America the Baffled: One in Four Americans...

[Tmall]

Ask the average American about a different country if you really want to see dumbfounded looks.

[Avatard]

Hmm...I wonder, do more Americans know the language of the country immediately to their South, than Mexicans know the language of the country immediately to their North?

Hmm. Tough call. Most Americans don't even know what language the largest country in South America even speaks. The next American to say "So, you're Brazilian...you speak Spanish?" to me gets a fucking throat punch.

[racedoll]

Originally Posted by 101lifts2

Is your husband Mexican?

No
He's just really old and can't remember back that far

I loved history class, so I sort of remember things like this.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by Avatard

Hmm...I wonder, do more Americans know the language of the country immediately to their South, than Mexicans know the language of the country immediately to their North?

Hmm. Tough call. Most Americans don't even know what language the largest country in South America even speaks. The next American to say "So, you're Brazilian...you speak Spanish?" to me gets a fucking throat punch.

I'm learning Portuguese right now. Mad respect for your language, man. Holy crap it's difficult.

My kids knew, their friends that were over knew. It became a game, they now have been asking each person as they walk into my house

[Trip]

Originally Posted by Avatard

Hmm...I wonder, do more Americans know the language of the country immediately to their South, than Mexicans know the language of the country immediately to their North?

I wonder if there is more of a need for an American who wants to stay in the USA to know Spanish or for a Mexican that wants to leave Mexico to come to the USA to learn English?

I learned French when I was young because of my Acadian heritage, I haven't thought about it in so many years I am not even close to competent in the language.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Avatard

Hmm...I wonder, do more Americans know the language of the country immediately to their South, than Mexicans know the language of the country immediately to their North?

Hmm. Tough call. Most Americans don't even know what language the largest country in South America even speaks. The next American to say "So, you're Brazilian...you speak Spanish?" to me gets a fucking throat punch.

Most of us couldn't give a shit

[Avatard]

Isolationism in today's global market economy. How's that working out?

Hmmm. That bad, huh?

Education can fix that, you know.

[Avatard]

Originally Posted by azoomm

I'm learning Portuguese right now. Mad respect for your language, man. Holy crap it's difficult.

13 verb tenses...what's so tough?



Edit: Try this... http://www.conjuga-me.net/en/

Originally Posted by azoomm

My kids knew, their friends that were over knew. It became a game, they now have been asking each person as they walk into my house

Next thing you know, they'll be able to pronounce "Guarana".

Ok, that's a stretch.

[Trip]

Originally Posted by Avatard

Isolationism in today's global market economy. How's that working out?

Hmmm. That bad, huh?

Education can fix that, you know.

And how is the average American and Mexican going to be playing in the global market? Usually that would be the educated Americans that do learn foreign languages that deal with other countries. If they don't learn the country's language they are dealing with, that is stupid.

The maintenance personnel of a manufacturing plant isn't going to need to know foreign languages to do their job. The blue collars that will be selling the product to foreign countries might want to learn some though.

[Avatard]

You're right. Education is a waste. Let's keep everyone ignorant.