Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Learn To Speak English

People from other countries worry about speaking and writing English, especially with Americans, but our literacy rates are really poor and most who speak English as a second language do so better than us. Additionally, with the exception of college students and business people, none of us go out of our way to learn your language before visiting your country, so you shouldn’t worry too much about welcoming us. I actually like learning about other countries, their language, culture, demographics, how much fluoride is in their public drinking water, etc. But in this day and age, we still have people too damn lazy to at least Google a country's name to find a little info on how not to be an asshole. 
On the flip side, we have idiots here who espouse how everything to do with (insert random country) is better than America. Some of them try and dress like they're from other countries, or correct you when you pronounce their name, preferring the original, old-country one their ancestors left behind generations ago; some rename themselves to sound imported. They usually cling to one or two news stories about how the United States is drastically behind said country. Everything we do is wrong, and in this country they have a better way. Sure, we're not the best at everything, but like all countries, we certainly try, and despite hitting obstacles along the way, we're doing pretty well over here. 
Some are even more general praise language-specific countries, because all of the Spanish-speaking ones, regardless of which, have better roads than the U.S. and all of the French-speaking ones have lower crime rates. Thanks for being specific, Santiago Martin. But I'm missing my point. When talking to Americans, don't explain that English is not your first language, since it will be apparent, and certainly don't apologize for only spending a year learning it and being able to communicate without a translator, since most of us would walk around looking for English-speaking people. Most importantly, don't pretend to be something you're not.

These people exist.

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