Do you speak English?

[SonomaCat]

I had an interesting experience on a recent flight. I was flying from SLC to SFO, and was sitting in one of the two exit rows. In my row, there happened to be Asian women sitting next to the windows on both sides. In the exit row in front of us, there were white guys sitting next to the windows.

When the woman came back to give us the gratuitous instructions and asking each of us if we were willing to take responsibility in the event of a crash, yada, yada, yada, everybody answered "yes" audibly. She then paused, and turned to the Asian woman sitting next to the door on the far side and asked "Do you speak English?" The woman, a professional looking type, said "Yes," in a slightly put-off tone. The flight attendant then turned to the Asian woman sitting next to the door on my side of the plane and asked "Do you speak English?" She responsed "Yes" as well. She did not pose this question to the white guys sitting next to the windows in the exit row in front of us, nor anyone of the rest of us (who all happened to be white).

After the flight attendant walked away, everybody in our row started laughing ... it was kind of bizarre. Apparently the particular Delta airlines flight attendant assumed that everyone who was white spoke English but questioned only those people with Asian ancestory with her question.

My question to you guys ... does this seem weird? I can understand making sure you can speak English ... that should be done when the person checks in, along with the other questions they ask when you are seated in an exit row. But it seemed really strange for a flight attendant to call out particular people based on race (especially on a flight to SFO, where about 50% of the city is Asian and speak English) to ask them in if they speak English.

Anyway ... just curious as to your thoughts.

[DriftCat]

She should have addressed everyone with that queston all at once I think.

[SonomaCat]

She should have addressed everyone with that queston all at once I think.

Yeah, that would have made sense to me had she done that.

I just zipped off an email to Delta to ask them if that is their company policy, or if this lady was just improvising.

[PapaG]

She should have addressed everyone with that queston all at once I think.

Yeah, that would have made sense to me had she done that.

I just zipped off an email to Delta to ask them if that is their company policy, or if this lady was just improvising.

How about if we have a show of hands during the pre-flight instructions?

"If you speak English, please raise your hand."

Seriously though, I'd probably let the two ladies who were questioned deal with any response to Delta.

[iaafan]

She should have addressed everyone with that queston all at once I think.

Yeah, that would have made sense to me had she done that.

I just zipped off an email to Delta to ask them if that is their company policy, or if this lady was just improvising.

How about if we have a show of hands during the pre-flight instructions?

"If you speak English, please raise your hand."

Seriously though, I'd probably let the two ladies who were questioned deal with any response to Delta.

I wonder if they ask this on Air Force One?

[CelticCat]

To answer the originally title of this thread, "yes".

[GOKATS]

To answer the originally title of this thread, "yes".

I can agree with you.

The rest of the thread might be a bit personal, but I have no problem with that.

[catsrback76]

I had an interesting experience on a recent flight. I was flying from SLC to SFO, and was sitting in one of the two exit rows. In my row, there happened to be Asian women sitting next to the windows on both sides. In the exit row in front of us, there were white guys sitting next to the windows.

When the woman came back to give us the gratuitous instructions and asking each of us if we were willing to take responsibility in the event of a crash, yada, yada, yada, everybody answered "yes" audibly. She then paused, and turned to the Asian woman sitting next to the door on the far side and asked "Do you speak English?" The woman, a professional looking type, said "Yes," in a slightly put-off tone. The flight attendant then turned to the Asian woman sitting next to the door on my side of the plane and asked "Do you speak English?" She responsed "Yes" as well. She did not pose this question to the white guys sitting next to the windows in the exit row in front of us, nor anyone of the rest of us (who all happened to be white).

After the flight attendant walked away, everybody in our row started laughing ... it was kind of bizarre. Apparently the particular Delta airlines flight attendant assumed that everyone who was white spoke English but questioned only those people with Asian ancestory with her question.

My question to you guys ... does this seem weird? I can understand making sure you can speak English ... that should be done when the person checks in, along with the other questions they ask when you are seated in an exit row. But it seemed really strange for a flight attendant to call out particular people based on race (especially on a flight to SFO, where about 50% of the city is Asian and speak English) to ask them in if they speak English.

Anyway ... just curious as to your thoughts.

Ya ne gavaru angliski. Ya paruski eta harosho!

[Grizlaw]

I am dating an Asian woman right now (she's Cambodian), and she gets this quite a bit (even in New York City, which also has a fairly large Asian population...though probably less per capita than SF). She's lived in the U.S. for about 20 years now, went to high school and college here, etc. Her English is perfect, but she does have an accent, and I guess that makes people assume that her English is bad. She just laughs it off, though...when people first meet her, they sometimes speak to her very slowly, like they're not sure she'll be able to understand them, and she'll respond in clear English, with an unnecessary five-syllable word or two thrown in just to drive the point home.

--GL

[grizzh8r]

ENGRISH??? (Shameless Team America plug)

Um, ahhh, Sure what you said BAC.

[HelenaCat95]

English?
No - we kicked those limey bastar#s out of here 200 years ago.
I speak American....and I speak good.

[iaafan]

I'm told FOX news was ripping on people who want to have a Spanish version of the National Anthem. Turns out someone was commissioned in 1919 to translate it to Spanish and W sang the Spanish version during 2000 elections.