Is it rude to ask if you speak English?
I'm 17 and I was born in California. My mom is Chinese and came to the US in 1991 and we've always lived in CA. It doesn't happen very often but sometimes people, before going up to my mom, will ask if she speaks English. Once somebody asked her for money in front of a Safeway for fuel and that person asked if she knew how to speak English before asking her for cash. This is not the only time for her. When I was 12, I was at a skating rink, and this man working there knew there was something wrong with my skating boots, and he came up to me and I was so confused at what he was asking me because he spoke in a rushed manner and after a two second pause he asked me if I spoke English and that angered me. Keep in mind I'm half-Caucasian so... yeah. There a lot of Mexican/Hispanic kids I know who will get this same situation, and even other Asians, but once in a while. My history teacher, who even though I told her many times I've never been to China and am visiting my first time in a few weeks from now, and that I'm mixed, she still asks me if I was born in China. I was so confused why she would even ask me that so randomly in class. I'm the only Asian in that small class and she asks me stuff like that occasionally. Keep in mind she's like 60. I'm just wondering, do you think that's rude to be like that? I don't care, we all make fun of each other for our cultures but this... well, kinda odd.
Is it rude to ask for someone who speaks clear English when calling the phone company or a business?
Maybe it's the American in me that makes me think this way, but I don't think it's rude if you're a customer of a business' product or service, you have a right to get what you pay for. So if you're paying for technical assistance and can't understand an accent that's too strong for you, you have a right to ask to get you someone else you can understand. If they can't, you are well within your rights to drop their service, because at that point, it has little value to you.Don't get me wrong. I'm not doing it out of prejudice or just to be mean. I'm doing it in a matter of fact way, because I'm the buyer in the relationship. I understand it's not the fault of the person on the other end of the line. I'll still use my manners. It's the fault of the executives in charge of the company that care more for profit and shareholders' happiness than serving their customers' needs.Companies that outsource their customer service or help lines need to realize that saving money that way might lose them their customers.If you're an American company, use Americans for customer service. The same goes for any other country. If you're an international company, have as many customer service offices as needed — in each of the countries you're doing business in. This is not just about the accents, but conveyed local expressions and terms are apt to be misinterpreted as well.Now I'm better than most at interpreting accents because of my knowledge of other languages and dealing with a wide range of people, but every once in a while it can be a real struggle. Time may also be a factor. Customer service calls are usually the last thing people want to do or have time to do. Why spend any longer than necessary doing it — for both the customer and the company?
Is it racist to expect someone who has lived in the UK to speak fluent English?
This kind of question can only be answered with opinions since no one person can be the definitive authority.Certainly it is best for everybody if people who come to live in the country learn the language. It is incumbent upon the host country to provide affordable opportunities for learning, and upon the immigrating individual to take responsibility for accomplishing the learning.The problem in the whole concept occurs with The judgment that follows failed The judgment that follows failed expectations.How do you define those who haven’t learned? The answer to this question will determine if you’re a racist.
I speak english My wife and step son english y spanish am i wrong to ask them to speak english when with me?
My wife and my step son wont speak english when im around even though they are bilingual.When they are alone they just speak spanish.When im with my wife she speaks english when im with my step son he speaks english.When they talk to each other they speak spanish even though im there.Am i wrong to say something? I feel so unimportant and I never know whats being said or whats going on Im always the last one to find out.Any advice would be appreciated.
Is it racist for someone to ask "where are you from originally"? What motivation would someone have for asking such a question? To stereotype you?
When someone asks me where I’m from, I say, “I’m from Seattle, Washington.”They say, “Okay, cool, but where are you really from?”So I say, “All right, you caught me. I’m actually from Redmond - it’s a little town in the greater Seattle area.”They give me an exasperated look, like they think I’m deliberately being obtuse. “You know what I mean. Where are you from originally?”At this point, I usually cave and reveal that my parents were born in Beijing.And then the person I’m talking to will finally look relieved and nod to themselves, as though everything makes sense now. Sometimes they’ll say something like, “Ah, I was right!” or “Dang, your eyes kind of look Korean. Chinese would have been my second guess, though.”I’ve had these interactions all across the United States, where I’ve lived my entire life.People asked me this question in Seattle, the only city I’ve really called home.People asked me this question in New Orleans, where I worked for a local government agency.People asked me this question in Washington D.C., where I was invited to shake hands with President Obama.The question “Where are you from originally?” makes it clear that no matter what I do, I’m still not regarded as a real American. The closest I can get is with a hyphen, as an “Asian-American” or a “Chinese-American.”If you’re white and you don’t have an accent, you can move to America and never hear this question once. But if you look like me, it’s a question that will follow you around for a lifetime.To be perfectly honest, I don’t know if it counts as a racist question. There are so many more harmful forms of racism out there that it seems like an exaggeration to stick this into the same category.But when a question like “Where are you from originally?” is asked solely based on someone’s race, it sure isn’t a very useful one.There are so many more interesting options, like “What’s your favorite superpower?” or, “If you were a sound, what would you be?” or, “Would you rather have every song you ever hear slowly turn into ‘All Star’ by Smashmouth, or have every movie you ever watch slowly turn into Shrek?”Next time someone tells you she’s from Seattle, try following up with one of those instead.
Can most Mexicans speak English?
this is actually sort of a racist question that your teacher set upon you.. :P but it actually depends on where the Mexican lives.. be it Texas where there is a larger amount of Mexicans it is easier for them to speak there native tongue. but since you specified in Mexico, there is no actual reason for them to actually speak fluent English obviously like every other job one who is bilingual or even trilingual will get the higher position/ better salary but the percentage of those who actually speak fluent English isn't that high up. Now i do believe that those speaking Spanish in the US is a much, MUCH higher rate than those speaking English in Mexico, since it is mandatory to take the "Spanish as a second language" class in most high schools and even some elementary schools also with the high condensate of people from Latin America in the US it is much easier for Americans to pick up on that language . hope i helped.
Do Mexicans find it racist when asked if they speak Spanish?
Im mexican and i dont find it rascist at all. Some people cant speak english that well and find it easier to communicate in spanish, like at the cash register at stores. I perfectly understand. Some people that look super mexican, but are trying to be white might get offended and deny their race. But most of us mexicans are super friendly. We dont get offended easily unless you talk obvious crap about our race.