Speaking Tagalog in English speaking company

World International

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Magandaga umaga,

Please could I ask your opinion, Some of my English speaking colleagues are saying that it is very rude for Nurses from the Philippines to speak Tagalog around their non Tagalog speaking colleagues, I can understand why it is unacceptable to exclude patients but not why it is rude to speak ones own language in front of other staff,

What does everyone else think ?

You don't have to adapt to American culture. You just have to respect American culture. If America says English, then speak it even if its broken grammar. Anyway, who's perfect in American English?

This made me smile,:)

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I'm sorry, is this a serious question? I'm just amazed. We profess to be professionals and yet we do NOT know the basic rules in etiquette. I am from the Philippines and living here in the United States. Aside from English, I speak Pilipino and a little of Spanish. When I am in the workplace, I am very careful NOT to speak Pilipino (or Spanish) because i do not want to isolate other people and make them feel UNCOMFORTABLE. To put it bluntly, it is very RUDE to speak in our language when other people are around. I know that sometimes we get excited when we see a "kababayan" and we prefer to speak in the vernacular, but this must stop. :confused:

THANK YOU for posting this!!! It is so extremely rude. I am at my wits end with all the tagalog at work. I've had problems in the last two places I've worked. It's so bad. I'm left out and I miss key information about work and patients. It's so annoying and inconsiderate I really can't stress enough how I wish it would be outlawed and not allowed in the patient care area anywhere while on the clock!!!! Seriously it does have to stop.

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"The real issue is professionalism."

yes that is true, and being professional means not excluding your coworkers or patients by speaking in a language that is not common to all! Speak English!

[COLOR=#000000]"Not homogenization of America and not abandoning culture and embracing a new one. "[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#000000]Why does it mean you have to abandon your culture in order to embrace the new one? Yes America does have a "culture" and it's base on our constitution and our freedoms, as well as our generosity and ability to embrace all cultures. But when people come here to work they should respect the common language, which is again, English, not Tagalog [/COLOR]

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I am an immigrant currently in the US. It is very rude and unprofessional to talk with coworkers in a language that is not understood by all.

At times I have used my native language to talk to patients from that country but that is the exemption. Sometimes people want to practice their language skills and I do not mind that - it is just exchanging niceties and people appreciate being able to practice s few sentences.

I work in a very multicultural setting with staff from a variety of countries. Common language is English.

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