Being Bilingual in Spanish a discrimination against job seekers
Public Comments (2,313)
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Jul 20th, 2016Someone from Conroe, TX signed.
Jul 20th, 2016Someone from Orlando, FL signed.
Jul 19th, 2016Someone from Elgin, TX signed.
Jul 19th, 2016Someone from Los Angeles, CA writes:
I was born in America, NOT Mexico, NOT Spain, NOT anywhere else, and I'm sick and tired of seeing 'Must speak Spanish' or 'be bilingual' in order to get a job in the country *I* was born! *I* shouldn't have to learn Spanish, THEY should learn English! I'M FED UP!Jul 19th, 2016Someone from Oxnard, CA writes:
I just graduated from college and although it has only been less than two months I still can't find a job because I do not speak Spanish. Prior to graduating I was looking for employment and I still am. I have been looking for two-and-a-half years and I am still unemployed due to the fact that I live in an area that is predominantly Mexicans. It is a form of discrimination. Our primary language in the United States is English. A job requirement should not include speaking Spanish. It discriminates because if a job post says that you must speak Spanish and if 100 applicants show up to apply for the job how many of them would be Mexican, Black, White, Asian? All jobs should be equal opportunity. I don't mind Mexicans coming here for a better life because that's the reason why most immigrants are here. But most immigrants learned English and got jobs here in America. All of the German, Asian, Israeli immigrants and so forth. This is not about politics and it's not about racism. It is about equal opportunity.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 18th, 2016Someone from Houston, TX signed.
Jul 18th, 2016Someone from Escondido, CA writes:
Those who come here for a better life and to become Americans need to learn English.Our primary language here in America is English. Enlish is the only language that is to be spoken in the work place. I believe we are only enableing those non english speakers. If I were to move to another country where I plan to spend the rest of life and another langage is spoken, I would take it upon myself to learn that langage. I wouldn't expect someone to have to learn my langageREPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 18th, 2016Someone from San Antonio, TX writes:
I notice that when I want to apply for a job anywhere here in San Antonio, TX, that the first thing they ask, is if you are fluent in spanish. If you do not speak spanish, they overlook your application. The same applies for scholarships, and government benefits.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 15th, 2016Someone from Conroe, TX signed.
Jul 15th, 2016Someone from North Hills, CA writes:
Its heart breaking and frustrating!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 14th, 2016Someone from Marina, CA writes:
I have been underemployed for years because of the bilingual Spanish requirement. It does not help people integrate when we make everything easy and they don't have to learn English for anything. I am leaving my state in hopes for better career opportunities. These practices promote white flight and create segregated communities and neighborhoods.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 14th, 2016Someone from El Centro, CA signed.
Jul 13th, 2016Someone from Imperial, CA writes:
We live in America not Mexico. English should be the language spoken. You want to live here learn the language.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 13th, 2016Someone from Imperial, CA signed.
Jul 13th, 2016Someone from Yuma, AZ signed.
Jul 13th, 2016Someone from Yuma, AZ signed.
Jul 12th, 2016Someone from Miami, FL signed.
Jul 12th, 2016Someone from Murrieta, CA signed.
Jul 11th, 2016Someone from Sun City, CA writes:
I would like to see spanish taught from elementary school through high school. I would also like Spanish to be free to learn just as English is for non English speakers, and why stop at Spanish why not French, Japanese etc.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 11th, 2016Someone from Katy, TX writes:
Most all of the Jobs Ive seen lately have a Biligual requirement for applicants. The jobs themselves do not call for or would only be needed on very rae exceptions. It is blatant discrimination and racism becoming commonplace in Texas.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 10th, 2016Someone from Fillmore, CA signed.
Jul 10th, 2016Someone from Haltom City, TX signed.
Jul 9th, 2016Someone from Yuma, AZ signed.
Jul 9th, 2016Someone from Jamaica Plain, MA signed.
Jul 9th, 2016Someone from Jamaica Plain, MA writes:
I understand the federal government's push towards multiculturalism in the "new" global market. I understand employers' feeling pressured to provide services in different languages to translate into more sales (or successful service offers). However, over the past 15 years language discrimination has joined other forms of discrimination, like age discrimination, in closing out of the job market private citizens who've completed the academic and professional training for very many jobs we're now denied access to because we happen to have grown up in a country where English is the dominant language of media, the school system, business, technology... It's unjust to deny us the ability to survive and care for our families because our parents weren't bilingual. Yes, many of us study foreign languages in school, but US academic policies are such that these languages are usually introduced in junior high or high school, by which time it is extremely challenging to become fluent in a foreign language, given the ever-expanding pre-college curriculum continues (a) to be presented in English only, and (b) is so immensely time consuming and competitive it is usually infeasible to devote the time, not to mention the expense, to learn other languages to fluency. I have two Ivy League degrees and since graduating from college nearly a decade ago have devoted my life to community service, foregoing high-pay careers to give back to my country and my communities. And yet now I'm consistently passed over for jobs I'm otherwise eminently qualified for because I am not *fluent* (not even merely conversant) in different foreign languages. In November of last year I was let go from a community advocacy post I'd held successfully for the past four years, with all financial and service metrics being surpassed every single year of my tenure, because I don't speak BOTH Chinese and Vietnamese. I am very comfortable with Spanish and Portuguese, but this was not enough to save my only source of livelihood. Despite a very aggressive job search campaign across the entire USA--including the South and Midwest--I have continually been excluded from even entry-level positions in my field (at a major pay, and therefore survival, cut) because native-Spanish or other language hiring staff determined that my lack of language fluency was a disqualification. Allowing language-discrimination is grossly unjust to US citizens of English-speaking heritage, especially when our professional qualifications and history substantially eclipse those of native bilingual candidates. And if this is allowed to stand as legal, it will speak volumes about our government's concerns for and commitments to its citizens.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 7th, 2016Someone from Moreno Valley, CA writes:
I am 48 with a Bachelor's degree and as I seek employment I continually come across jobs that I am qualified for that say, "Bilingual preferred." I am an educated woman, trying to provide for her family and feel overwhelmed by all of the job posts that discriminate against non-Spanish speaking people! I might also add that the jobs I have come across with the school districts are already saturated with employees who speak Spanish. So, why must English speaking individuals be excluded from the opportunity to compete for these jobs? I'm not on welfare. I'm not a criminal. I am a hard working, law abiding, educated citizen of the USA. Why am I being punished for wanting to be a productive member of my American society?!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 7th, 2016Someone from Patterson, CA signed.
Jul 7th, 2016Someone from Paramount, CA writes:
True. I have been turned down many times due to the fact that I do not speak Spanish. I could understand a company that has a largely Hispanic clientele needing Spanish Speakers, and this being a requirement, but not when it comes to jobs where you do not interact with the clientele. (e.g. back of house at a restaurant or bakery) If you have had the schooling, and even if you have not, but have the natural inclination or skill to complete the job described, you should not be excluded because of the language you can, or cannot speak. If I were to go to Sweden, or France, or China, or any of the other places in the world where they speak their own language, I would not expect them to adjust their requirements, or accommodate me simply because I could not, or refused to learn the spoken language. If you want to work somewhere, and the national language is one thing, speak it, understand it, and do not expect exceptions. English is the dominant language in the United States, with 80% of speakers, second being Spanish, with 12.4%, and the last bit of Ethnicities making up the remaining 6.7%. If we have these many English speakers, there should not be a concession or preference to non-English speakers.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 7th, 2016Someone from Henderson, NV writes:
I shouldn't have to speak Spanish in a English speaking country. If you can't assimilate to our language then go back to Mexico to work. We do offer ESL classes so no excuses to not learn English. Not fair I get turned down jobs because of not speaking Spanish. It's discrimination in my own country based on my language! BS!!!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 7th, 2016Someone from Lake Forest, CA writes:
Most of the customer service jobs that I would have had a chance to be employed are eliminated because my language is being eliminated. I was trying to work at a domestic job and I could not follow directions because all the spanish workers would only speak spanish and tell me they don't know what I am saying, hows that.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 6th, 2016Someone from West Sacramento, CA signed.
Jul 6th, 2016Someone from Mission Viejo, CA signed.
Jul 5th, 2016Someone from Madera, CA signed.
Jul 5th, 2016Someone from Moreno Valley, CA signed.
Jul 5th, 2016Someone from Visalia, CA writes:
I can't even use the degree I have because I don't speak Spanish. It was never required before to speak it. I even used to work in the fields as a teen and Spanish wasn't required then, now it is. The trees never cared what lanuage I spoke. Also, we hired Spanish speakers but they won't hire us. Humm, who is being prejudice?? It used to be only a few people were needed to interpert in at a job not everyone. I've tired learning Spanish and can't seem to. Frustrated!REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 4th, 2016Someone from Long Beach, CA signed.
Jul 4th, 2016Someone from Loma Linda, CA signed.
Jul 4th, 2016Someone from Yucaipa, CA writes:
Being a graduate for a Medical Assistant it is difficult for me to find a job being im not bilingual. Its not right if you cant speak proper english then you should not be aloud to be here.REPORT COMMENTS
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No, CancelJul 4th, 2016Someone from Monrovia, CA writes:
A native american should not have to be bilingual in any language, in their own country, and refused a job because they are not bilingual. I would not expect to go to someones country and expect for them to have to speak my language (English) and refused a job because they do not speak my language in their native country. STOP must be bilingual in america now!REPORT COMMENTS
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