The woman behind the counter looked at me with an expression that might best be described as the textbook-definition of the word “blank.” She shook her head. And then, just for added benefit, she shrugged.
And then she said those three little words I so despise.
“No hablo Ingles.”
Despite her apparent inability to understand my words, I spoke, flabbergasted. “Seriously? You’re working behind the counter of a store in Manhattan and don’t speak English?”
Again, the blank look, and again, those words.
“No hablo Ingles.”
There was no other employee in the store with whom I could speak, and even if one were lurking somewhere behind the scenes, I’d first have to get the woman at the counter to understand the words “Can someone else help me” and that was obviously not going to happen.
Un. Acceptable.
And yet, you see it all the time. People who have been in this country for years and yet can’t speak the language and don’t seem all that interested in even attempting to. Children who have never been taught English are plopped into classrooms with teachers who suddenly have to deal with a language barrier which takes away from previously-planned lessons.
Personally, I could never imagine moving to another country and not wanting to learn the language. And it seems perfectly reasonable to expect that in this day and age, immigrants be expected to. How about we put forth a new rule: Upon arriving in America, immigrants have four years go learn the basics of the English language.
College students do so in less time, as do professionals who want to take part in the international business community. Or perhaps we have our reasons for not encouraging newcomers to learn the lingo. After all, by not “forcing” immigrants to learn the language, we are, in essence, encouraging them to remain the low men on the socio-economic totem pole. It’s a new take on the age-old tale of “the man” workin’ to keep people in their place.
But one thing is for certain: If you are working behind the counter of a store in this country– or if you are hiring someone to work behind the counter — the ability to interact with English-speaking customers isn’t an option. Because until further notice, English is spoken here.
