“Why don’t these people learn our language?”
by Kate GawfOctober 23rd, 2005 at 12:47:29
I’ve met more of them than I can count. When they first arrive, they have the very best of intentions. They want to blend in, mingle, communicate with the citizenry, become as close to native as they can. Ready for a new life, they’re excited about their new home and envision their future selves as fully participating members of the community. But what actually happens? After a few stabs at the language, they give up. They settle into a separate community of their compatriots where they speak only their native language. They get by without the host language somehow. They have their strategies. They make do.
You’re thinking of Latinos, aren’t you? Maybe Chinese? Vietnamese? The description could be applied to some members of any of our immigrant groups. But actually, I’m writing about American ex-pats living abroad. Having lived in eight countries and traveled to several others, I’ve seen this phenomenon up close, and I’ve been amazed by the overwhelming numbers of Americans that have permanently relocated to other countries, yet remain monolingual even ten, fifteen years into it. Though I haven’t conducted a formal survey, it seems like nine out of ten Americans I meet abroad have attained at most a rudimentary, survival level of their host country language.
Fascinated by how and why this happens, I have tried to figure it out, and after decades of wondering and studying about these things and learning and teaching languages, I have. It’s not that complicated. The reason is – ready? – it’s too damn difficult for them.
And why is it too difficult? Two explanations: One, they’re past the age of puberty, and two, they have no history of language learning. A handful of individuals can advance despite those barriers if they happen to be genetically predisposed to language learning, but otherwise it’s excruciating every step of the way. And very few human beings can sustain a willingness to work extremely hard at something that never gets easier and produces little or no results.
Those are exactly the same reasons some immigrants to the US don’t learn English. Next time you meet one of these bad people who so stubbornly refuse to learn English, notice how old they are. And if they have enough English for you to ask them what other languages they speak, chances are they’ll say none – in which case you can probably assume they didn’t get much schooling in their home country, because if they had, they would have studied a second language already, and they’d be speaking English to you now. As Sid points out, “Learning languages is something the rest of the world does.â€
So now you know the answer to one of the most frequently asked questions in America: Why don’t these people learn our language? Because for most monolingual adults, language learning is grueling and painful and slow, if not altogether impossible. That’s why.
October 27th, 2005 at 10:44 am
What a riot…I loved your article because it is so true – I just got back from Prague, Krakow, Buda Pest and I certainly could not even begin to learn that language (and believe me after the Communist regime the second language was NOT English.) I personally do NOT have a propensity for language almost (sadly) not even my own …so just learning the hello and thank yous of those countries was a real laugh – but I continued to try. Your article also explained the ignorance that people do face coming to a foreign land. . . it made me laugh when I read that it was the expats not the red neck you were actually talking about!
October 27th, 2005 at 10:45 am
Besides, if you yell real loudly and slowly in your own language, the locals will get it, or at the very least you’ll a shot at a discounted Rolex…….
May 19th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
hi. i got to spend 2 years in italy and when i was trying to learn the language almost everybody was happy to help me with it and repeat back what i said to be sure we understood each other. this is a country where every village has its own dialect and some believe if a person comes from another village that they are speaking the florentine standard for the country until they realize the person is just speaking his own village dialect. then every one has a good laugh and they get on with their day. here in america i have been criticized for not using the right pronunciation for the neighborhood. i have heard people teased for trying to speak english as they have an accent of their own language. if you come here before 15 and speak english every chance you get you can lose your accent. if you come here after 20 it is almost impossible without expensive training. that is a scientific fact. i know superstition and stupidity will overcome science and intelligence every time. so here in america we are free to make the best of any situation which will never go away as we are all stupid about something so we could help others who will in turn help us with whatever we are stupid about. chas