Community Chat

[Highlands72]

In more formal/professional speech and writing, I find it best to avoid the use of contractions altogether.

I too often hear some of the local newscasters say things like "dinnint"  and "woonint"  (my spelling of these words is phonetic, since, as pronounced, the words do not exist in English). 

It would sound so much more professional to just say "did not" and "would not."

[RainCityWoman]

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@sunshine45 wrote:

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@Cakers3 wrote:

@suzyQ3   One of the requirements to become a US citizen is the ability to read, speak, and write in BASIC English.

I don't know where you are getting the idea that people are being forced to learn English.

It's standard for immigrants seeking citizenship.

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while it is considered standard, it is correct that it is very BASIC english skills. however, not everyone has to meet those requirements to become a US citizen. there are other ways to become a citizen without meeting the english language requirement.

of course, many do NOT seek to become citizens, but are legally here with a green card. some speak english fluently, others not at all.....and everything in between.

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I'm curious. How DO you become a naturalized citizen without speaking the language? If you marry a citizen, are you automatically a citizen, or are you considered a legal resident. Don't people applying for citizenship have to study and pass a test...presumably written in English? 

[Ms tyrion2]

Canada is a bilingual country.

Do they have all this angst about English v. French being spoken?

[suzyQ3]

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@RainCityWoman wrote:

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@sunshine45 wrote:

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@Cakers3 wrote:

@suzyQ3   One of the requirements to become a US citizen is the ability to read, speak, and write in BASIC English.

I don't know where you are getting the idea that people are being forced to learn English.

It's standard for immigrants seeking citizenship.

---

while it is considered standard, it is correct that it is very BASIC english skills. however, not everyone has to meet those requirements to become a US citizen. there are other ways to become a citizen without meeting the english language requirement.

of course, many do NOT seek to become citizens, but are legally here with a green card. some speak english fluently, others not at all.....and everything in between.

---

I'm curious. How DO you become a naturalized citizen without speaking the language? If you marry a citizen, are you automatically a citizen, or are you considered a legal resident. Don't people applying for citizenship have to study and pass a test...presumably written in English? 

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@RainCityWoman, all your questions are easily answered online, and some have been answered here already.

As to marrying a citizen according to nolo.com:

If you marry a U.S, citizen, you won’t be eligible for U.S. citizenship right away. But you may become eligible for a U.S. green card, which can lead to U.S. citizenship.

However, there are certain requirements that must be met before you can apply for a green card and ultimately for U.S. citizenship after marriage to a U.S. citizen.

Yes, they have to pass a test (gov page):

To become a naturalized U.S. citizen, you must pass the naturalization test. At your naturalization interview, you will be required to answer questions about your application and background. You will also take an English and civics test unless you qualify for an exemption or waiver

[suzyQ3]

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@Ms tyrion2 wrote:

Canada is a bilingual country.

Do they have all this angst about English v. French being spoken?

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@Ms tyrion2, there have been language battles, but it's not so much about having one recognized language. It's more a political/cultural battle.

[suzyQ3]

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@suzyQ3 wrote:

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@RainCityWoman wrote:

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@sunshine45 wrote:

---

@Cakers3 wrote:

@suzyQ3   One of the requirements to become a US citizen is the ability to read, speak, and write in BASIC English.

I don't know where you are getting the idea that people are being forced to learn English.

It's standard for immigrants seeking citizenship.

---

while it is considered standard, it is correct that it is very BASIC english skills. however, not everyone has to meet those requirements to become a US citizen. there are other ways to become a citizen without meeting the english language requirement.

of course, many do NOT seek to become citizens, but are legally here with a green card. some speak english fluently, others not at all.....and everything in between.

---

I'm curious. How DO you become a naturalized citizen without speaking the language? If you marry a citizen, are you automatically a citizen, or are you considered a legal resident. Don't people applying for citizenship have to study and pass a test...presumably written in English? 

---

@RainCityWoman, all your questions are easily answered online, and some have been answered here already.

As to marrying a citizen according to nolo.com:

If you marry a U.S, citizen, you won’t be eligible for U.S. citizenship right away. But you may become eligible for a U.S. green card, which can lead to U.S. citizenship.

However, there are certain requirements that must be met before you can apply for a green card and ultimately for U.S. citizenship after marriage to a U.S. citizen.

Yes, they have to pass a test (gov page):

To become a naturalized U.S. citizen, you must pass the naturalization test. At your naturalization interview, you will be required to answer questions about your application and background. You will also take an English and civics test unless you qualify for an exemption or waiver

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I just reread my post and realized that I sounded a bit snippy in the beginning. I apologize for that. :-)

[millieshops]

Not in the least bit new.  Even in my best classes during the mid and late 60's, kids who eventually went to universities like the ones rich parents supposedly paid their kids' entrance fees made those errors. It's amazing how difficult it is to erase them from their memory banks.

I wouldn't even be surprised to know they weren't new then. One of the most sur[rising experiences I had in high school was my senior English class where we worked on our writing in consulting teams.  I guess I'd never considered that many of my classmates hadn't absorbed plenty of what I'd thought to be common knowlege. Absolutely nothing to do with English as a second language

[sunshine45]

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@RainCityWoman wrote:

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@sunshine45 wrote:

---

@Cakers3 wrote:

@suzyQ3   One of the requirements to become a US citizen is the ability to read, speak, and write in BASIC English.

I don't know where you are getting the idea that people are being forced to learn English.

It's standard for immigrants seeking citizenship.

---

while it is considered standard, it is correct that it is very BASIC english skills. however, not everyone has to meet those requirements to become a US citizen. there are other ways to become a citizen without meeting the english language requirement.

of course, many do NOT seek to become citizens, but are legally here with a green card. some speak english fluently, others not at all.....and everything in between.

---

I'm curious. How DO you become a naturalized citizen without speaking the language? If you marry a citizen, are you automatically a citizen, or are you considered a legal resident. Don't people applying for citizenship have to study and pass a test...presumably written in English? 

---

@RainCityWoman 

no, by marrying a citizen you do not automatically become a citizen. you do have to take a test. you dont necessarily have to take a written english test depending on your age and length of residency. you dont have to take the civics portion in english.....you can do it in your native language and have an interpreter with you to ask the questions. if you are 65 or older you may not even have to take the civics portion. there are also medical disability exceptions.

for those who do have to take the civics portion, you are asked ten questions and you have to get at least 6 correct. it is an oral test.

[Highlands72]

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@suzyQ3 wrote:

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@Ms tyrion2 wrote:

Canada is a bilingual country.

Do they have all this angst about English v. French being spoken?

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@Ms tyrion2, there have been language battles, but it's not so much about having one recognized language. It's more a political/cultural battle.

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No doubt about the political differences.

When my brother moved to Canada a few years ago, in his early 20s, he applied for a government-sponsored program that provided a free intensive French-language course over the summer months, along with free room and board at a Quebec university.

Although most Canadians speak English, there is a strong desire on the part of the government that Canada remain bilingual and bicultural. They actively support the desire to learn French for non-speakers of the language.

[stuyvesant]

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@Highlands72 wrote:

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@suzyQ3 wrote:

---

@Ms tyrion2 wrote:

Canada is a bilingual country.

Do they have all this angst about English v. French being spoken?

---

@Ms tyrion2, there have been language battles, but it's not so much about having one recognized language. It's more a political/cultural battle.

---

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No doubt about the political differences.

When my brother moved to Canada a few years ago, in his early 20s, he applied for a government-sponsored program that provided a free intensive French-language course over the summer months, along with free room and board at a Quebec university.

Although most Canadians speak English, there is a strong desire on the part of the government that Canada remain bilingual and bicultural. They actively support the desire to learn French for non-speakers of the language.

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This is what makes Canada great.  That they take in immigrants, support them and provide room and board while they learn to  speak an official language of their country.  I just wish they would provide the same support for immigrants who want to speak English