Speaking only English at work

[Life360_Dave]

According to the EEOC, an English only rule at work violates the law. Where i work almost everyone speaks spanish and im not sure what everyone is talking about. I wonder if we should go back to school and pick up spanish as a "FIRST"
language!!!

http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/immigrants-facts.cfm

[hrsepwrguy]

Let me rephrase that, they will stop talking about you, at least while your around.

[hrsepwrguy]

I understand spanish (1st job was in a pipe yard in west Texas, I was the minority, it was either learn or be left out), I don't try to speak it, no need in most cases, let them know you understand that you know what their saying and they will stop.

[brice1967]

I was talking to a clerk one time who had her tongue pierced a couple of times and have absolutely no idea what language she was speaking.....She had a neck tattoo too.  That always works out for ya.

[orphanedhawk]

After returning from a long stay in Asia, I went into the supermarket and I couldn't understand the checker who spoke to me in Ebonics ! It felt weird to come home and not understand the language.

[Barb135]

I've learned to understand that quite well, because it vies for the second language here, too; it's fighting with Spanish for second place... I'm kind of clumsy with speaking some of Ebonics, though I can do quite well with some it.  For the most part, though, I leave it alone, lest I get tongue-tied... I guess that makes me a racist.

[R Glass]

The  second language here is Ebonics

[Barb135]

It all depends on the circumstances... your family friends are not in a work environment, in which they could be leaving a co-worker out of a work conversation.  Aside from that, it doesn't bother you, because you speak Spanish, so you can follow their conversation anyway.  I can pick out a little bit (very little), but for someone who knows nothing about the language, it's very uncomfortable.

They don't always have to "not like you" to want to make a point...

[specialmom]

Hm,  :>)  I don't speak my first language to make others uncomfortable.  It's easier and more natural.  I mentioned earlier family friends that are from a Spanish speaking country and moved here maybe three years ago.  There are others from the same country in our community. When out, even if I am there, they do talk in Spanish and my friend uses only Spanish at home with her kids.  She's not doing 'what's the word???  to a friend when they are talking like she has to do when speaking in English to me.  They speak Spanish to one another because it is easier for them.

Unless life thinks they don't like him for some reason, I'd not assume they are trying to make him uncomfortable but instead are trying to be more comfy themselves.  

[Barb135]

"What about Life's coworkers talking to each other but not to him while in the office?  Is that rude?"  Yes, if they can speak English and know that he doesn't understand/speak Spanish... there's a good chance they're only doing it to make him feel uncomfortable.  That's what I was referring to that I've had happen - when 2 people (or more) are speaking a different language, looking right at you, maybe even laughing or pointing at you, you can be pretty sure they know exactly what they're doing and it's not nice... it's very rude.

[specialmom]

What about Life's coworkers talking to each other but not to him while in the office?  Is that rude?  Or they just defaulting to their first language as I'm most likely to do.  

Agree that if three people are sitting at a table talking and two speak Spanish and one doesn't , it is rude to leave that person out of the conversation.  

[Barb135]

I don't think I explained myself well, but that's okay... IMO, it's rude to speak a different language, when you can speak English and are relatively sure that someone that could/should be involved in the conversation doesn't understand what you're saying...

[specialmom]

Even if they aren't specifically talking to someone?  If I'm with my husband and someone who speaks Spanish is there and he and I are talking while his coworker (this has actually happened) is doing his work . . .   I don't see that as rude.  If the three of us were having a conversation and we were leaving him out, that is rude.  But not people with a different first language in the vicinity of others speaking their native tongue do I see that as rude.  I'd default to English if I could in most situations because I'm more comfortable.  They default to Spanish. They think in Spanish (or whatever the first language is) first and then translate unless they've become super expert at English.  I can cut some folks some slack for that.  

[Barb135]

In the situation Life360 is talking about, where the people can, but won't speak English, is, often, simply to make someone else feel uncomfortable... I've had that happen to me where I've been where others were speaking in Spanish and looking straight at me, supposing that I couldn't understand what they were saying...

If they speak English and know or are pretty sure that people they're with don't speak Spanish, it's rude not to speak English...

[Proactive]

Probably here, French would be a better second language. Of course those Quebecers speak their own version (g)

[specialmom]

I personally didn't say Spanish had to be someone's second language.  My nephews are both taking Chinese.  

But, I like Spanish and there are a lot of Spanish speaking Americans and countries close by that one could visit that speak Spanish so it is an obviously popular language to learn.  

I learned Spanish when young, took German and French as an adult.  No, I really can't speak either very well and might be able to find a restroom or order dinner off a menu is about it.  But I tried.  :>)  

Big believer in using one's mind to grow.  

[Proactive]

and again, I'll say it depends on the area, in VT we have a
1.7% Hispanic population.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/50000.html

[Proactive]

Vance made a good point, why should spanish be the required second language learned? I took french in high school, many took latin.

[orphanedhawk]

The Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2013, making people of Hispanic origin the nation's largest ethnic or racial minority. Hispanics constituted 17 percent of the nation's total population.
(http://www.infoplease.com/spot/hhmcensus1.html)

I live in California which once was part of Mexico. There are indeed illegal and quasi-legal immigrant farm workers here but there are also many, many hispanics that were born here and have been here for generations.

Spanish is not so hard to learn, as there are many similar words and actually it's much more direct and easier than English.

I agree with specialmom. we are the odd country thinking that only one language is the way it should be.
It was amazing to me to visit Indonesia and meet an uneducated person who nonetheless spoke English, Bahasa Indonesia ( the unifying language of Indonesia) as well as his tribal language and was learning Chinese !

People usually feel more comfortable and can more accurately explain themselves in the language which they learned as a child. Perhaps this is why those workers speak Spanish.

[brice1967]

For that matter, there are an awful lot of American kids that can use a few English courses.  More and more, they seem to know less and less.

[Proactive]

" it would be odd not to offer that."
Totally depends on your location. Where I live, it's English.
And English should be required, period.

[Vance2335]

Nothing wrong with teaching kids another language but what language? You have Spanish, japanesse, several middle eastern languages, chinesse.

[specialmom]

By the way life, my husband works in international business.  He is around my age and we aren't super young . . .   he's just started an online language class to learn formal Spanish.  He has latin in his background which believe it or not, has served him well as many languages are similar and he can figure things out but wants to know more.  He's really enjoying it.  They also have these courses in which they teach you the slang and how to understand conversations (rather than formal education).  Rosetta Stone is supposed to be a good course as well.  

We should always keep our minds fresh and learning.  Keeps us young!

[specialmom]

The U.S. is one of the only countries that I know of that doesn't teach kids right off the bat a second language.  I find that unfortunate.  Every country I've ever been to internationally the vast majority of people I have encountered speak their native language and have also learned English.  

I'm teaching my kids a second language, Spanish currently. Because I'm academic in nature and feel having multiple languages makes you more intellectual.  

My son has a really good friend who moved here from a Spanish speaking country.  Our school has a program that kids in this situation enter when they first start at the school.  They must do their class work in English but they work with them initially to help them get proficient.  My son's friend is now great with his English.  But his grandmother, here legally, has trouble.  She really tries!  I would hate for her to not get proper medical care in an emergency due to a language barrier or something like that.  

When I lived in Texas during my childhood, I took Spanish in elementary school.  Lots of Spanish speaking people.  Never felt like it was an infringement on being American.  And boy, when I moved to the Midwest and started high school, it was really apparent how much more advanced I was in a second language then any other student brought up in the area I had moved to.

anyway, I don't have any problem with bilingual businesses and professionals and in this day and age, it would be odd not to offer that.  Other countries do, thank goodness since so many Americans only learn their English and are satisfied with that.  

[Life360_Dave]

Just a side note. These people at work also speak english quite well but prefer to speak spanish and think its insulting because they know i dont understand what they are saying.