'The Importance of Understanding English*

[Scott & Lai 12]

When Americans go to countries where English isn't spoken or is a minority language, and expect everyone to accomodate them and speak English, they are considered arrogant and are called "Ugly Americans." Why doesn't that work in reverse?

[Ban Hammer 14,635]

When Americans go to countries where English isn't spoken or is a minority language, and expect everyone to accomodate them and speak English, they are considered arrogant and are called "Ugly Americans." Why doesn't that work in reverse?

[LoveMyTico 999]

GOOD QUESTION....

[Peikko 1,575]

Not really, it is all in the way you try to communicate to someone speaking a language other than your own. Americans (well, anyone really) who understand that there will be difficulties and do all in their power to facilitate understanding will be respected and everyone will try their best to come to an understanding. Americans (and anyone for that matter) who 'expects' someone to understand them, after all everyone should understand English, right? Is going to be treated badly if not to their face (smart business people will still try to do the deal) in talking about their behaviour afterwards. Apart from anything else, the 'loudmouth' American tourist is a stereotype and the art of communication is open to all.

[almaty 19]

philly and philly cheese steaks sux...

[LoveMyTico 999]

philly and philly cheese steaks sux...

Ummmm ok. You're opinion.... WHATEVER !

[Mononoke28 137]

When Americans go to countries where English isn't spoken or is a minority language, and expect everyone to accomodate them and speak English, they are considered arrogant and are called "Ugly Americans." Why doesn't that work in reverse?

I've only seen it with American tourists who huff and puff any time they're in another country and can't find someone who can't speak English. Americans who live in other countries however, either don't learn the language and accept the fact that nobody understands them or they give up and learn it.

Here in the US, I haven't seen one tourist who has a fit whenever someone doesn't speak their language, and the people who live here are the same as the Americans who live abroad, either they learn it or learn to live in their own little world.

You're comparing apples with oranges. They're both fruits, but different in every other way.

Diana

Edited January 22, 2009 by Mononoke28

[NickD 203]

Ha, at an English restaurant, I do the ordering, at a Mexican, wife takes care of that, at a Chinese, we both point at the menu.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I speak Engleesh very good. I learn it. From a book.

[Jasman0717 9]

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

[SAT 9,609]

'The Importance of Understanding English*

I had a bunch of Canadian dollars I needed to exchange, so I went to the

Currency exchange window at the local bank. Short line.

Just one lady in front of me . An Asian lady who was trying to

exchange yen for dollars and she was a little irritated .

She asked the teller, 'Why it change?? Yesterday, I get two hunat dolla fo

yen. Today I get hunat eighty?? Why it change?'

The teller shrugged his shoulders and said, 'Fluctuations'.

The Asian lady says, 'Fluc you white people, too*

Nostradamus had predicted that the Chinese would not learn English.........

[LoveMyTico 999]

'The Importance of Understanding English*

I had a bunch of Canadian dollars I needed to exchange, so I went to the

Currency exchange window at the local bank. Short line.

Just one lady in front of me . An Asian lady who was trying to

exchange yen for dollars and she was a little irritated .

She asked the teller, 'Why it change?? Yesterday, I get two hunat dolla fo

yen. Today I get hunat eighty?? Why it change?'

The teller shrugged his shoulders and said, 'Fluctuations'.

The Asian lady says, 'Fluc you white people, too*

Nostradamus had predicted that the Chinese would not learn English.........

I predict it will take me years to learn SPANISH.