As for why 70% of the Asians over there can't speak English? I'm not sure, probably because they are too busy earning money and because it is possible to get by in the USA without learning english. A lot of asians live in the USA. Maybe it has something to do with grammar and the difference in language systems.
But anyways, there are also a lot of English speaking people in Holland whom don't learn to speak Dutch. A lot of Dutch people speak pretty good English, so they can easily get by in Holland without learning Dutch. People in Holland don't make a big deal about these English speaking people, but they do make a big deal about people from non-western countries that don't speak Dutch.
For me, I suppose it's a matter of desire: I don't mind when people don't speak the language well, or have a heavy accent. I DO mind when they make no effort to learn...to branch out beyond their small communites
A lot of hispanics can get by in the US not speaking English too--you're just in the wrong part of the country for that. The strange thing living in Miami (for four years when I was a kid) was that, rather than getting annoyed with people speaking Spanish, people in jobs like yours got annoyed with people speaking English. I just remember that it pissed my mom off that she would be helped when she spoke Spanish but not when she spoke English in a store.
Keep on chugging. It doesn't sound easy, but you're doing well for yourself. I mean, a month ago you showed up in the Bay Area with nothing, and look where you are now!
Wouldn't it be funny if you taught SAT prep to the girl whose mom made that comment? I mean it's highly improbable, but that would be poetic justiice.
HAHAHAHA...I didn't even think of the SAT prep. Actually, it IS entirely possible. She is high-school aged...probably a sophomore or junior. And Kalpan is the biggest SAT prep in this area...
I'm sure they're probably not content to not know English fluently, but you get by with what you can. In general, some of them are probably too old to learn it well or don't have enough time to invest it in with jobs and a family to take care of. I think that's the case with my parents, they tried but they were in their 30s when they came to the U.S. with 4 kids to raise. I can understand you being frustrated though because I am too at work when someone doesn't speak English and expects me to just magically know how to help them. :oP There are a lot of times where I just stand there and stare at them until they go away.
Anyhow, they get by because they have their kids to help them.
Good luck at your job. I always think everyone should have a customer service job once in their life and maybe we will all be nicer to others.
I completely agree with that last statement. I really think that working in customer service (even for a month or two!) can teach you SO much about patience :)
You'll find that a lot of Chinese people don't bother learning much English because they tend to stay in a tight little circle with other Chinese people and refuse to talk to whites.
Though, that lady who used you as an example to her daughter really should've fucking known better. Every Chinese person in the area probably knows some Chinese, and insulting someone like they don't know what you're talking about (when they probably understand) is just horrible. I wish you did tell her off.
I kinda wish that I could have...but it would have put me in a really compromising position. And besides, she would probably just use it as an excuse to showcase my "bad manners" to her daughter.
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As for why 70% of the Asians over there can't speak English? I'm not sure, probably because they are too busy earning money and because it is possible to get by in the USA without learning english. A lot of asians live in the USA. Maybe it has something to do with grammar and the difference in language systems.
But anyways, there are also a lot of English speaking people in Holland whom don't learn to speak Dutch. A lot of Dutch people speak pretty good English, so they can easily get by in Holland without learning Dutch. People in Holland don't make a big deal about these English speaking people, but they do make a big deal about people from non-western countries that don't speak Dutch.
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For me, I suppose it's a matter of desire: I don't mind when people don't speak the language well, or have a heavy accent. I DO mind when they make no effort to learn...to branch out beyond their small communites
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Keep on chugging. It doesn't sound easy, but you're doing well for yourself. I mean, a month ago you showed up in the Bay Area with nothing, and look where you are now!
Wouldn't it be funny if you taught SAT prep to the girl whose mom made that comment? I mean it's highly improbable, but that would be poetic justiice.
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That would be frickin' hilarious :)
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Anyhow, they get by because they have their kids to help them.
Good luck at your job. I always think everyone should have a customer service job once in their life and maybe we will all be nicer to others.
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Either that, or having kids.
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Though, that lady who used you as an example to her daughter really should've fucking known better. Every Chinese person in the area probably knows some Chinese, and insulting someone like they don't know what you're talking about (when they probably understand) is just horrible. I wish you did tell her off.
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