How is it that an immigrant that is in this country for 20 years can't speak a word of English.?

I do agree 100% that all immigrants should at least speak "survival English", especially if they've been here for 20 years.

That said, English is not a phonetic language, and is therefore not easy to learn. It's much easier for an English-speaking person to learn another language.

Not really, the reason is that as the years pass and pass it gets harder for someone to learn to speak a language. It can be that when you first started learning you panicked because you didnt understand and so you created a sence of insecurity that enabled you to learn the language (it happens to many people) for example, my mom has been here 13 years and she can lightly understand english and she can somewhat write it but she cant really speak it, a word here and there. My dad in the other hand came 2 years later and knows how to speak good english, he can have a good conversation with an american but still needs a translator for serious matters. It all depends the person and their experienses but then again how many languages do you know ? But I dont think its fair to judge someone without having up front experience in the matter, because that would just be plain silly, or tonto, bobo, ridiculo, absurdo (u can pick one) (as we say in spanish). This would be a great time for you to learn a language (it will help you and (seriously) if you take up spanish, maybe you can become a translator) Good luck, my friend.

Well, i do believe it is best to speak the languages of as many people around you as you can, and this applies to an immigrant more than to most. To learn the new language and culture will help to encourage a sense of belonging, but that doesn't mean they have to lose their sense of culture altogether.

The thing is, in some parts of the country, you don't NEED to speak english to get along. East LA is a famous example, and there are neighborhoods in NYC for just about every culture you could possibly hail from. So if you live in a place like that, there is less payoff in learning the new language.

It's also much harder for older people to learn languages. Some of these folks might just have moved too late in life to become fluent.

Have you ever tried to become fluent in another language? Also, so many things are bi-lingual now, that a lot of folks find that they can get by without learning. At least their kids are learning the language, as you pointed out. It "annoys" you that people speak different languages? Geese, sorry to invade your comfort zone. Stay home if it bothers you that much. I love to hear my wife speak her native tongue. I am trying to learn Portuguese, but she already is fluent in English after 7 years here. Some people can do it, others have a difficult time. How about some tolerance?

it's dashed difficult to learn a foreign language. i've been trying to learn spanish for a long time, and it's tough. some people pick it up quickly, some learn but are hesitant to speak it for fear of embarrassment. children learn it so naturally. it really shouldn't bother you. it's far more a hanicap for the immigrant than it is an inconvenience for you.

Laziness. Refusal to immerse themselves in their new culture, that they chose and instead stay at home and watch Telemundo 24/7.

They're as carlos mencia would say dee dee dee

No desire to learn.Most believe it is our problem.