I think it was awesome what the guy did. I totally think if you’re going to live somewhere learn the language. I mean most schools make you take a language anyway, even the parents should learn them too. Night Classes people
Oh another note, my Mom came up with the idea that they might have that sperm because they wanted to have a kid, and instead of getting some random person from a sperm bank, they wanted her brothers instead.. so that it was ‘family.’
Insane either way.
I def think you should try to learn the language. I lived 5 years in Germany cuz my husband was in the Army and I’m no where near fluent, but learned enough to not make a nuisance of myself….and how to tell the Polezei I was framed….
In reference to whether or not people should learn the language of the country they live in, the answer is: yes they should; however, the reality is they often can’t.
I have been teaching English As a Second Language to adults and children for the last few years and I am also a guera who speaks Spanish. Not to brag, but I have also studied eight languages and while I don’t necessarily consider myself an expert on language acquisition, I’d like to think I know a thing or two on the matter.
As for the reasons they CAN’T learn English, it can be attributed to three main factors:
1) “They,” being those who are often considered the lazy and defiant evildoers who refuse to learn English, can’t because they are actually uneducated in their first language. Study after study proves that your fluency and literacy level in your native language directly influences how quickly and how well you learn a second language. What is often the case is that many people are not literate in Spanish (or other languages), thus they can’t easily acquire English.
Guess what? The education systems in other countries is not like the United States and due to higher levels of poverty, people are often not fortunate enough to go to school because they have to drop out and begin working at a younger age.
2) There is something known as the “Critical Age Hypothesis” which essentially states that after puberty, something in your brain shuts down that allows you to acquire ANY language fluently and with ease. Thus people studying Spanish or French, or any second language from the age of 9th grade on are pretty much screwed. How many people do you know who studied a foreign language like Spanish for four years and couldn’t retain a goddamn thing beyond, “Cerveza” and “Dónde esta el baño?” The wiring of the brain is a major factor in whether or not someone can acquire a second language.
3) They don’t have time. Many immigrants have not one, not two, but three jobs in order to support themselves and families. I don’t think people understand sometimes just how shitty of a job picking berries is and how poorly it pays. Many families I have met through the years struggled working two jobs just to survive. So when are they supposed to fit in a night class at a local community college?
Finally, the thing I find ironic is that it is acceptable for some language groups to continue speaking their native language, when others can’t. Have you ever heard of a place called Chinatown?
I would say it’s not really a choice by many of them not to learn English. In fact, I would say many want to because they recognize the necessity, but they simply can’t. I can’t tell you how many people of the years have actually sought out my help in teaching them English, but couldn’t because it became problematic when they didn’t even understand how to write in their first language.
Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to get off my soap box.
i think that guy set a great example. if one person can do it, then so can the rest. at least trying, knowing some english, being able to say yes or no, anything, something. there’s no way you can live here and not learn ANY english, people are being completely submerged into the language. they’re not stupid, they will pick up on some eventually but they need to try.
I think that you should learn the language. I go to school in Japan right now and I would be shit outta luck if I didn’t know the language. Plus… they talk about you…. <.<… in Japanese. But if you speak the language you can be like ‘Pow! What bitch?! I know what you’re saying!’ and call them out…. I suppose it also helps with like… getting around… and shopping…
I think what the Asian guy did is nearly discrimination, if not discrimination itself. Of course you should at least understand and speak a bit of the language of the country you live, but just because the other guy didn’t speak English = no helping that guy?
To the QOTD:
1) was that what the Asian did wrong? –> see above
2) It’s not bad to speak the native language of a foreign country you’re living in (at least the important parts to geht a chance to communicate with other people)
The turkey baster-thing: oh my god xD. The article says that the girlfriend of the turkey baster-woman didn’t want to get pregnant. Then the action of the tb-woman were virtually attempted rape… The people never ceases to amuse themselves…
about the sxephil / phillyd-pics: the pregnant lady is defenitively awesome.
I think you should learn the language of the country that you live in,this problem is very close to me,becaus i live in Latvia and we have many russian people here,and they don’t care that they dont krow the language,they even protested when Latvian president said that in school the have to learn in latvian laguage…
But I ( i’m born in this contry) know latvian,russian,and english…russians just don’t respect us because we are very smaal country.
the Asian guy was totally in the wrong.
doesn’t he have any memories of when he couldn’t speak English?
I bet it sucked, because English is the hardest language to learn, you know.
that was funny…
but to ur question, ur right, if someone moves to another country where they have to learn the language, they have no other option than actually learn the language!!….
in my case i came from Peru and i HAD to learn it!!!….
so yea in ur case if u go to another country where they speak spanish, u have to lear a bit of spanish to be able to comunicate with ppl…
xD!
IM TOTALLY ONE OF THOSE HISPANIC BABY BOX TRANSLATORS.
well except for the hispanic part. and the baby part. but the rest of its toootttaallyy true.
having been one…well, MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE i think were pretty effective.
but this lifestyle sucks. i always felt really used growing up and it resulted in this really irrational fear of calling people.
That isn’t just in your country, its everywhere that the USSR broke up to form small countries. I’m from Chisinau and there’s a lot of problems with language. If you go into a Moldovians (someone who’s born there and speaks Moldovan and Russian) store and you speak Russian to them they will ignore you, pretend that you aren’t there. They will only answer you if you speak Moldovan (even though they understand you) because they believe that it’s their country, it’s not Russia anymore and so everyone should speak Moldovan.
Russians do the same thing to the Moldovians, though not as frequently as Moldovians and a lot of the Russians just don’t speak the language.
HAHAHAHAHA I do that when I go back to the ‘homeland’ or ‘mother country’ or whatever you prefer. I’m really Americanized, most especially in my appearance so when I’m there everyone can tell just by looking at me that I’m American and they blatantly talk shit about me…very loudly too I might add, not worried at all about being overheard. I enjoy walking down the street, having a bunch of guys behind me talking about how great I look and how I must be pretty rich being from America so they wouldn’t mind ‘tearin that ass up’ as we would say; then at a really emberassing part I turn around and hand them their balls. It’s a really great pasttime. lol
I also doubly enjoy pulling that shit right here in the States. The Russians at my school and neighborhood don’t know I’m Russian so when they’re talking about something I pretend like I don’t understand and just smile and nod
at the beginning of your post i was totally in agreeance, there were little voices in the back of my head going “yaayy random dude! you tell ‘em!” but things just went downhill from there. being not born in the states but speaking english really well i can understand and know both points of view.
its definitely something the immigrant should at least attempt, at the very least. especially the important yes/no/hello/goodbye/how much is this?/where’s the bathroom? all those phrases in the ESOL books they give out nowadays
but really though? if they dont pick up on it theyre stupid? ppfftt YOURE stupid if thats really how you feel about the subject. most of these people emigrating here are over 30. if you do the math that means theyve spoken the same language for thirty years. at that age its really difficult to re-learn a task like language. notice i said difficult; it isnt impossible – no. but its hard, and for most people its much less time consuming and nerve wracking to get their child or friend (who presumably speak english) to do all their talking for them.
Most of the time, because of the inability to learn the language…the frustration, the time spent trying so hard to learn so few words that they still barely understand, the lack of time to SPEND on this subject that the immigrants really do want to learn – they give up and take the ‘easy’ way out by asking a child/relative/family friend to speak on their behalf. Many Americans and English speakers attribute this to laziness, like you’ve mentioned, but it has a lot to do with how humans as a species are wired to react and think.
It’s always easier for the bystander to demand something of the accused, but when it comes down to it 99.9%of the time they would have reacted in just the same way.
March 18th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
are we talking about the turkey-baster girl in massachusetts??
March 18th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I think it was awesome what the guy did. I totally think if you’re going to live somewhere learn the language. I mean most schools make you take a language anyway, even the parents should learn them too. Night Classes people
March 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Please cheesy tapdancing Jesus, tell me you aren’t wearing a thrasher jersey, it’s just some cruel form of editing.
March 18th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Haha I love how you made that post the d-bag of the day.
And if you move to another country to live, I do think you should try to learn the language, even if you aren’t the best at it.
March 18th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Oh another note, my Mom came up with the idea that they might have that sperm because they wanted to have a kid, and instead of getting some random person from a sperm bank, they wanted her brothers instead.. so that it was ‘family.’
Insane either way.
March 18th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
… imagine if u didnt realise the turkey-baster was full of sperm. that would make for some nasty tasted turkey :/
March 18th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
The turkey baster thing….yuck….
I def think you should try to learn the language. I lived 5 years in Germany cuz my husband was in the Army and I’m no where near fluent, but learned enough to not make a nuisance of myself….and how to tell the Polezei I was framed….
March 18th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Yeah @ the language for sure… I mean it IS the native language, and you are NOW a native. Not sayin’ you should forget your old culture though.
And, yeah, they are the best forums ever.
March 18th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
In reference to whether or not people should learn the language of the country they live in, the answer is: yes they should; however, the reality is they often can’t.
I have been teaching English As a Second Language to adults and children for the last few years and I am also a guera who speaks Spanish. Not to brag, but I have also studied eight languages and while I don’t necessarily consider myself an expert on language acquisition, I’d like to think I know a thing or two on the matter.
As for the reasons they CAN’T learn English, it can be attributed to three main factors:
1) “They,” being those who are often considered the lazy and defiant evildoers who refuse to learn English, can’t because they are actually uneducated in their first language. Study after study proves that your fluency and literacy level in your native language directly influences how quickly and how well you learn a second language. What is often the case is that many people are not literate in Spanish (or other languages), thus they can’t easily acquire English.
Guess what? The education systems in other countries is not like the United States and due to higher levels of poverty, people are often not fortunate enough to go to school because they have to drop out and begin working at a younger age.
2) There is something known as the “Critical Age Hypothesis” which essentially states that after puberty, something in your brain shuts down that allows you to acquire ANY language fluently and with ease. Thus people studying Spanish or French, or any second language from the age of 9th grade on are pretty much screwed. How many people do you know who studied a foreign language like Spanish for four years and couldn’t retain a goddamn thing beyond, “Cerveza” and “Dónde esta el baño?” The wiring of the brain is a major factor in whether or not someone can acquire a second language.
3) They don’t have time. Many immigrants have not one, not two, but three jobs in order to support themselves and families. I don’t think people understand sometimes just how shitty of a job picking berries is and how poorly it pays. Many families I have met through the years struggled working two jobs just to survive. So when are they supposed to fit in a night class at a local community college?
Finally, the thing I find ironic is that it is acceptable for some language groups to continue speaking their native language, when others can’t. Have you ever heard of a place called Chinatown?
I would say it’s not really a choice by many of them not to learn English. In fact, I would say many want to because they recognize the necessity, but they simply can’t. I can’t tell you how many people of the years have actually sought out my help in teaching them English, but couldn’t because it became problematic when they didn’t even understand how to write in their first language.
Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time for me to get off my soap box.
March 18th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I think if you move to a country you should at least try to learn the language, or start learning before you go to it.
( Oh Phill you if you like playing Resident Evil 5, try playing F.E.A.R. 2, its an awsome game! and scary if you play it at night.)
March 18th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
“We’re sorry, this video is no longer available.” FUCK YOU…..TUBE.
March 18th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
As soon as I swear out youtube… the vid works. Amused.
March 18th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
why is the video unavailable? im sad! HELP!
March 18th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
I feel that what the Asian guy did is a great way to set an example.
March 18th, 2009 at 9:08 pm
i think that guy set a great example. if one person can do it, then so can the rest. at least trying, knowing some english, being able to say yes or no, anything, something. there’s no way you can live here and not learn ANY english, people are being completely submerged into the language. they’re not stupid, they will pick up on some eventually but they need to try.
March 18th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
I think that you should learn the language. I go to school in Japan right now and I would be shit outta luck if I didn’t know the language. Plus… they talk about you…. <.<… in Japanese. But if you speak the language you can be like ‘Pow! What bitch?! I know what you’re saying!’ and call them out…. I suppose it also helps with like… getting around… and shopping…
March 18th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
use the reload button.
March 18th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
I think what the Asian guy did is nearly discrimination, if not discrimination itself. Of course you should at least understand and speak a bit of the language of the country you live, but just because the other guy didn’t speak English = no helping that guy?
To the QOTD:
1) was that what the Asian did wrong? –> see above
2) It’s not bad to speak the native language of a foreign country you’re living in (at least the important parts to geht a chance to communicate with other people)
The turkey baster-thing: oh my god xD. The article says that the girlfriend of the turkey baster-woman didn’t want to get pregnant. Then the action of the tb-woman were virtually attempted rape… The people never ceases to amuse themselves…
about the sxephil / phillyd-pics: the pregnant lady is defenitively awesome.
March 18th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Ne1 else getting a “video removed” notice? Where is it now?
March 18th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
blarg! it’s not working! lack of phillyd equals unhappiness.
March 19th, 2009 at 12:16 am
youtube sucks big time!!!!!
March 19th, 2009 at 8:37 am
I think you should learn the language of the country that you live in,this problem is very close to me,becaus i live in Latvia and we have many russian people here,and they don’t care that they dont krow the language,they even protested when Latvian president said that in school the have to learn in latvian laguage…
But I ( i’m born in this contry) know latvian,russian,and english…russians just don’t respect us because we are very smaal country.
March 19th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
the Asian guy was totally in the wrong.
doesn’t he have any memories of when he couldn’t speak English?
I bet it sucked, because English is the hardest language to learn, you know.
March 19th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Your talking school in Japan! So lucky! I wish I could go over there. ^_^
March 20th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
the USA doesnt have a national language. therefor what language are they sopose to learn?
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:47 pm
that was funny…
but to ur question, ur right, if someone moves to another country where they have to learn the language, they have no other option than actually learn the language!!….
in my case i came from Peru and i HAD to learn it!!!….
so yea in ur case if u go to another country where they speak spanish, u have to lear a bit of spanish to be able to comunicate with ppl…
xD!
March 29th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
IM TOTALLY ONE OF THOSE HISPANIC BABY BOX TRANSLATORS.
well except for the hispanic part. and the baby part. but the rest of its toootttaallyy true.
having been one…well, MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE i think were pretty effective.
but this lifestyle sucks. i always felt really used growing up and it resulted in this really irrational fear of calling people.
March 29th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
thats really true. my parents have lived here (the US) over fourteen years and still cant speak it – although they both speak three other languages
March 29th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
That isn’t just in your country, its everywhere that the USSR broke up to form small countries. I’m from Chisinau and there’s a lot of problems with language. If you go into a Moldovians (someone who’s born there and speaks Moldovan and Russian) store and you speak Russian to them they will ignore you, pretend that you aren’t there. They will only answer you if you speak Moldovan (even though they understand you) because they believe that it’s their country, it’s not Russia anymore and so everyone should speak Moldovan.
Russians do the same thing to the Moldovians, though not as frequently as Moldovians and a lot of the Russians just don’t speak the language.
March 29th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
HAHAHAHAHA I do that when I go back to the ‘homeland’ or ‘mother country’ or whatever you prefer. I’m really Americanized, most especially in my appearance so when I’m there everyone can tell just by looking at me that I’m American and they blatantly talk shit about me…very loudly too I might add, not worried at all about being overheard. I enjoy walking down the street, having a bunch of guys behind me talking about how great I look and how I must be pretty rich being from America so they wouldn’t mind ‘tearin that ass up’ as we would say; then at a really emberassing part I turn around and hand them their balls. It’s a really great pasttime. lol
I also doubly enjoy pulling that shit right here in the States. The Russians at my school and neighborhood don’t know I’m Russian so when they’re talking about something I pretend like I don’t understand and just smile and nod
March 29th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
at the beginning of your post i was totally in agreeance, there were little voices in the back of my head going “yaayy random dude! you tell ‘em!” but things just went downhill from there. being not born in the states but speaking english really well i can understand and know both points of view.
its definitely something the immigrant should at least attempt, at the very least. especially the important yes/no/hello/goodbye/how much is this?/where’s the bathroom? all those phrases in the ESOL books they give out nowadays
but really though? if they dont pick up on it theyre stupid? ppfftt YOURE stupid if thats really how you feel about the subject. most of these people emigrating here are over 30. if you do the math that means theyve spoken the same language for thirty years. at that age its really difficult to re-learn a task like language. notice i said difficult; it isnt impossible – no. but its hard, and for most people its much less time consuming and nerve wracking to get their child or friend (who presumably speak english) to do all their talking for them.
March 29th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
I just wanted to add on a little psychology.
Most of the time, because of the inability to learn the language…the frustration, the time spent trying so hard to learn so few words that they still barely understand, the lack of time to SPEND on this subject that the immigrants really do want to learn – they give up and take the ‘easy’ way out by asking a child/relative/family friend to speak on their behalf. Many Americans and English speakers attribute this to laziness, like you’ve mentioned, but it has a lot to do with how humans as a species are wired to react and think.
It’s always easier for the bystander to demand something of the accused, but when it comes down to it 99.9%of the time they would have reacted in just the same way.
March 30th, 2009 at 1:42 am
WELL, actually I think you are 100% wrong Danielle… That’s all
“Oh my god Becky, did you see Phil’s sunburn? He is soo sunburned. It’s soo dangerous and sexy!” Best line everrr! Keep up the awesome work buddy!
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Wheres the segment on Fanny&Freddy Makes A.I.G look like a fucking after school special