"desertdog5051" (desertdog5051)
08/01/2015 at 21:35 • Filed to: None
2
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"desertdog5051" (desertdog5051)
08/01/2015 at 21:35 • Filed to: None | 2
| 23 |
I work part-time for a home improvement warehouse in the near south valley of my town.
The problem is that around 40% of the customers don’t speak english. There is maybe 1 person, or none, who speaks Spanish working at any given time.
I am working on my Spanish speaking recognition but it is not a top priority.
I printed a card that reads:
No hablo espanol. Traer a alguien que hablar inglis. (tranlation: I don’t speak Spanish. Bring someone who speaks English).
I have got nasty looks from some customers. I try to help them by giving them paper and pen and ask them to draw what they are looking for.
Some bring their children with them that speak good English.
Sometimes I just feel like “This is America, we speak English here”. If I moved to Mexico, I would not expect the everyday people to know English.
End of Rant.
Have a Mastretta for listening.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastretta…
1111111111111111111111
> desertdog5051
08/01/2015 at 21:41 |
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Yup. Too blunt. If you have to deal with customers you can’t talk too find a live translator. Either text or audio. They exist.
Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed
> desertdog5051
08/01/2015 at 21:42 |
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It’s not hard to learn Spanish words for the hardware store stuff. Get rid of the cards if they cause dirty looks and just tell customers you don’t speak much if they start in Spanish. I’m sure you guys can work it out with their little English and your little spanish.
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> desertdog5051
08/01/2015 at 21:43 |
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When people immigrate, they all move to where other immigrants already are, so there’s a large enough population of them that they can mostly function without needing to interact with us English speakers. You end up with people who have lived here ten+ years and never improved their English skills.
There is a large Brazilian population where I live, and it’s frustrating at work because I want to be able to help them but I can’t and they get mad at me for not understanding them.
Were I to move to a foreign country, I would make an effort to learn the language first.
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desertdog5051
> 1111111111111111111111
08/01/2015 at 21:50 |
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Great idea, but not practical.
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1111111111111111111111
> desertdog5051
08/01/2015 at 21:51 |
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Well sucks then.
djmt1
> desertdog5051
08/01/2015 at 21:55 |
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Nope. They can give all the dirty looks they want, it doesn’t excuse their arrogance of expecting people to cater to their laziness. If you plan to emigrate, learn the bloody language. Makes things a fuck ton easier for everyone. Also I don’t know the laws Stateside but don’t you have to pass an English test in order to stay?
OPPOsaurus WRX
> desertdog5051
08/01/2015 at 21:57 |
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It’s a hard situation but I believe yoy should learn the language of the place you are in especially if you plan to live or work there. I knew enough french to get around and I took Italian when I planned to go to(but never went) Italy
Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> desertdog5051
08/01/2015 at 22:04 |
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The people who build all of our your American new homes are typically Russian and Mexicans... and a few angry white guys. Perhaps looks for a line of work where the spanish-speaking populace are not such an important part if your employer’s livelihood.
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Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
08/01/2015 at 22:07 |
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It is really annoying when even leads or managers speak zero English. But that’s a different complaint than just individual customers not speaking english. Luckily their kids are pretty good at it.
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desertdog5051
> djmt1
08/01/2015 at 22:33 |
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Only if you want citizenship. Most of these are illegals and my state has a no questions policy.
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desertdog5051
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
08/01/2015 at 22:42 |
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I do this because I enjoy it. I don’t need to work. I do enjoy the challenge of figuring out what
all
customers folks want. I did not mean to imply that I was pissed off. I just get frustrated sometimes when I can’t communicate.
PyramidHat
> desertdog5051
08/01/2015 at 22:59 |
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Remember the “Got Milk?” ads some years back? Well, they tried to move that ad campaign to Mexico (Tiene Leche?, I assume) and got backlash because of a couple of reasons: 1) The translation went from “Got Milk?” to “Are you lactating?”, and 2) culturally, it was considered offensive that a woman would let her family run out of milk.
My point being is that, while we understand what you’re trying to do, the translation (both grammatical and cultural) might not be working out as hoped.
Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
> desertdog5051
08/01/2015 at 23:02 |
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I’ll finally learn Spanish if I can drive one of those.
boxrocket
> desertdog5051
08/01/2015 at 23:27 |
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I’d recommend adding “lo siento” (I’m sorry) in front of all that, remove the part about the “bring someone who speaks English”, and if you have a computer with a microphone, tablet, or smartphone, download a vocal translator (I like Microsoft’s Bing Translate) so translation goes both ways. A $20-50 Lumia from Walmart or Amazon (or a Microsoft Store) can do it if you have at least WiFi, no need for a monthly cell phone plan.
facw
> desertdog5051
08/01/2015 at 23:42 |
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I don’t think it’s a problem to have a card (though memorizing the phrase would be good). That said, regardless of your feelings about whether people should learn English, you are in a service industry (and one that has a disproportionate amount of Spanish speaking customers), so you should be apologetic “lo siento” about not being able to help them, rather than making demands of them. That’s just good customer service.
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desertdog5051
> boxrocket
08/02/2015 at 00:26 |
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Good idea. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to have personal devices on the floor. The existing computer system might be able to do it, but there are always other people using it. So far, the “draw a picture” has worked pretty good. I just feel bad when I can’t help people.
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desertdog5051
> facw
08/02/2015 at 00:27 |
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Good point.
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boxrocket
> desertdog5051
08/02/2015 at 00:32 |
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maybe the company could furnish it? Like I said, you can get a basic Lumia for as low as $20, mount it to the counter, and leave the main screen as just the tile for launching the translator app (if it’s ever closed).
EL_ULY
> desertdog5051
08/02/2015 at 00:43 |
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As you may know, my wife just got here to America LEGALLY. Long story short, she is trying to learn English. She knows how obviously important it is and really wants to learn. Classes are expensive and with the help of the internet, we are trying to make progress. It is hella difficult be we are trying. It is nice when at times we get Spanish speaking employees helping her or things writen in both languages.
The problem is when “our people” expect every place to work the same way. That is obviously not any company’s requirement. Them getting upset about that is silly. Worst of all, some of “our people” take offense if anyone challenges that.
I tell my wife that it’s like if a bunch of people from..... Sweden lets say all of a sudden go to Mexico and just start expecting them to speak Swedish and get pissed if you don’t or tell them otherwise .
Not being motivated to adapt to the country that protects you at night is a problem. Also as bad though is the reaction of the opposed when they act in pregidest manors without knowing the facts. “Go back to Mexico ya wetbacks!”
Having patients with your customers is appreciated, trust me. But for you to adapt is not your job or the USA’s. Anyone who thinks the US should adapt to all the Spanish speakers is just wrong. “We” need to be motivated to adapt to the place that keeps us safe and free at night.
Trust me, we get pissed also when we do things the right way and bust our asses while our fellow countrymen slack off so hard
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desertdog5051
> boxrocket
08/02/2015 at 00:49 |
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A good idea (in my mind). I will bring it up. Unfortunately, this is a company with a couple jillion employees. Odds are it will not get much daylight. My big problem is I work in Tools and Hardware. We have about 10.000? products. If it was appliances, I could probably adapt to stove or refrigerator or washer or dryer much easier.
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desertdog5051
> EL_ULY
08/02/2015 at 01:10 |
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Thanks, EL_ULY. I have no qualms with people who cannot speak English. The ones who try to speak English get my highest regards. I really enjoy the “draw me a picture” part. I usually get good results and I can see the light bulb go on above their heads when we figure it out. Perhaps giving a little incentive to further pursue English. The children are so cool. They tranlate so well that it makes me jealous.
pip bip - choose Corrour
> desertdog5051
08/02/2015 at 05:07 |
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couldn’t agree more.
the Mexicans (or whereever they’re from) need to learn English.
E92M3
> desertdog5051
08/02/2015 at 08:33 |
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They can’t get mad because they can’t communicate. They should try to learn english.
With that said Spanish IS the #1 most spoken language on the planet. I would keep trying to learn it too.