If you live and work in the United States you should speak English and do it well; especially if you work on the phone or in customer service. As one who has dedicated a good portion of his life to learning and speaking eight foreign languages, I feel I have a solid foundation to disseminate this advice. I find it unnerving when I place a local call and Im asked to push 1 or 2 if I speak Spanish. I do speak Spanish, but this type of catering to non-natives is exhausting to English speakers, and only enables Spanish speakers to avoid learning English. I make several calls a week and routinely ask for a Native English speaker when I make those calls. Its not that I dont fully understand them or vice-versa, but merely the comfort and privilege of conducting business in a native tongue. I feel we deserve this courtesy. Now dont get me wrong. I have struggled arduously to learn and hone language capabilities, so I understand the effort required. I have fallen on my linguistic face many many times, so I get it. I do love my international community and surround myself with as many cultures and languages as possible. It is truly one of the greatest passions of my life. I know how daunting it can be to enter a new culture and have to pick up what you can. I experience this phenomenon several times a year. However, I thrive on it. I love when you know youve articulated something correctly for the first time and you can see that look of amazement on someone elses face. If Im conducting foreign business or negotiations with another country, there is a certain level of error we all accept, but not when Im calling Home Depot, Comcast, Best Buy, my gas and electric provider or a myriad of other local services that should speak English and do it well enough to conduct business. It is important not only to speak, but also UNDERSTAND. Point being, if you are learning English or have family members that are learning English, help them. A cute little accent may always be associated, but the ability to convey your thoughts and understand whats being conveyed is priceless. Its also just good business. Be excellent in your efforts to communicate.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 19:22:51 +0000
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