Ethnic Groups And Learning English

July 18, 1985|By Elisabeth L. Moore.

HOFFMAN ESTATES — I am sick and tired of hearing about the problems of foreigners unable to communicate in this country. Having just read the article ``Language barrier high in suburbs,`` my blood is ready to boil. This country is the United States of America--not Mexico or China or Ethiopia. Our official language is English and I expect those who live here to speak it. If I were to move to Italy or Puerto Rico, I would not expect an interpreter on every corner. I would get off my duff and learn the language.

By constantly catering to members of this group, we are hurting them as well. How can they be expected to advance in the U.S. unless they are able to read, write and speak English? Recently I was renewing my driver`s license at the same time as a Spanish-speaking man. He could not read the written test and an interpreter had to be called. If he couldn`t even read English, how is he going to drive safely when so many of the road signs are written in English? Sure, you`re supposed to be able to recognize the shape of the sign or universal codes, but how many people see that shape on a pitch-black night? Will he know what ``no passing zone`` means?

Having just moved to the Chicago area, I find this problem very apparent with the ethnic mix here. I am not a white supremist or racist or bigot. I just expect those who live here to follow our rules--the same as I would in a foreign country. If more people refused to cater to these foreign-speaking groups, it would give them more incentive to learn English.