In my many discussions about the increasing number of Latino immigrants in this country I encounter resistance from at least some of my fellow Americans. The outcry that I hear most, not too surprisingly, is that they should learn to speak English if they’re going to live here. And while almost everyone agrees that this is a worthy goal, how many of us have really thought about how challenging learning a second language can be, particularly for adults. Even when the desire and motivation is there – and it is for every immigrant I’ve ever met – there are other factors to consider:
Time: Learning a language is not like learning to knit; it takes time. Lots of time. Fluency in a second language may not be achieved for many years, if at all. I’ve been intensely studying Spanish for almost 4 years, and while I can order food in a restaurant, and have a simple conversation with un amigo, I can still only understand about 1/4 of any show on the Spanish channels. I can’t yet discuss - with any depth or nuance - my thoughts, feelings, or plans for the future. Near-native fluency is years away for me.
Money: I have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on Spanish books, cds, and tutors. I had satellite television installed so that I could watch programs in Spanish to improve my comprehension. I have a laptop and can easily access on-line dictionaries and tutorials. Not all new immigrants can afford these things. They may be working at low-paying jobs and/or sending money back home.
Personality: I’m gregarious and talkative. I like chatting with new people. I’m the kind of person who strikes up conversations with people everywhere I go. My son groans, “Mom, do you HAVE to meet someone new everyday!?”, to which I reply an enthusiastic “Yes!”. So my personality makes it easier (not easy) to learn a second language. While I am, of course, most comfortable chatting in English, my natural curiousity about people helps me to connect with Latinos as well. And you have to have a fairly strong self-concept to be willing to expose yourself to error; to step out of your comfort zone, to try to say something that you aren’t even sure is right. You have no idea how many times I’ve had to say “qué?” in response to even a rather simple phrase in Spanish. Its humbling and embarrassing. Luckily for me I care more about learning the language than looking “good” and so I am willing to expose myself to this kind of thing over and over again. How many of those people who complain that Latinos aren’t learning English are willing to put themselves in their shoes (or mine, for that matter) and risk sounding uneducated or foolish.
Its easy to say they should learn to speak English; how many of us have really thought about how that is often easier said than done?
