Why do so few Mexicans speak basic English? (to live, teach, pay)
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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?
Most of the people in TJ who speak good English, work in San Diego. I work with a lot of people and always have who live across the border. The jobs pay better on this side of the border so this is where most of them work. It's of course cheaper to live there.
How is your level of Spanish proficiency? It is polite when visiting a foreign country to try to speak the local language... How is the level of Spanish proficiency in ordinary people in your hometown?
Speaking a foreign language is hard, and if you are a McDonald's worker or a security guy, chances are you don't have the time, motivation and/or resources to learn a foreign language.
How is your level of Spanish proficiency? It is polite when visiting a foreign country to try to speak the local language... How is the level of Spanish proficiency in ordinary people in your hometown?
Speaking a foreign language is hard, and if you are a McDonald's worker or a security guy, chances are you don't have the time, motivation and/or resources to learn a foreign language.
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? 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.
How is your level of Spanish proficiency? It is polite when visiting a foreign country to try to speak the local language... How is the level of Spanish proficiency in ordinary people in your hometown?
Speaking a foreign language is hard, and if you are a McDonald's worker or a security guy, chances are you don't have the time, motivation and/or resources to learn a foreign language.
So they did not have any foreign language class in school?
If you go to a major city in China, at least the McDonald's staff speak basic English. And China is on the other side of the globe.
Last edited by Bettafish; 07-19-2017 at 01:39 AM..
Historically, the Mexicans considered the 1846-1848 War as US intervention in Mexico.
The reason is protection of nationalism and identity. It happened in many countries, especially in the 1800s-1900s.
Since NAFTA and going forward, that may change in the particular US-Mexico dynamic, but it will take at least three generations, and then again it may not change and go into some sort of reverse.
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.
So they did not have any foreign language class in school?
If you go to a major city in China, at least the McDonald's staff speak basic English. And China is on the other side of the globe.
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.
Most higher end places (tourist traps) in Mexico have English speakers.
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