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Q: Why do so many Chinese immigrants to other nations not speak that nation's language?
Twice this week I have encountered Chinese I had to speak Chinese to in Canada. Why can Chinese not learn to speak the language if they plan to immigrate? We're not talking about a short stint abroad, we're talking immigration.
Many immigrants never learn much English because they keep to their own nationalities. I've worked with many Italians, same thing. I asked one guy how long has he been in Canada, he said 25 years. As far as I could tell "hey Joe'' was the only English he knew.
I didn't learn much Chinese in China, just mostly words. I should have taken classes. When I asked what phrases I recognized were, no one would answer me. I only stupid foreigner. But I didn't seek out other foreigners to hang around with either.
How many ex-pats percentage wise can use mandarin chinese to communicate when they arrive in China?
It's very much the same with especially English speaking people. Back home, where everyone speaks English fluently, you, as a person speaking English has no practical need to learn the language. The other way around, if you come from a place with a "small" language, if you move to another part of the world, it will be impossible for you to have a network of people all speaking your native tongue. Some nationalities have built communities in other countries. "Little Italy", "Chinatown" etc.
Of all the Chinese people I know that have lived outside China, my wife is the only one who has ended up with a non-Chinese. Of those who have left China alone, they have met another Chinese, not a local. Everyone from back home who have ventured into the world have ended up with a local.
That being said. If you want to get the true experience of a culture or country, learning the language is paramount. This is also what motivates me in trying to learn a bit of 汉语 every day. I do know many expats here who understands no Chinese at all, even after living here several years, so it is not right to point fingers at Chinese expats only
One of my mother in laws friends has lived for 6 years in Canada with her family. If I say something to her in English, she has zero understanding of what I am saying (even if I switch to Canadian, by mispronouncing "about")
Same reason so many westerners come here to live and never learn more than a handful of useful phrases. Laziness.
nevermind:
Why bring westerners into it? I'm talking about CHinese people.
mArtiAn:
That's my whole point mate, I don't see things in terms of Chinese people and western people. I see things in terms of people.
how many expats here have bothered to learn chinese, its merely the persons choice not to learn the language, but i do agree that if you live in another country you should make some effort to learn some of the language, you cant stay in your community forever, i think some chinese abroad just dont want to learn and expats here are a bit too lazy or have tried and given up
GuilinRaf:
Part of it is that, yes.
I tried to study Chinese in Guiin, but the only schools there were for full t time university students or "camp like" schools where you had a daily schedule to follow. I never saw any geared for people who work full time to study Chinese in the evening or weekends.
In Beijing I have found a few. They are a bit expensive and one has to be careful since not all are good. I had a very good one, but I also had a very bad one here.
I even tried to hire a tutor, but most were full of good intentions but did not know how to teach.
Back home we have many schools geared to teaching English (and Spanish) to those who work full time.
It may have something to do with visa regulations.
i.e. You can't migrate as a student or worker unless you have a fairly high standard of English to begin with. It's usually a pretty strict requirement for these kinds of visas. Those who initially have a low standard of English might be on humanitarian-type visas-- spouses, asylum seekers, people who migrate for family reunions. The English language requirement for these types of visas may be lower/none.
There are complex reasons why people may not learn the language of their adopted country, it's not necessarily all about laziness. (although that may be part of it also).I tend to be pretty accommodating towards people who cannot speak English in my home country.
