Do you feel there is a double standard in America?

Question

when an immigrant/vacationer comes to America we expect them to speak English. which is what we should expect. but when Americans travel to different countries they expect the locals to know English. now i can only speak for myself, which i am an American, so i dont know the rest of Americans act. I have been to several Spanish speaking countries and most of the people i travel with complain that the locals dont know any English. I am like we are in a different country we shouldnt expect them to know English. I in no way fluent in Spanish (yet) but i can speak it and understand it and can hold a conversation. Maybe it is just the people i travel with and should find different members to travel

Answer 1

When/ if I travel to a foreign country I 'don't really expect anyone to know english.  The only reason I might think they would speak english is if I'm in a known english tourist area (like Cozumel)... anyways I don't think it's unreasonable then since they actively advertize to Americans.  It is probably just the people you are with.  I live in TX and everyone around here has to take spanish in school since we live so close to the border.

Answer 2

First, our country has catered, especially to spanish and mexicans, to ensure they are not afforded any uncomfort or difficulty in their inability to speak english.  Second, I have traveled across the globe.  No one is expected to speak english.  Most of the merchants at hot spots do, because they are able to con americans into paying ungodly prices for their trinkets.

Answer 3

but we shouldn't be expected to learn SPANISH either.

Answer 4

We do not expect vacationers to speak English. Nor do we expect legal immigrants to know English the second they get here.

We do expect immigrants to learn the language as they begin to work and live in the US. We provide many opportunities for them to learn the language. We provide free English classes for their children.

I have traveled around the world and in many places English was not spoken nor did I expect it to be. I learned enough of the local language to enjoy my vacation.

Answer 5

No I don't feel there is. Everyone I know who has traveled to other countries has had the respect to learn atleast enough of the language to get by. They never expected anyone to learn English to accomodate them.