Comments on: American Introspection http://jyesis.wordpress.com/2006/05/03/american-introspection/ From the mind of Justin Thu, 29 May 2008 03:11:35 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Norman http://jyesis.wordpress.com/2006/05/03/american-introspection/#comment-47 Norman Thu, 29 May 2008 03:11:35 +0000 https://jyesis.wordpress.com/2006/05/03/american-introspection/#comment-47 Hi- Regarding the situation in the US about foreign languages, the situation certainly is deplorable. I live in Seattle, WA, a city crawling with immigrants, yet very few Americans value picking up an additional language. I've been here for 30 years, and I'm the only one at various jobs that showed any interest in foreign languages at the workplace. First it was German, spoken by a couple of Austrians. In a crew of up to 40 I was the only American who showed any inclination to BS with them in their own language. Later on, it was the same with the Cambodians. I took it upon myself to start at the bottom and learn the pleasantries. At first they all laughed at my pronunciation, but no matter, as I've been laughed at before. I certainly cannot claim that I'm anywhere near being bilingual in Cambodian, but at least I can ask and give directions and have simple conversations entirely in the language. Education has nothing to do with the attitude. My most recent job included plenty of people with BA degrees, yet I was the only one who showed the slightest interest or inclination to speak anything outside of English. Americans just don't get it. Jabbering away in a different language means everything. The humor is different; the exclusivity and privacy are a riot. One can say the darndest things with impunity and only a select few are privy to the joy and frequent hilarity. In the sense of the here and now it's pure, unadulterated entertainment. Me, I have a BA in History from the University of Colorado, including what amounted to a Minor in German. Within a year of graduating, I found myself on a Kibbutz in Israel, where I learned nuts and bolts Hebrew, which is considerably more than happens with most Americans. Back in the US I took a few years of night school and learned a lot of Russian. These days I take advantage of the sizable collection of Russian language novels in the Public Library as well as numerous websites in Russia, where I get to read different, often contrary views about world politics and culture. Why should I be so different? Norman Smith Seattle, WA Hi-
Regarding the situation in the US about foreign languages, the situation certainly is deplorable. I live in Seattle, WA, a city crawling with immigrants, yet very few Americans value picking up an additional language. I’ve been here for 30 years, and I’m the only one at various jobs that showed any interest in foreign languages at the workplace. First it was German, spoken by a couple of Austrians. In a crew of up to 40 I was the only American who showed any inclination to BS with them in their own language.

Later on, it was the same with the Cambodians. I took it upon myself to start at the bottom and learn the pleasantries. At first they all laughed at my pronunciation, but no matter, as I’ve been laughed at before. I certainly cannot claim that I’m anywhere near being bilingual in Cambodian, but at least I can ask and give directions and have simple conversations entirely in the language. Education has nothing to do with the attitude. My most recent job included plenty of people with BA degrees, yet I was the only one who showed the slightest interest or inclination to speak anything outside of English.

Americans just don’t get it. Jabbering away in a different language means everything. The humor is different; the exclusivity and privacy are a riot. One can say the darndest things with impunity and only a select few are privy to the joy and frequent hilarity. In the sense of the here and now it’s pure, unadulterated entertainment.

Me, I have a BA in History from the University of Colorado, including what amounted to a Minor in German. Within a year of graduating, I found myself on a Kibbutz in Israel, where I learned nuts and bolts Hebrew, which is considerably more than happens with most Americans. Back in the US I took a few years of night school and learned a lot of Russian. These days I take advantage of the sizable collection of Russian language novels in the Public Library as well as numerous websites in Russia, where I get to read different, often contrary views about world politics and culture.

Why should I be so different?

Norman Smith
Seattle, WA

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