Learn Our Language | Teen Ink

Learn Our Language

December 30, 2008
By Dsmit BRONZE, Luna Pier, Michigan
Dsmit BRONZE, Luna Pier, Michigan
3 articles 0 photos 0 comments

Favorite Quote:
"God hath not given me a spirit of fear, but that of power, love, and of a sound mind."


This is a headline story right here! It has to be one of the top issues in the country today. I am referring to the "Press two for Spanish" issue. Why is this even an option? If someone wants to become an American badly enough, they should take the initiative to learn the language that is spoken here: English. I mean, does the government not know that by allowing a language barrier to exist inside our country, they are potenially limiting the progression of the country. There should not be a need for any type of translator in our country. How can we be called the top country in the world if the citizens within it are not able to communicate freely? "Press two for Spanish" is also one of the most annoying statements that can be uttered over the phone. Spanish is not the only problem either. It is all the gibberish and nonsense that has to be endured before actually having the opportunity to speak to a customer service officer or telephone operator. I believe that Americans need to keep it simple. Diversity is grand, but when it pertains to the language, there is a problem. I have a simple solution that will unify our country and tear down the language barrier: Learn our language or go home!


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This article has 202 comments.


on Jan. 14 2013 at 2:18 pm
kaceykat SILVER, McGuire AFB, New Jersey
5 articles 5 photos 9 comments
I understand what you are saying, and yes in the beginning, it may be hard to learn to read Chinese or Japanese... but, in the English language we have many rules and exceptions to the rules that can be confusing to those who don't know our language. And, even the adults who have lived in America all thier life, are still learning new words.

AisuP SILVER said...
on Jan. 13 2013 at 2:58 pm
AisuP SILVER, Los Angeles, California
6 articles 0 photos 13 comments

Favorite Quote:
I broke the shackles that I built myself, because I didn't feel like wearing them anymore.

Actually, I have to say Chinese is the hardest because its alphabet is COMPLETELY hieroglyphic, and has all of the different tones and just makes me feel like fainting. To go from Spanish to English is much easier, you don't have to learn a completely different alphabet than your own, like trying to learn Japanese if your first language was English (I've tried this and it's hard, especially if you're teaching yourself). And a lot of words in English have similar roots to those in Spanish (part of the reason why both languages use the same alphabet), so it's not too different. Yes, English is different from the romance languages because of the verb conjugation and where the adjectives go and the whole "X of Y" thing that is "Y's X" in English, but maybe I'm biased because languages come easier to me.

on Jan. 7 2013 at 3:03 am
WaterWatcher SILVER, Houston, Texas
9 articles 0 photos 27 comments

Favorite Quote:
Good things don't just happen to those that wait but to those that do.

I do not want to sound rude. English not my mother tongue. Is hard in school because no one speaks Russian. I have not many friends because people like you say much mean things about me. I try speak English and type but I not get right all time. I try hard but everyone speak down to me like I stupid. I try to appeale to you demands but still I have no respect. I am not stupid. I am proud to say I try learn English but I never be close to perfect. I sorry if is hard to read. I type best I can.

FFjj said...
on Jan. 4 2013 at 1:56 pm
I disagree. Therefore you are wrong.

on Jan. 3 2013 at 2:27 pm
Phillies_Fan4Ever, Soccerville, Indiana
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I don't need easy, I just need possible" from Soul Surfer

This is true.  If you live in America you should know English.  I found the aritcle well written and it made me want to keep reading.

on Jan. 3 2013 at 2:27 pm
kaceykat SILVER, McGuire AFB, New Jersey
5 articles 5 photos 9 comments
English is one of the hardest, if not the hardest, language to learn in the world. Most people come to America for the Freedom that our country provides, by making one national language, you take away the freedom of the people. You can't just make one language. What if you and your family lived somewhere and there was a war there, you want to get out of the country as fast as possible, and you want to go to ,lets say, Japan because you have always wanted to live there. Lets say when you get there, they send you away back to the home that you no longer have, just because you can't speak Japanese. How would you feel??? Just think about it...

Emivi BRONZE said...
on Jan. 3 2013 at 2:27 pm
Emivi BRONZE, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them"-eeyore. winnie the pooh

I understand what you are saying but i don't really think that it is an issue. I mean how many times a day do you really not u derstand someone lse because they speak another langauge.

on Jan. 3 2013 at 2:26 pm
Phillies_Fan4Ever, Soccerville, Indiana
0 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I don't need easy, I just need possible" from Soul Surfer

This is true.  If you are an American citizen, you should be able to speak the language.  This article was funny and made me want to keep reading. 

TaylorG BRONZE said...
on Jan. 3 2013 at 2:26 pm
TaylorG BRONZE, Columbus, New Jersey
1 article 0 photos 2 comments
i agree with you. If people really want to live here then they should take the time to learn our language. If they don't then they can only communicate to the people that speak the same language as them, not the rest of our country

on Jan. 3 2013 at 2:25 pm
Delilah Confoy BRONZE, Wrightstown, New Jersey
1 article 0 photos 2 comments
I see your point, but most people won't be willing to just throw away their culture and language just to make it easier on Americans. If you were forced to move to another country and learn a completely new, foreign language, you probably wonuldn't be very happy.

on Jan. 3 2013 at 2:23 pm
Goalychik BRONZE, Smart, Hawaii
1 article 0 photos 3 comments
That is a great point! Many people come into our country thinking that they can just waltz in and make it....WRONG! They should take time to learn our language. They obviously came to America to be an American...LEARN OUR LANGUAGE!

on Jan. 3 2013 at 2:18 pm
Catherine2564 BRONZE, Chesterfield, New Jersey
1 article 0 photos 3 comments
I too believe that we should all learn how to speak English because only does it make it easier on foregins, it makes it easier on us.  For instance, when we call for technical help, we normally are given a person who has a foreign accent.  Not only is it frustrating, you can't get what you needed.

Lolzz said...
on Jan. 3 2013 at 2:16 pm
Lolzz, Columbus, New Jersey
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments
I think that people that come to america should atleast get a chance to learn english. Even if that means you could have a little discomfort until they learn it. But I do admit english should still be the first language you hear when calling a company.

on Nov. 15 2012 at 12:45 am
samanthaaa BRONZE, Schaumburg, Illinois
2 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Hell is empty. All the devils are here." - William Shakespeare

Preach it :)

anomynous said...
on Oct. 24 2012 at 4:06 pm
English is a hard language to learn. In fact, russian is much easier and russian looks completely ailien. I'll admit my english is not perfect either and I live in the states.

anon said...
on Jul. 31 2012 at 9:11 pm

I agree that if you voluntarily come to a country you should make the effort to learn its language! Not doing so just makes you seem lazy and ignorant.

And although this article was mostly talking about the increasing number of Hispanics coming to America who have not learned the language, people also need to realzie that us Americans are just as much at fault. Countries all around the world have signs posted both in the native language and in English because of the fact that many Americans did not make the effort to even learn simple phrases in that language.


AriShine GOLD said...
on Jun. 19 2012 at 3:22 pm
AriShine GOLD, Norcross, Georgia
13 articles 0 photos 130 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Whatever you are, be a good one." -Abraham Lincoln

Kiersten H.,

Have you thought of the fact that some people do not want to come to this country? That people have been forced to come here because of one reason or another? Other countries speak multiple languages. The U.S. should welcome and support other languages.


AriShine GOLD said...
on Jun. 19 2012 at 3:18 pm
AriShine GOLD, Norcross, Georgia
13 articles 0 photos 130 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Whatever you are, be a good one." -Abraham Lincoln

I agree with you completely. The argument of this article has an extremely selfish tone that patronizes other cultures that should be embraced.

AriShine GOLD said...
on Jun. 19 2012 at 3:15 pm
AriShine GOLD, Norcross, Georgia
13 articles 0 photos 130 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Whatever you are, be a good one." -Abraham Lincoln

Recently, my class studied refugees and conflicts in other countries. There are thousands of people who come to the United States every year seeking refuge from the violence and/or persecution of their homeland. Imagine moving to a whole different culture that speaks a language that sounds like gibberish to YOU.  On top of that, these people have to deal with the closed-mindedness that is demonstrated in this article. It is fine to express your frustration, but really, have a heart. 

DaveC said...
on Apr. 30 2012 at 7:15 pm
Instead of thinking everyone should change to provide you with a miniscule amount of comfort you dont need, perhaps you should realize the world doesn't revolve around the U.S. Look around you and you may realize that we should change  and maybe learn a language or two, to comunicate with the world, not have it bend over backwards to please us