English-only Movement Targets Nashville

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1626424' date='Aug 13 2008, 08:17 PM']Wouldn't he become Canadian-American?[/quote]


No.

Japanese-Canadian-American, to get technical. Because you know people like their heritage used in their nationality, too. Like Irish-American or Korean-American or Mexican-American. Me, I'm Scorpio-American.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1626421' date='Aug 13 2008, 09:16 PM']Ironically the man who founded the national movement for English as the official language was a Japanese-Canadian who loved America so much he immigrated here, thus becoming Japanese-American.

[url="http://www.us-english.org/inc/about/hayakawa.asp"]http://www.us-english.org/inc/about/hayakawa.asp[/url][/quote]
I'm pretty sure I used that site in my speech. But that was three years ago, so I don't remember a whole lot.
I do remember that it would be cheaper for the government to teach immigrants English than print things in numerous languages, and have to pay for translators all the time.

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='MissScripture' post='1627487' date='Aug 14 2008, 07:54 PM']I'm pretty sure I used that site in my speech. But that was three years ago, so I don't remember a whole lot.
I do remember that it would be cheaper for the government to teach immigrants English than print things in numerous languages, and have to pay for translators all the time.[/quote]

Oh, absolutely. And the real winners would be the immigrants themselves, because the language would be useful for so much more than just filling out papers. And anyway, think of all the great volunteer opportunities for people to get involved if immigrants had to learn the language and actually WANTED to. The government could turn it into a whole American-community-helping-others type thing like back in the day when we always had those literacy initiatives supported and promoted by the government.

[Roamin Catholic]

[quote name='jmjtina' post='1624612' date='Aug 11 2008, 06:51 PM']But should they be prohibited from speaking their native language or getting government service in their native language if that is all they know? Of course not.
Most of the services provided have federal and state funding that require interpretation if needed which don't have to abide by the rule if passed.[/quote]

So, we need to provide services in the 6,912 living languages known today??? Imagine how many states and local governments would be bankrupted due to this.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1627494' date='Aug 14 2008, 07:58 PM']Oh, absolutely. [b]And the real winners would be the immigrants themselves, because the language would be useful for so much more than just filling out papers. [/b]And anyway, think of all the great volunteer opportunities for people to get involved if immigrants had to learn the language and actually WANTED to. The government could turn it into a whole American-community-helping-others type thing like back in the day when we always had those literacy initiatives supported and promoted by the government.[/quote]
I was just thinking about last winter when I was shadowing a physical therapist. One patient was a Somolian woman who didn't speak English. Luckily, she had brought someone with her to translate. The PT told me about a time that a Somolian woman came in and didn't speak English, and she couldn't treat her, because they couldn't communicate, and the translator didn't show up. It is NOT a good idea to try to treat someone with physical therapy (or in many other areas of health care) when you can't tell if they are in pain or what is going on with the patient.
Learning English would DEFINITELY be beneficial for more than just paperwork!

[Mercy me]

Actually, I think that not requiring immigrants to learn English is to close the door of opportunity to them.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1627494' date='Aug 14 2008, 08:58 PM']Oh, absolutely. And the real winners would be the immigrants themselves, because the language would be useful for so much more than just filling out papers. And anyway, think of all the great volunteer opportunities for people to get involved if immigrants had to learn the language and actually WANTED to. The government could turn it into a whole American-community-helping-others type thing like back in the day when we always had those literacy initiatives supported and promoted by the government.[/quote]
I would love that. I would so do that. RIght now I would have to drive up to St. Paul to volunteer for ESL and pay for my own training. If it were available right here in my town, I could do it and even bring my kids to help. It would be great for them, too.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='Roamin_Catholic' post='1627587' date='Aug 15 2008, 02:51 AM']So, we need to provide services in the 6,912 living languages known today??? Imagine how many states and local governments would be bankrupted due to this.[/quote]
And yet that's exactly what's happening to an extent. I know a lady who works for social security, and she said if someone comes in and wants services in any language, they have to provide that. I know they have at least one employee there who speaks Farsi, and I don't know what other languages they provide at that particular office. But, at least theoretically, if someone came in demanding to be served by someone who spoke Turkish or Swahili or whatever, they would have to provide it. Or at least that's my understanding of it.

I do think there needs to be a national language declared, and that immigrants should demonstrate proficiency in it to be naturalised.

Edited August 15, 2008 by Archaeology cat

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='Archaeology cat' post='1627953' date='Aug 15 2008, 09:05 AM']I do think there needs to be a national language declared, and that immigrants should demonstrate proficiency in it to be naturalised.[/quote]

Sounds far-out, doesn't it?? But that's exactly what loads of other countries do. Let me just show up at the immigration office in Japan and demand to have someone speak my language and translate for me. And watch the Japanese show me the door.

I've read the blogs of ESL teachers in Japan. They take a friend or a student with them to help them with complicated Japanese documents like tax forms and such. Japan ain't gonna use their tax dollars to fund foreign language services for you. And as well they shouldn't.

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1627930' date='Aug 15 2008, 07:45 AM'] I would love that. I would so do that. RIght now I would have to drive up to St. Paul to volunteer for ESL and pay for my own training. If it were available right here in my town, I could do it and even bring my kids to help. It would be great for them, too.[/quote]

I would love it, too. I love tutoring and there's nothing more rewarding that helping people who want to learn. I'm actually currently looking at tutoring in the Iraqi refugee community that is out this way. I have a contact who is out of town for a bit but when she gets back we're going to look into that, as she is involved in relief services. The Iraqi refugees really want to learn English. The children are already learning fast and becoming Americanized because they attend public school. But the parents (or other adults) need more help because they don't have the luxury of being immersed in the language like the kids do.

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='Mercy me' post='1627869' date='Aug 15 2008, 01:04 AM']Actually, I think that not requiring immigrants to learn English is to close the door of opportunity to them.[/quote]


Exactly. And it's not an exaggeration when I say there are Hispanics in this country who have been here for years and don't lift a finger to learn English. And you know what? They are still cleaning bathrooms, which is the same job they got when they first came here. And in 20 years they will still be cleaning bathrooms.

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='MissScripture' post='1627598' date='Aug 14 2008, 10:04 PM']I was just thinking about last winter when I was shadowing a physical therapist. One patient was a Somolian woman who didn't speak English. Luckily, she had brought someone with her to translate. The PT told me about a time that a Somolian woman came in and didn't speak English, and she couldn't treat her, because they couldn't communicate, and the translator didn't show up. It is NOT a good idea to try to treat someone with physical therapy (or in many other areas of health care) when you can't tell if they are in pain or what is going on with the patient.
Learning English would DEFINITELY be beneficial for more than just paperwork![/quote]


The anti-English panderers don't think about stuff like this when they are screaming about "heritage".

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1628179' date='Aug 15 2008, 04:59 PM']Sounds far-out, doesn't it?? But that's exactly what loads of other countries do. Let me just show up at the immigration office in Japan and demand to have someone speak my language and translate for me. And watch the Japanese show me the door.

I've read the blogs of ESL teachers in Japan. They take a friend or a student with them to help them with complicated Japanese documents like tax forms and such. Japan ain't gonna use their tax dollars to fund foreign language services for you. And as well they shouldn't.[/quote]

We have a friend of the family who is a Russian citizen. She wants to move to Germany because she's getting married (her fiance' is also a Russian, but he's working in Germany)... Anyway, in order to get a residency visa she has to pass a German language test. She had to learn it in order to move there (she speaks fluent English and French).

[Madame Vengier]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1628205' date='Aug 15 2008, 05:14 PM']We have a friend of the family who is a Russian citizen. She wants to move to Germany because she's getting married (her fiance' is also a Russian, but he's working in Germany)... Anyway, in order to get a residency visa she has to pass a German language test. She had to learn it in order to move there (she speaks fluent English and French).[/quote]


In my conversations with people both IRL and online I have often challenged people to tell me WHY America should have a different standard of immigration norms and rules than every other country has. Those who pander to "immigration rights" (i.e. don't deport illegals, don't force English on immigrants, don't complain that they are sucking the tax dollars from our own economy, etc) cannot explain why they think America is shameful and wicked and unjust for having immigration laws and protecting our borders, like every other country. These bleeding heart panderers NEVER have an answer for me. Ever.

And besides, we don't deport illegals. Our borders are not protected. We don't enforce English. And tax dollars are spent annually in the millions to cater to illegals. So, the bleeding hearts are getting their way anyway and I don't know what they are whining about.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1628182' date='Aug 15 2008, 04:03 PM']I would love it, too. I love tutoring and there's nothing more rewarding that helping people who want to learn. I'm actually currently looking at tutoring in the Iraqi refugee community that is out this way. I have a contact who is out of town for a bit but when she gets back we're going to look into that, as she is involved in relief services. The Iraqi refugees really want to learn English. The children are already learning fast and becoming Americanized because they attend public school. But the parents (or other adults) need more help because they don't have the luxury of being immersed in the language like the kids do.[/quote]
Plus, it would be harder for them anyway, as they're adults, and they'd learn a language more slowly, anyway.


[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1628283' date='Aug 15 2008, 05:08 PM']In my conversations with people both IRL and online I have often challenged people to tell me WHY America should have a different standard of immigration norms and rules than every other country has. Those who pander to "immigration rights" (i.e. don't deport illegals, don't force English on immigrants, don't complain that they are sucking the tax dollars from our own economy, etc) cannot explain why they think America is shameful and wicked and unjust for having immigration laws and protecting our borders, like every other country. These bleeding heart panderers NEVER have an answer for me. Ever.

And besides, we don't deport illegals. Our borders are not protected. We don't enforce English. And tax dollars are spent annually in the millions to cater to illegals. So, the bleeding hearts are getting their way anyway and I don't know what they are whining about.[/quote]
If they didn't whine, they wouldn't know what else to do.