How Americans Feel About Immigrants and Culture

In this chapter, you have learned about important elements of culture. One of these elements, language, is important because it both describes and shapes culture for us. In the United States today, many languages are spoken, although English is still the dominant one.

A recent survey asked people if they were worried that the United States is no longer an English-speaking nation, and if they felt that immigrants should be required to learn English before they become citizens. To examine the results of this survey, go to http://www.publicagenda.org, click on Immigration under the Issue Guides, then click on People’s Chief Concerns, and scroll down the page to “Majority of immigrants say it is hard to get a job or do well without learning English.” Click on the first graph and the following question:

1			What percent of immigrants say it's hard to get a job or do well without learning English? What explanation can you offer for this?

Now click your Web browser's Back button, select Bills and Proposals and link to "Most immigrants say the U.S. should expect all immigrants to learn English," and answer this question:

2			What percent of immigrants polled feel the United States should expect all immigrants who don't speak English to learn it? How would you feel about "having" to learn another language?

Click your Back button again, select "Both immigrants and the general public agree that public classes should be taught in English."

3			What percent of Americans feel classes should be taught in English? Do you think these Americans are encouraging ethnocentrism? Explain.