I am curious how many facilities have an "English Only" rule, and how/whether it is enforced.
I work at a SNF in which the vast majority of the employees are from the Philippines. Although we have an "English Only" rule, it seems that they have no interest in abiding by it, although all are fluent in English. Since I am one of only two white employees, I guess there isn't much I can do about it. It does bother me, though, when we are on our lunch break, and all of them are speaking their own language and I am the only one who does not understand the conversation!
I am curious if others have the same situation where they work, and if so, how they deal with it. Thanks.
Geez. I really have to wonder about the mental stability of some of you concerned about other people who are speaking in their native tongue around you. Do you also get upset when you see two people whispering? Do you feel that you have to be a part of every conversation?
I see so much talk of being 'excluded' from a conversation. Well, if it's already a private conversation to begin with, why do you feel that you have to be included?
As I said before, if it involves patient care, then I could see where it would be an issue. Otherwise, who cares???
Again, private conversations usually occur privately.
Speaking in a foreign language and creating an atmosphere of exclusion is wrong. It's rude...it shouldn't happen.
No one says that communication between two people-privately-is anyone elses business-HOWEVER, when several people are speaking to each other in that language in common area...it is rude!
How would you feel if you were involved with someone whose whole family spoke English and Russian? Everytime you were over, they spoke Russian and only English if they felt like including you? IT WOULD BE RUDE. It is no difference in the work place.
Again, private conversations usually occur privately.
Speaking in a foreign language and creating an atmosphere of exclusion is wrong. It's rude...it shouldn't happen.
No one says that communication between two people-privately-is anyone elses business-HOWEVER, when several people are speaking to each other in that language in common area...it is rude!
How would you feel if you were involved with someone whose whole family spoke English and Russian? Everytime you were over, they spoke Russian and only English if they felt like including you? IT WOULD BE RUDE. It is no difference in the work place.
Maisy
I would try to learn their language as well. After all "that" someone is involved with American-Russian and their family....It would benefit this person as well.
Specializes in Emergency, Case Management, Informatics.
Again, private conversations usually occur privately.
Speaking in a foreign language and creating an atmosphere of exclusion is wrong. It's rude...it shouldn't happen.
No one says that communication between two people-privately-is anyone elses business-HOWEVER, when several people are speaking to each other in that language in common area...it is rude!
How would you feel if you were involved with someone whose whole family spoke English and Russian? Everytime you were over, they spoke Russian and only English if they felt like including you? IT WOULD BE RUDE. It is no difference in the work place.
Maisy
I don't really see a correlation between the workplace and going over to visit someone's family.
Do you think it's rude when you go to an ethnic restaurant and they're speaking their native tongue, even though the majority of customers in the eatery don't speak the language?
"Hey, they're in the good ol' US of A and need to speak the language, right?? Us customers don't speak none of that ol' fangled Japanesish! Speak American!"
If I was so upset at people speaking Tagalog or Spanish and so insecure that I thought they were talking about me, I'd learn the language. :chuckle
People feel comfortable speaking their native language during their "break", it's called a break for a reason. They do not have to include you in the conversation if they do not want to. Not everyone is courteous. If they want to speak in their native language let them, they are not there to make friends. They are there to take care of pts and make them feel better. If they don't want to be your friend, let it be. Jeez it's the break room how long is your break? Do we all take breaks at the same time? It seems out of assumption that the truth is you must feel they are talking about "you." Who cares during their break they are speaking Russian, Creole, Spanish, etc...
I was watching a basketball game on TV, Team USA vs. Lithuania, and the announcer was commenting how the Europeans speak so many different languages. Then he said, "People know when you are an American; when you only speak one language..." I know he is generalizing, but he did have a good point. If it bothers you so much, learn a new language. It will be beneficial for you, if you want to, eavesdrop and become good friends.
I don't really see a correlation between the workplace and going over to visit someone's family.
Do you think it's rude when you go to an ethnic restaurant and they're speaking their native tongue, even though the majority of customers in the eatery don't speak the language?
"Hey, they're in the good ol' US of A and need to speak the language, right?? Us customers don't speak none of that ol' fangled Japanesish! Speak American!"
If I was so upset at people speaking Tagalog or Spanish and so insecure that I thought they were talking about me, I'd learn the language. :chuckle
Wow never said that...!
If I choose to place myself in another environment I expect I won't know the language, HOWEVER, when I work in an ENGLISH speaking country/hospital I expect that conversation will be in English. What's difficult about that?
If you read any of my other posts, you'd realize that if I expected to work in another country, I would also expect to speak that language....HOWEVER, I ALSO NOTED THAT EUROPEANS ALREADY ARE AWARE THAT AMERICANS SEEM TO ONLY SPEAK ONE LANGUAGE. They are kind and speak English to us mono-languaged people.
I guess it comes down to semantics, you can't work in an environment if you can't speak the language and communicate with both patients and co workers. Are we inclusive or devisive? It becomes devisive when groups of people speak only their native language and leave those NON BELONGING WORKERS OUT! So rules are made so that everyone is on common ground. Where is the harm there?
As far as myself, I have gone to places where no English is spoken....and managed. Imagine that? Oh, and I agree it would be nice if you marry into a family to learn the language...but until you do, it's still rude if they speak in that language-LEAVING YOU OUT!
At work I usually do not speak in any other language but English in patient care areas (this includes the nurses station) - at the most, it would be a short phrase or so and not as a matter of routine.
On break, If I'm sitting with a group of people at work, I speak in a language that is understood by all. If this includes a group of people speaking a language other than English, we speak in that language.
I see nothing "rude" about not including other folks in your conversation - people can and do have 'private conversations'. e.g.: If I'm sitting at the cafeteria with my friend, there is no need to involve people in the surrounding 6 tables in our conversation. It's a different matter say, if you were all sitting at the same table, discussing something when all of a sudden some of the folks start talking in a different language.
I speak 4 (and understand 7) languages. However, given my geographic location, it's a very rare incident indeed when I meet someone who speaks some of the languages I do!
When I meet someone who speaks a shared language, I speak in that language. Sometimes, this includes a patient - and speaking in native tongues tend to put many patients at ease (making my job easier).
Familiarity breeds comfort. If nothing else, it gives me a sense of pleasure to speak in the other languages I know. I enjoy art (music/cinema) in languages other than English.
Every facility has the right to impose rules governing working conditions as they see fit (and yes, this includes language requirements) - but I for one, would be disappointed if they did.
Maybe it's just me, but I see "foreign" languages not as a barrier but more as a bridge.*
My 'tuppence' () worth.
cheers,
*: Of course, there should be no impediment to providing safe, quality patient care - and this includes removing language barriers if present.
If everyone reviews the OP statement, she is one of two caucasians in a facility made up primarily of Phillipino co workers. She obviously feels left out.
While I think it's great to speak many languages, I have usage of 3 besides English. Spanish is the only other in which I speak passably, and try very hard to improve due to our large Hispanic/Latino population.
I believe the OP's point is that speaking in another language creates a barrier to those at the desk, the patients, and co workers who do not!
This isn't a matter of private conversation....it's pretty clear that a private conversation can be in any language...but when the general population of coworkers and patient are involved....it is no longer private and should be in the language of the facility. JUST MY
I am able to address, introduce myself and say hello in several languages...from there I need the language phone intepreter. I like to know what's going on and try to make my patient's comfortable. The language phone is just not a possibility for use with your coworkers!
If it involves patient care, then I agree that english should be spoken, but if you people are talking about something else outside of patient care then I really could care less what language they spoke.
The OP mentions being in the breakroom and not understanding the conversations. Flame me if you wish, but I am not obligated to include EVERYONE in the room (or in my immediate surroundings) in my conversation. If I am speaking in a another laguage in a room full of people, it is because what I am talking about is none of their business.
If it involves patient care, then I agree that english should be spoken, but if you people are talking about something else outside of patient care then I really could care less what language they spoke.
The OP mentions being in the breakroom and not understanding the conversations. Flame me if you wish, but I am not obligated to include EVERYONE in the room (or in my immediate surroundings) in my conversation. If I am speaking in a another laguage in a room full of people, it is because what I am talking about is none of their business.
If it involves patient care, then I agree that english should be spoken, but if you people are talking about something else outside of patient care then I really could care less what language they spoke......
The patient care thing yes...unless as was pointed out earlier, something is happening with a patient, the nurse who finds out can not explain it well in english so tells a coworker who speaks her native language so she can help. I would WANT my nurse to do that if it would better my care, or if it was how a problem was going to be brought to light. Alot of times people who do not speak english nativly even if they have been speaking it for a long time, have touble sometimes. If speaking in ENGLISH will interfear with patient care (in certian cercumstances) then I think it is ok to speak another language.
I lived with my DH in a foreign country for a while. While we both spoke the language adequately, it was honestly a bit of a struggle to express yourself completely. I rarely spoke anything but English to DH; it seemed completely silly to struggle through the intricacies of the foreign language when we both spoke English natively and perfectly (well, as perfect as I'm gonna get coming from a backwards town in the midwest....). If I saw him at work, we spoke English.
Yes I was there to learn the language; and yes, when I was not having a private conversation with a native English speaker, I made every attempt to speak German. Most of my coworkers and friends did not speak English--they mainly spoke German, German dialects, and eastern European languages. But especially private conversations with other native English speakers--why would I bumble through my imperfect German when I could express myself easily and correctly in English?
Now I speak German at home when I want to exclude someone from the conversation--like talking about Christmas shopping, or some sort of surprise with the kids. I speak German at work with the few old ladies who occasionally come in and can't or won't speak English. I also speak German when I am calling home and want to discuss something private--gripe about work, or say something mushy on the phone to DH, that sort of thing. My German became strong enough that there are now some things that I can actually express more accurately in German--not much, but certain German phrases lend themselves to some situations so much better than English--and I'll use them in an otherwise English conversation with DH. If it's a private conversation, I don't give a shite whose feelings might get hurt--it's none of their business. Speaking German is actually a nice way to keep the conversation private and intimate. If it is a "public" conversation and I use a German phrase, I would translate it as best I could.
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) worth.
MAISY, RN-ER, BSN, RN
1,082 Posts
Again, private conversations usually occur privately.
Speaking in a foreign language and creating an atmosphere of exclusion is wrong. It's rude...it shouldn't happen.
No one says that communication between two people-privately-is anyone elses business-HOWEVER, when several people are speaking to each other in that language in common area...it is rude!
How would you feel if you were involved with someone whose whole family spoke English and Russian? Everytime you were over, they spoke Russian and only English if they felt like including you? IT WOULD BE RUDE. It is no difference in the work place.
Maisy