For those of u that say "u need to know some spanish" to live in Miami... (Hialeah: neighborhoods, shopping center)

[gymbuff]

The funny thing is that I do live smack dab in the middle of Hialeah and when I have gone to several Bank Of Americas, everyone speaks English. Mind you, it might be English with a heavy accent and the ocassionally incorrectly conjugated verb, but English is spoken nevertheless.

[valicky]

It would be wonderful if the people that complained about others not knowing English would know it themselves. You know, like the old saying about not pointing a finger at someone because there will be three pointing right back at you.

[angelscorpio]

I don't understand why some people say most people in MIami speak Spanish. Since I came to the U.S. most ppl speak English in almost every part of Miami excepting La pequena havana... Ditto for most Homestead areas in despite my incredulity to this respect.

[jasper12]

Sure. No problem. You order deli turkey, sliced thin, and Swiss cheese. You end up with chicken and provolone.

You go to McDonald's and order a large iced latte with caramel. You get a small, hot mocha.

I could go on...sure...you can do fine in Miami with no Spanish....you just make do.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by OptimusPrime69

I disagree.

I've lived in south Florida for well over 10 years now and tho Spanish is dominant, I have not needed to learn it to function in daily life.

Yes, u hear Spanish more than English, however when I converse with someone in English I dont think I can think of more than 2 or 3 times that the person could not communicate back with me....at least on some basic level.

When I go to restaurants, bars, stores, etc. I speak english and I get response in english. I dont see the big deal and why some people get annoyed at the fact that "no one can speak english" in Miami..... it simply is not true. Miami is spanish speaking with english as the de-facto 2nd language.

I for one think that a bi-lingual city is a good thing. It's good to know more than one language. Even tho I haven't had to learn spanish, I enjoy hearing it and picking up on some words and phrases....as I feel as if I am gaining a basic understanding of it.

amirite or amirite?

It all depends on where you live. I live on the east side of miami and I hear french far more than I hear spanish. It just depends on where you are at. However, if someone was living near sweetwater, little havana or some other heavily hispanic area, I would assume it is true; Spanish is needed. It just depends on where you find yourself living. But also, I guess people should do research before moving to a place, right? For instance, I am not going to move to little haiti, if I think creole or not knowing it would be a problem for me.

I would also add, the places I frequent outside of my neighborhood, I don't feel Spanish is the defacto language at all. I mean, I hear it, but I don't feel like "omg Im surrounded by people I don't understand", get me? But again, I think it would be 100% different if I lived out west some where.

[Wild Style]

Originally Posted by jasper12

Sure. No problem. You order deli turkey, sliced thin, and Swiss cheese. You end up with chicken and provolone.

You go to McDonald's and order a large iced latte with caramel. You get a small, hot mocha.

I could go on...sure...you can do fine in Miami with no Spanish....you just make do.

Where in Miami did that happen to you at? I am just asking because I am curious if my theory of east, versus west holds true.

[jasper12]

Publix in Coral Way. McDonalds in Doral.

[valicky]

When I go to the Publix deli I am always given a sample of what I'm asking for to taste and see about the slice thickness. I thought they did that in all the Publixes. McD's gets everyone's order wrong - I don't care where you are. Never ever leave there without checking your order.

[meiguogubaren]

我唔中意邁阿密呀！我要好多中國人會嚟住呢度講用中文！
I don't really care much about this subject anymore because honestly the people here in Miami don't give a damn, and it doesn't matter how much you try to teach them and advise them to learn/speak English, it doesn't work. Miami Latinos are proud people and they won't learn English for no one, and those that speak both couldn't care less because they're used to it.
It's very tribal here, people only look out for their own.

p.s. if you can understand what I wrote above, then kuddos to you, if not, then that's an example of what many Anglos (and non-Latino people) face in Miami on a daily basis, being lost in translation.

[WINTERFRONT]

You live in Little Havana...