Spin-off of "Multilingual Rudeness"

[StaciNadia]

In my work, almost all of the employees and managers speak Spanish.  I speak very limited Spanish, and can understand a bit more.  The managers and a few other people speak English.  When they make announcements, they're usually in Spanish, and then they translate it for me, which I appreciate.

My problem is with the Spanish-only speakers.  I say something to them in English, because I can't think of the words in Spanish.  They say they don't understand.  Then I hear them say things in Spanish like, "What did she say?"  "I dunno, I can't understand her."  And then they laugh.  They laugh a lot at not understanding me.  It just really bothers me sometimes.  Sometimes I can't understand what they say afterwards, and I don't know if they're insulting me or not...

Is this a really lame thing to go talk to a manager about?

[Clara Bow]

They may be laughing out of discomfort. Like one of those awkward situation laughs. I think I'd brush up my Spanish a tad and perhaps get one of the more bilingual employees to act as a translator wherever possible. If they make nasty comments about you or something, then managment needs to be involved. But if it's just a language barrier thing, then I'd deal with it on their level and leave management out of it. When I was in the pharmacy we had a little Mexican lady who would come in and we had an awful time understanding each other (I can order a beer in Spanish, but that's it) and we often (her and I) broke down in the helpless giggles as we tried to "sign" to each other what we were trying to say. She was very patient and very polite, but there was nothing we could do but laugh sometimes to break the tension.

[StaciNadia]

Sometimes it is discomfort, or because it's a humorous situation when the other person and I are signing or something.  That's okay.  But I dunno, sometimes I get the feeling they're laughing at my expense.  Like they gather and talk and laugh about how we don't understand each other.  Sometimes they say "pobrecita" (poor thing), but it's not like a pity laugh.  It's definitely not an inclusive feeling.  And they aren't interested in learning English.

The only truly bilingual people there are the managers, and maybe one cashier, not people who I run into or deal with often.  There was one woman who we tried so hard to understand each other.  She was very kind.  But she hasn't been in since before Christmas.

[Clara Bow]

Hmmmm, then I guess you'd have to involve management to have a translator, huh? I still don't think that they're being intentionally rude, we've all laughed a little at someone else's expense. But I'd definitely try to avoid anyone I thought was just outright hateful.

[girlmusic]

Sometimes it is discomfort, or because it's a humorous situation when the other person and I are signing or something.  That's okay.  But I dunno, sometimes I get the feeling they're laughing at my expense.  Like they gather and talk and laugh about how we don't understand each other.  Sometimes they say "pobrecita" (poor thing), but it's not like a pity laugh.  It's definitely not an inclusive feeling.  And they aren't interested in learning English.

As far as I know, from many many years of Spanish classes and speaking with many native speakers, "Pobre cita" is used the same way Southerners use "Bless her heart". Not always kind.

I would brush up on my Spanish. I would not necesarily speak to management, but I would definitely throw in a few "ayudame, por favor"s ("help me please"s) and try to make it clear that you are serious about being understood.

[Rose2Bear]

Do you live in a country in which Spanish is the national languauge? If so, then I guess there isn't much more to say then "well I guess you better brush up on your Spanish" and ignore my next paragraph.

If not, then do you live in the USA? While there is no national language (although I believe there have been efforts to change this) then how do these employees interact with the patrons to your work? While I do not know what you do, so I do not know if there is a lot of customer interaction, it seems sort of strange. And while, yes, English is not the "official" language of the USA... come on.... it pretty much is the norm, unless you live in certain spots I suppose. While there is nothing wrong with speaking other languages, it seems strange that they would isolate you like this. and laugh. I would be afraid that if someone didn't like me, miscommunication could prove to be a really sticky situation. 

I guess even in this later situation, the best solution for you is to either find a new job if this really bothers you, or take a Spanish course.

[StaciNadia]

If not, then do you live in the USA? While there is no national language (although I believe there have been efforts to change this) then how do these employees interact with the patrons to your work? While I do not know what you do, so I do not know if there is a lot of customer interaction, it seems sort of strange. And while, yes, English is not the "official" language of the USA... come on.... it pretty much is the norm, unless you live in certain spots I suppose. While there is nothing wrong with speaking other languages, it seems strange that they would isolate you like this. and laugh. I would be afraid that if someone didn't like me, miscommunication could prove to be a really sticky situation. 

I guess even in this later situation, the best solution for you is to either find a new job if this really bothers you, or take a Spanish course.

I do live in the US, in Miami, which I suppose is one of the exceptions you're talking about.  These people have no desire to learn English, which I don't understand, because if they go most anywhere else in the country, they won't understand ANYONE.  People like FI and FMiL immigrated here, but they learned English, and became proficient in it.  FMiL prefers to speak Spanish, but she speaks English with me and other English-speakers.  Sometimes she doesn't always know the word, but she does a very good job.  But I really don't understand how you can come to America and NOT learn English...   

I work in retail, and many people who come in are bilingual, or have people who can translate.  Others speak only English, and others speak only Spanish.  They can't speak at all to the English-speakers, while I can try to speak to the Spanish-speakers, though I don't always follow.

I took 7 years of Spanish, but courses don't teach all the different dialects (ie. for "hangers (to hang clothes on)", some say "gancho" and some say "pachero" (sp?)) and obviously, they don't teach words for certain professions.

I will probably start looking for another job after the wedding.  I love the fitting room, but I don't feel like I belong.

[Chivewarrior]

I don't think you can legally immigrate to America without being able to speak English reasonably well. The test is done in English with no translator.

You may be working with illegals...

[StaciNadia]

You'd have to be legal to have a driver's license and stuff, right? 

[CherryB]

You'd have to be legal to have a driver's license and stuff, right? 

Newp. Lots and lots  of illegals have drivers licenses, at least they do here in Arizona.

[RandomAngel]

You may be working with illegals...

Oh my goodness--when I read this, I had this image of you leaning in to stage whisper "You might be working with space aliens!" while they rip off their human-face masks behind OP.

U.S. urban centers, especially coastal ones, and even more especially that most Miami, run largely on an illegal workforce.  And since these workers also need to shop, eat, and generally live as well, some knowledge of Spanish is pretty vital to living in Miami.

Legal or otherwise, many people who immigrate here choose not to learn English (or not to use it), often because they fear it will diminish their sense of their own cultural identity.  Some worry that their children will not bother to learn their language at all, some don't plan to stay longer than they have to, some feel they are too old to learn, and some live in entirely non-English-speaking communities and never have any real reason to learn.

To OP: if people are really laughing at you because you can't communicate easily, then they're not really your friends anyway.    But seriously: often people laugh to ease tension, but it's hard to feel on the outside of a joke--especially when you're not sure it's a nice one.  I don't see much you can do except be as friendly as possible, brush up your Spanish as best you can, and, as you mentioned, look for another job if it's too uncomfortable.