Sorry if I phrased that a little strangely. I want to learn how to speak Spanish but the only places I can find that teach Spanish only teach the type that they speak in Spain but it would be more convenient for me to speak the Spanish that Mexicans speak because a lot of immigrants from there have recently moved to my neighborhood. If I learn European Spanish will I be able to talk to the Mexicans in Spanish and understand each other?

I can't think of a single immigrant, illegal or legal, who refused to speak English. usually the illegals struggle, but they try.

I wish I could say the same of my own countrymen in regards to Spanish.

so be 100% honest: have you REALLY ever met an immigrant, illegal or otherwise, who refused to speak or learn English given the opportunity?
40 MILLION people in the USA speak Spanish as their primary language. that's reason enough to learn.
I grew up in an agricultural area 30 minutes outside SF, I know ALOT of immigrants.

In some businesses I've been to in the United States that advertise themselves as having bilingual staff, I've noticed that most of the workers are Mexicans who yes, speak Spanish very well, but their English is horrible. I'm not trying to make fun of them for their English, but seriously, it seems like bilingual these days means "Spanish required, English optional". I myself speak Spanish way better than some of these people speak English, and yet I doubt I would ever be taken seriously trying to get a bilingual job in California because they can always just go hire a Mexican who speaks Spanish better than me, but who speaks English far worse than me. I just can't understand why there is so much emphasis on Spanish skills but almost none on English. And as a side question, why does it seem like the majority of Chicanos I've met are so arrogant about knowing both languages from birth? I even had one insisting that I'm not a true bilingual because I didn't learn Spanish from birth.
Not one of you understood my question. My question is why do EMPLOYERS care so much about Spanish proficiency but almost nothing about their English proficiency. My question had nothing to do with immigrants refusing to learn English. My question is, why is it that someone who speaks Spanish at a 100% level but English at only a 25% level is hired over someone who speaks English at a 100% level and Spanish at a 75% level. It seems like to be considered "bilingual" you really just have to speak Spanish only, as long as you can get by in English you're bilingual, but if you speak English natively, you have to speak Spanish very well or else you're not bilingual. That was my question: why when it comes to being judged as a bilingual or not, native English speakers have to speak Spanish a lot better than native Spanish speakers have to speak English.

Why is it that whenever someone talks about immigration, they go straight to the bias and say Mexicans. Last time I checked there are immigrants from asia, india, europe, colombia, guatemala, honduras, venezuela, argentina, peru, and so many other countries. Just because someone speaks a form of spanish because believe it or not every country speaks spanish differently with a whole different vocabulary, you all say Mexican. Mexicans don't call you British because you speak English so why call latinos Mexican becuase they speak Spanish?

Rude comments will be reported so answer respectfully and honestly.

Past immigration - Immigrants came into this country LEGALLY and immediately began adapting to the new culture. They wouldnt even teach their newborn children the old language because they wanted them to completely assimilate into American culture.

Current invasion - Illegal aliens sneak over the border, don't bother to learn the language or the culture and leave it up to the state to teach their children english.

Past immigration - Immigrants were checked very closely at Ellis island to ensure they had no diseases.

Current invasion - Illegal aliens are bringing in diseases such as TB and the bubonic plague.

Past immigration - Respected that they were now an American citizen and obeyed the law. Respected the American flag.

Current invasion - Illegal aliens bring in violent crime and gangs. Disrespect the flag by stomping on it, burning it and flying it above their mexican flag. Have an idea that the southwest US belongs to Mexico.

This is an INVASION people. NOT IMMIGRATION!

if all immigrants learned english. assimilated into our society and blended with our culture we would have no issues, but the damn people want to fly their own flag in our country. Grounds for treason/hanging not too long ago.
*** i am all for anyone immigrating who i can speak with, and whom shares the pride of being an american. thats it, is that too hard to figure out?

Illegal activists from Mexico claim Americans are zenophobic. Would predominantly Mexican neighborhoods become anoyed if Iraqi immigrants migrated to their neighborhoods and wanted special cultural treatment.

When I say “Immigrants" I am talking about “Legal Mexicans"
Lave the Illegal or undocumented fellows beside for a minute, and think about it.
Thanks in advance for your smart answer.

I'm mexican.
I was born here in the United States (Pasadena, CA to be exact)
So lately there has been a bunch of idiots on TV talking about how Mexicans are ruining the country by coming here illegally.
Um.. what about the illegal Asian (which there are many), Cuban, Canadian, European, ect.?????
Last time I checked the plaque on the Statue of Liberty says "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:
I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

Also... EUROPEANS HAVE BEEN IMMIGRANTS SINCE THE 1400's!
Just because you've been born with light skin makes you a higher class??
I have Native American blood in me..
So wouldn't that make me more American then these stupid Europeans who came over and stole the land from my ancestors??
I think the media is brainwashing people. Being mexican you get A LOT of the bullsh*t. I was born here in AMERICA but I still get treated by the way I look. WTF is up??

Is it a race issue? Whenever someone complains about immigrants, they are usually talking about Mexicans. Why? People don't seem to be bothered by Europeans who speak something other then English. Why is it more ok for them to come here?

its a sad thing to see people have so many issues with immigrants wake up people. remember Terry Shrivo the government did'nt do anything to save her and she was white and paid taxes and all that good stuff. instead of talking about shooting people why dont we try to think of a solution to the problem! like make people legal so that they can pay taxes too i mean it seems like a good solution since all everyone complains about is money.