Just because someone is from Mexico doesn't mean they speak Spanish

Question

Here is an interesting article from the New York Times on the subject:

Immigrants Who Speak Indigenous Languages Encounter Isolation

I thought it might be helpful to people who are working with immigrants.

Thanks for sharing! :) - NikkiLR, Jul 12, 2014

Answer 1

"...After arriving in New York, most indigenous Latin Americans will learn Spanish before they learn English" O.O..

Not true. - chileno, Jul 12, 2014

Answer 2

This is true. Mexico has many indignous people who do not speak Spanish. They face the sime communication problems here in Mexico as they do in the US. But, for me at least, is that they have put themselves in that situation. Adults, in Mexico, who do not speak the native language have no one to blame but themselves. I know that sounds harsh and maybe it is. But if I can learn Spanish anyone can. Especially someone who has lived here all their life.

Years ago I was surprised that a woman I had gotten to know, needed her husband to interpret. She had lived and worked in Chicago 20 yr. Now I better understand that her fellow workers, family and friends all spoke to her in Spanish. [continued below] - Esteban_317, Jul 12, 2014

I met her in a program to teach English to speakers of other languages . . . - Esteban_317, Jul 12, 2014

Answer 3

A very good friend of mine (US citizen) is from the Philippines. In Alaska people assumed she was Native Alaskan - in Hawaii, similarly a Native Hawiian. She told me about being in an airport in Mexico, and having a stranger greet her. The greeting was similar enough to Tagalog (which was influenced by Spanish) - that she began speaking several sentences in return before both parties realized their assumptions were incorrect.