Republicans back bill allowing employers to require English only

[tmma 467]

My point remains.

This is something anyone competent in counting beans could learn.

Maybe they were hired to count beans, and the language doesn't matter, because when you write '10,001' anyone can understand it.

Not really. Not if they write 10.001,50 instead of 10,000.50 like they do in some countries.

But now lets see you explain how to annote it correctly [to a new employee that does not understand English] in their own language( German, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Dutch ......etc)

Edited December 13, 2007 by tmma

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

I agree. I took my son and a friend with me to Kazan' last year. I made them learn some Russian before they went. I made it clear, you are a guest in this country. No one is going to be happy if you display a smug, "I'm an American" attitude. I said, speaking a little Russian, even poorly pronouced, will open doors. Refusing to make the attempt will generate the opposite response. I am more than happy to help someone who tries to speak English with me a whole lot quicker then the "no hablo" type. This is why, I consider anyone wanting to live and work here needs to learn English. We don't need to cater to your special needs with multilingual signs.

i agree that one should learn to speak the language of the country one is visiting or living in...which is why it frustrates me that many americans expect people in other countries to cater to them, and get angry when people in other countries dont speak english...i studied in italy, and lived in a house with 15 other american students...how many of them learned to say anything in italian? i think its quite hypocrital to expect one thing of foreigners while abroad (ie: expect them to speak english), but when others come here, we wont provide the same service to them

and yes, i love visiting countries just to see the terminal

[Brian & Kathy 0]

Using another language at work doesn't pertain to the proposed bill at all. The bill only states that an employeer can choose to require english speakers... but does not say that multilengual people are not allowed to use other languages at work. This will have no effet on anyone's choice to use their prefered language at work, so long as they are performing their job.

I work in an engineering firm with quite a few Chinese persons. They often discuss work in Chinese, because it is easier for them, and of course are still able to discuss anything in english fluently.

Well if it does, it will get challenged quickly. I know many folks that call loved ones and speak in their native language at work.

Naturally. That's why its important to be clear on what this new law actually does before throwing whole-hearted support behind it.

[Brian & Kathy 0]

You don't have to explain it in their own language. You don't have to use language at all.

10.000,50 --> 10,000.50

Understandable?

Besides, if you are working with this person, is it really that difficult to figure out their meaning when they write it in the european form?

My point remains.

This is something anyone competent in counting beans could learn.

Maybe they were hired to count beans, and the language doesn't matter, because when you write '10,001' anyone can understand it.

Not really. Not if they write 10.001,50 instead of 10,000.50 like they do in some countries.

But now lets see you explain how to annote it correctly [to a new employee that does not understand English] in their own language( German, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Dutch ......etc)

Edited December 13, 2007 by Brian & Kathy

[mawilson 2,133]

I work in an engineering firm with quite a few Chinese persons. They often discuss work in Chinese, because it is easier for them, and of course are still able to discuss anything in english fluently.

I have a problem with that.

[Brian & Kathy 0]

You have a problem with them disucssing work in chinese, in their own office, with no non-chinese speakers present?

Please explain yourself.

I work in an engineering firm with quite a few Chinese persons. They often discuss work in Chinese, because it is easier for them, and of course are still able to discuss anything in english fluently.

I have a problem with that.

Edited December 13, 2007 by Brian & Kathy

[tmma 467]

You don't have to explain it in their own language. You don't have to use language at all.

10.000,50 --> 10,000.50

Understandable?

Besides, if you are working with this person, is it really that difficult to figure out their meaning when they write it in the european form?

My point remains.

This is something anyone competent in counting beans could learn.

Maybe they were hired to count beans, and the language doesn't matter, because when you write '10,001' anyone can understand it.

Not really. Not if they write 10.001,50 instead of 10,000.50 like they do in some countries.

But now lets see you explain how to annote it correctly [to a new employee that does not understand English] in their own language( German, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Dutch ......etc)

So were you only illustrating a point with the "bean counting" analogy, or are you saying that foreign nationals that do not speak English are relegated to menial easily illustrated and explained tasks, until they do learn English?

[mawilson 2,133]

You have a problem with them disucssing work in chinese, in their own office, with no non-chinese speakers present?

Please explain yourself.

Yes. When I'm at work, I don't want my employees discussing work-related matters in foreign languages.

[Brian & Kathy 0]

It's only to illustrate a point, that if you job does not require the use of english, they should not be able to discriminate against you.

You don't have to explain it in their own language. You don't have to use language at all.

10.000,50 --> 10,000.50

Understandable?

Besides, if you are working with this person, is it really that difficult to figure out their meaning when they write it in the european form?

My point remains.

This is something anyone competent in counting beans could learn.

Maybe they were hired to count beans, and the language doesn't matter, because when you write '10,001' anyone can understand it.

Not really. Not if they write 10.001,50 instead of 10,000.50 like they do in some countries.

But now lets see you explain how to annote it correctly [to a new employee that does not understand English] in their own language( German, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Dutch ......etc)

So were you only illustrating a point with the "bean counting" analogy, or are you saying that foreign nationals that do not speak English are relegated to menial easily illustrated and explained tasks, until they do learn English?

You still aren't giving any reason for this, except for your egocentricity.

You have a problem with them disucssing work in chinese, in their own office, with no non-chinese speakers present?

Please explain yourself.

Yes. When I'm at work, I don't want my employees discussing work-related matters in foreign languages.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So as I read this – a person could be fired or receive disciplinary action for speaking a foreign language in the office, regardless of context (for example, talking to a family member over the phone), and regardless of whether it affects their work? Hmmm…

I second that hmmm...

[mawilson 2,133]

You still aren't giving any reason for this, except for your egocentricity.

You have a problem with them disucssing work in chinese, in their own office, with no non-chinese speakers present?

Please explain yourself.

Yes. When I'm at work, I don't want my employees discussing work-related matters in foreign languages.

It's very simple.

When I see two employees speaking Chinese, I have no way of knowing whether they are

indeed discussing work or talking about the weather or exchanging recipes for Egg Foo Young.

[tmma 467]

To use your illustration.....Not needing to share a common language in a job like a beancounter-consider for a moment...please.

If I was hiring a person to count my company's beans, I would want a language I understand spoken to me. So I would know how many beans I had, where they were and how fast the person was counting them. They would have to communicate that report to me in a language I understand...After all, they are my beans, and it's my company, no? A misunderstanding could cost my company and it's shareholders beans...

...See? Even the bean counter is an important person who needs to be able to communicate within the parameters of the company and their job.

It's only to illustrate a point, that if you job does not require the use of english, they should not be able to discriminate against you.

You don't have to explain it in their own language. You don't have to use language at all.

10.000,50 --> 10,000.50

Understandable?

Besides, if you are working with this person, is it really that difficult to figure out their meaning when they write it in the european form?

My point remains.

This is something anyone competent in counting beans could learn.

Maybe they were hired to count beans, and the language doesn't matter, because when you write '10,001' anyone can understand it.

Not really. Not if they write 10.001,50 instead of 10,000.50 like they do in some countries.

But now lets see you explain how to annote it correctly [to a new employee that does not understand English] in their own language( German, Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Dutch ......etc)

So were you only illustrating a point with the "bean counting" analogy, or are you saying that foreign nationals that do not speak English are relegated to menial easily illustrated and explained tasks, until they do learn English?

You still aren't giving any reason for this, except for your egocentricity.

You have a problem with them disucssing work in chinese, in their own office, with no non-chinese speakers present?

Please explain yourself.

Yes. When I'm at work, I don't want my employees discussing work-related matters in foreign languages.

[Peikko 1,575]

The bean counter would have a supervisor who would provide you with your statistics, the humble bean counter wouldn't be writing any reports.

[HAL 9000 96]

Ah but, English is a great stick to beat the ignorant with, don't take it away from the Republicans!

You mean those that are able to utilize English appropriately. All too many times I hear griping about foreigners this and foreigners that not wanting to learn English to work in this country all the while the English language continues its downward spiral within the complainers. That is hipocrisy.

FYI- most of these foreigners that I come across that are, by the way, doing those jobs that the complainers don't want to be doing in the first place, trying their best to learn this language of choice. Some even learn it better than many of the complainers.

[no name 1]

The bean counter would have a supervisor who would provide you with your statistics, the humble bean counter wouldn't be writing any reports.

If I was hiring a person to count my company's beans, I would want a language I understand spoken to me. So I would know how many beans I had, where they were and how fast the person was counting them. They would have to communicate that report to me in a language I understand...After all, they are my beans, and it's my company, no? A misunderstanding could cost my company and it's shareholders beans...

Edited December 13, 2007 by devilette