January 18, 2013

  • The German Scenario

    At my current position, I help people obtain their GED certificate.  People from all walks of life.  I enjoy being able to be a part of helping them take steps in meeting their goals & bettering their life too.

     

    The classes are frequented also by Spanish-speaking people who want to earn their GED, but unfortunately know little English.  (People CAN take their GED exam in Spanish, however we don't really have any Spanish-speaking tutors to assist them at this time.)

     

    Recently, I've found myself a little irritated by remarks by a few- that people should have to get their GED in English (with the added statement, "This is America after all".)  I disagree with this statement completely.  Let me present to you an analogy... after you read it, tell me what you think - and if your initial thoughts changed, please.  
     
     
    Please try to exclude your thoughts about current political/national issues outside of this education topic while you read it, if you can.  Try to put yourself truly in the shoes of the person in the scenario and clear your mind of any preconceived ideas & attitudes if you're able to do that too.
     

    The German Scenario:  

    In this scenario, imagine if you will - America has become a desolate wasteland.  There are no jobs, no money.  Your family decides to pack up and move to Germany - not because you want to, but for the simple fact that you will live a life that is destitute if you don't.  You don't know a lick of German.  You are not more advanced in language-learning than others, so you know you have a challenge ahead of you in that regard.

    You've found that everything is more expensive in Germany - and you must work of course.  The country provides the opportunity for each person to take an exam that would give them an educational certificate.  Those who do not have the certificate - IF they can get hired - work at minimum wage (and often below).  Those who get their certificate are able to get higher paying jobs and can move up (educationally and/or financially).

    Because you're not German -- there are some who see you as a threat.  You're taking the jobs that their friends, family or they might be able to get.  People in your community aren't prone to making friends with you, nor are they willing to use their precious time to help you learn their language (not just because of the threats to their jobs, but also because of your economic status and the stories they've heard about Americans.)

    You are simply trying to survive & earn your keep.  You try to make it day by day from sun-up to sun-down, staying out of trouble and even are sending some  help to family who remain back in the US when you can.  While you want to learn the language, you feel learning German is not your biggest priority while you're still in survival mode. It's easier talking to family in English, you get by at the grocery store with the little you know - and besides that, the local German people don't really want to talk to you anyhow.

     

    You go to take the exam, and 3 choices are given to you: 

          • Go take language classes in German, then come back and take your exam in German.  Class meets once a week - sometimes you miss because of work or family issues.  You don't have a lot of opportunities to study outside of the class time.
          • Take the exam in German before learning the language (there is a great number of tutors to assist you in reaching your goal in German, few speak more than a few words in English).  You are learning a few phrases here and there, but it's still very difficult.  It will likely take you over a year to be up to the level needed to pass the exam (your attendance to the class is limited because you have to work a lot harder at a few part-time minimum wage jobs, in addition to taking care of your children and household responsibilities.)
          • Take the exam in English -- you discover that you can finish the exam within a month, and be on to working at a slightly better paying job immediately after! 

    Given the previous scenario:

    1. What choice would you make, regarding the exam above?
    2. How do you feel about people who take their GED exam in a different language?  
    3. Has your opinion changed since you read this scenario?

    I would like to recommend a good video to watch in follow-up to this blog entry, but sadly I can't find a full-length clip of it online - it's called "This Illegal American Life" by Vanguard, of Current (tv channel).  

Comments (2)

  • This is a good question...
    Knowing from experience, what it is like to be in a foreign country and not able to speak or understand much of the language, I always try to be extra nice to people I come in contact with who don't speak English.

    My biggest problem with this scenario is that the GED or a diploma or a degree translates into every country. So you are implying that when America is a desolate wasteland, none of us will have been through high school when we move to Germany.

    I think it is

    imperative

    that to become a good citizen of another country, you learn the language. When I lived in Indonesia, I didn't expect people to speak to me in English. I didn't expect street signs or airport signs to be in English, or the people in boats or in taxis or grocery stores or schools or churches to speak English.

    I feel like a lot of the people who come to our country come thinking they don't actually have to adapt. And there are a lot of areas in this country where we let that happen (think of Chinatowns in the big cities). But if someone comes here looking to live here for an extended amount of time, I feel they need to learn English.

    I suppose if I were in survival mode, I would take the test in a language I understood. HOWEVER I would absolutely make an effort to learn the language of the country in which I now live. People who refuse to adapt to a new culture and surroundings are pretty low in my book and it is hard for me to respect them.

    hmmm.

  • @kissafrogfindaprince -  My scenario was trying to put you in the shoes of someone who has not obtained their high school diploma yet.  I probably could have written out the scenario better, but to keep it short and simple I created an instance where everyone had the opportunity to get a edu cetificate. 

    The people I've encountered who are spanish-speaking (or that speak other languages) DO try to learn the language.  Some give up easier than others.  Some are simply afraid of speaking it, because they think they will sound stupid (and have little opportunity to practice.) Some have "crutches" that enable them to live in such a way that they don't HAVE TO learn the language too. I learned in my Sociolinguistics class that there are missionaries that actually end up living this out too - they justify not having to learn the language because they have a position that doesn't force them to interact with people of the country (example: IT workers, or those who work primarily with other missionaries).

    I don't think that we will ever be able to force people to learn English.  There are too many dynamics involved -- economic factors, learning abilities (and sometimes even the psychological doubt one can experience in feeling they can't do something), community (being mainly around people your native language, creating a situation where there isn't a demand).  

    I do think their children will easily come to learn English, because they need to attend school (and transportation is available, along with it being a free & safe resource).  Sadly, because the parents of Mexican immigrants are so low-income, and their family culture calls for even children working to support the family - children are pulled from school sometimes as young as 8 or 9 years of age to help contribute to the needs of the family.  From our America point-of-view it seems like an atrocity (I'm not saying that it isn't), but to them it's the norm -- family helps family, no matter the age.  They want better for their children, but they often feel powerless to their circumstances. 

    I think if I went to a country that was hostile to me, that it would not cause me to want to learn the language any faster -- even if I knew it MIGHT help me economically.  I think if more people were friendly to them, could try to relate and empathize with their situation (actually took the time to understand the INDIVIDUAL'S background, knowledge & point of view on life - that they would understand what holds them back - and they might be able to even encourage that person to want to learn a little faster. 

    When you went as a missionary, and were learning the language, you went to an environment where you were were welcomed and encouraged to learn.  I don't think Mexican people (and other nationalities) necessarily get that same type of welcome - unless they are able to make it to a ESOL class (often after working a 12+ hour day), and have someone to care for their children while they attend class. 

    If you want to learn how to empathize with them... You should spend some time with a foreign person and hear their story.  I think you would change your heart a little.  I don't disagree that you should learn the language where you live - but I think people should not be criticized for getting their GED in spanish (the main reason for writing this blog); and try to get to know the heart of the individuals who wants to be able to communicate with the people around them.  Why would you want to know that language if you're shunned and you CAN get by w/ your native language?

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