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I'm in Tijuana, Mexico now. I'm surprised by the low level of English prificiency ordinary people have here, considering it's only 10 minutes away from the US border.
When I went to McDonald's to order some nuggets and fries, the service girl could not even say words like medium, large in English. And she could not repeat the price in English either. So I had to pretend and guess all the time.
When I had some trouble exiting the garage, the security guy (in early 20s) could not understand any English.
Yes there are people speaking very good English, such as the ones in my hotel. However, I wonder if English is compulsory in schools here? Or any foreign language?
It is not to blame them. Just curious.
Wouldn't it be common courtesy to speak the Language of the country you are in? At least have the respect needed and learn a few basic every day words. Tit for tat.l
I mean they neighbour the most powerful country that speaks the most important language in the world. Therefore it's self-evident that being able to speak English is a no-brainer if you wanna have any success in life.
I dunno. If you wanna be a high school principal or a lawyer in Mexico you likely don't need much English at all and that's a way better job than working at McDick's or as a security guard in Tijuana.
That's where school should come into play. Don't McDonald's employees and security people go to school or they don't teach English or what? .
Of course English is taught as a second language in Mexican schools. But as evidenced by the second language results in countries all over the world (including in Anglosphere countries, usually with Spanish or French ), just because you are taught a language for X minutes a week, doesn't mean you will acquire any skills in it. For whatever reason some people never retain much at all.
In Houston I often run into Mexicans or other varieties of Latinos that do not speak English. They work in entry level jobs like McDonalds, etc.
When I lived in McAllen, Tx I encountered people that spoke English but communicated in Spanish. Their English was excellent. But, they refused to speak English unless it was necessary, like when they had to speak to me, a Latino who only speaks English. They also looked down on me and were insulted because I don't speak Spanish.
Wouldn't it be common courtesy to speak the Language of the country you are in? At least have the respect needed and learn a few basic every day words. Tit for tat.l
I'd be really surprised if that many staff at McDonald's in China speak English. Even where I live not all of the McDonald's staff speak English. And we're 10 minutes away from "English Canada" and 100 km from the U.S. border.
Why would you eat at McDonald's in China anyway?
Why do you dodge my question? I asked if they have any foreign language class in school in Mexico.
In China, for example, foreign language (usually English) is compulsory from grade 3 to grade 12 in most places. Before the 2000s, it was from grade 7 to grade 12 in all of China.
I dunno. If you wanna be a high school principal or a lawyer in Mexico you likely don't need much English at all and that's a way better job than working at McDick's or as a security guard in Tijuana.
So in Mexico, you don't need to know a foreign language to graduate from college? It's impossible in any Asian country.
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), just because you are taught a language for X minutes a week, doesn't mean you will acquire any skills in it. For whatever reason some people never retain much at all.
