no Finnish or Swedish.

It's their own loss, because understanding the language(s) of the country where one lives opens so many doors and insights.;)

watna · 15-12-2011 10:30PM

Herrick wrote: »

Thats really sad

I thought so too. My friend's mum was apparently a bit traumatised by the fact that her parents never learned English so my friend only spoke English at home growing up. On her mum's first day at school she'd never heard English spoken in her life and because she didn't know how to ask to go to the toilet, she wet herself.

run_Forrest_run · 15-12-2011 10:32PM

come to think of it, I'm on this land for 34 years and my Irish isn't great.

Gophur · 15-12-2011 10:36PM

MisterEpicurus wrote: »

I need to rant a little about this.

I live with 3 Spanish people, and about 2 of them don't bother to learn English. They live here and wander along to other houses full of other Spanish people who, similarly, don't learn the language. At night, these same people will spend hours on Skype/MSN chatting with family and friends in Spain.

In other words, WHY ARE THEY HERE!!!!

I can't accuse everyone of this, because I've met some people who have made great efforts and reached a very high level, and bother to get work.

It's p****ing me off at this stage to be honest.

[I'm not against Spanish people, but just the mentality of coming here and not learning]

About 2 of them? Not exactly 2 of them?

Let me guess, OP, you're Irish and you speak a foreign language, English?

number10a · 15-12-2011 10:41PM

I went on Erasmus to Barcelona, and going by the way I saw how twenty-somethings in my college (and sometimes even thirty-somethings) live their lives in Spain, I'm guessing Mammy and Daddy Mamá y Papá are paying for it. Spanish "kids" don't cut the umbilical chord until they are about thirty. In college over there, it is very common to spend six or seven years doing a four year course, because Mamá y Papá will have no problem paying the fees if you fail a year and have to repeat.

It's not exactly a rich country as we all know now, and this could have changed since I was there in 2007/08, so I could never understand how this happens, but that's just the way it is. I'm guessing (could be 120% wrong here) that this is what they are at. Their parents are paying for them to live in Ireland and learn English and they're just sitting back enjoying the easy ride.

Dionysus · 15-12-2011 10:43PM

Tonto86 wrote: »

If you come to live in a foreign country you should make an effort to integrate and contribute to society.

Indeed, just like all those English speakers who have moved to Ireland throughout the centuries.

Siuin · 15-12-2011 10:43PM

Yeah, I've got a French housemate who only speaks the bare essentials in English and just basically can't be bothered trying. I attempted to have a conversation with her a few times, but it's pointless because all I get are yes and no answers. It's really awkward at breakfast... I've taken to bringing food back to my bedroom- I couldn't take the excruciating silences interspersed by her slurping her coffee...

Scruffles · 15-12-2011 11:52PM

perhaps ireland shoud require a basic citizenship test to be taken like the UK then, am not sure if it asks for basic english though.

itd make sense for basic english to be required as the UK government has long tried to get native english into adult english classes so it will help them with jobs and so on,it doesnt make it any different with a non native of a different language,people need to be helped to fit in with society as they will become segregated and feel very alienated and out of place otherwise.

-its like those of us with complex/challenging learning/developmental disabilities-its not that long ago society thought it ok to leave us segregated away in our own little communities away from the so called 'normal' folk,and am one of the last who was institutionalised in a UK LD institution [albeit a modern one].
now people firmly believe in community living,to allow people to integrate as much as possible into society.
it is the same with long term severe mental illness-community support and treatment is always encouraged above the institutionalism and segregation of a pysch unit.
--above all,it helps people see they are the same as everyone else-that being human doesnt have a hierarchy,well not amongst those who are non discriminated anyway.

so it is perhaps strange and confusing that other communities are encouraged to segregate away from others and never fit in when society knows the effects of segregation and never being able to fit in.

Foreigners who come here and don't learn English

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