Is it professional??????????

[starbin]

I work in a LTC where 90% of the nurses (including the ADON) are foreign graduates (and from the same country, actually not only nurses....the PT/OTs, dieticians and kitchen aids, laundry aids and also some CNAs are from the same country). I love diversity in workplace but the problem here is these people speak in their own language (99% of the time) while talking to other employees from their country. They don't care even if someone else, who doesn't undrestand their language, is around. I tried to tell them a couple of times but they are too many of them that it is impossible to tell each and every person to talk in english. Looks like in two years I am going to master that language.........I myself being a foreigner having different native language...I don't favor talking in native languages at workplace unless it is required to facilitate communication between the patient and the care provider..............What do you guys think? Is it professional????????????

[chris_at_lucas_RN, RN]

hi,

i am a naturalized american citizen (originally from brazil)

off topic--if i met you in the real world as opposed to this virtual one, regardless of how long you had been here or what your opinion was on this issue (which i enjoyed and appreciated, thank you), i would say this with all sincerity:

welcome to the united states!

[queenjean]

When I lived and worked in Germany, I made every attempt to speak German; but a lot of times I reverted to English, especially when I was with a bunch of English speakers. Unless you are completely bilingual, it is always a small, constant struggle to speak in a foreign language. It is very artificial for two or more people to speak a foreign language together when they both have a common, native tounge.

As to "How will they ever learn English if they don't practice?" well, to some degree that's true. To some degree, though, it is speaking WITH NATIVE speakers of the language that really gets you fluent. When you speak English with a bunch of non-native English speakers, you know you are picking up on some freaky grammar and pronunciations, and you don't learn the little intricate aspects. When you are speaking with other non-native speakers, the language used is pretty simplistic and minimal. You don't really learn much, in my experience, in a non-classroom setting speaking with a bunch of non-natives. What you do learn are some bad language habits.

I don't see it as rude and unprofessional as long as they aren't talking about stuff that *you* need to know about. If you want to be in on the conversation, just say so. Don't say "You need to speak English around here." Say "I'd like to be involved in the conversation! Could you speak more English around the nurse's station so that I can chat, too?" If you appear hostile, insecure and impatient, why in the world would anyone want to expose themselves to speaking in a nonnative language with you? It is really hard for a lot of us to speak a language other than our own with people who we feel don't like us or are judging us. If you appear interested in what is going on and not angry with me, then I am more likely to try to speak with you, even if my command of your native language isn't perfect.

Another thing, I was so homesick at some points during my stay in Germany, I would literally ache to speak English with other Americans. Sometimes that little bit of home was the only thing that kept me sane.

Maybe try to learn a little of their language, ask them about nursing in their native country, ask them about how they are handling the language at home (do their kids speak primarily English? Are they trying to raise them bilingually?). Once you express some interest in these people, they will probably be more secure in their interactions with you and will include you in the conversation.

In any case, I sincerely doubt it is malicious; in my case it was habit, ease, and homesickness. I never intended to offend anyone, and would have been shocked if someone thought that. But I also wouldn't have been secure enough to speak my broken German with someone who I felt didn't like me; I would have stayed away and only spoken with them if I absolutely had to.