No speak English

ericpabear · Post by **ericpabear** » Feb Sun 17, 2008 12:13 pm

Every time I go to WDW I run across at least a few Cast Members that do not speak any English at all. Some how we can still manage to communicate, sometimes not. One of the "not" times I ended up with two espressos, instead of a double shot of espresso. That cost me double, instead of an extra .75 cents. I am glad I did'nt order a tripple shot. I wasn't mad. Bless her heart, she was trying her best. Even the other cast member in the booth could not speak English either.

stinoi · Post by **stinoi** » Feb Sun 17, 2008 1:28 pm

I've had a few that had difficulty undertstanding me, but I've never encountered one that did not speak any English. Have your experiences been primarily in Epcot, or also in the other parks?

Post by **acp** » Feb Sun 17, 2008 7:22 pm

ericpabear wrote:Every time I go to WDW I run across at least a few Cast Members that do not speak any English at all. Some how we can still manage to communicate, sometimes not. One of the "not" times I ended up with two espressos, instead of a double shot of espresso. That cost me double, instead of an extra .75 cents. I am glad I did'nt order a tripple shot. I wasn't mad. Bless her heart, she was trying her best. Even the other cast member in the booth could not speak English either.

That's interesting, because one of the requirements for being a Cast Member is that you speak "good conversational English". I remember reading that requirement when I applied to work there a few years back.

On a related note, it's also a requirement at Disneyland Resort Paris that all the Cast Members speak at least English and one other European language (usually French) (or something like that).

Andy.

DIAC1987 · Post by **DIAC1987** » Feb Sun 17, 2008 7:23 pm

That may have been one of the third-party food stands, in which the requirements are different..

Where exactly did you buy this?

ericpabear · Post by **ericpabear** » Feb Sun 17, 2008 7:28 pm

The "double shot" problem was at the Magic Kingdom, behind Aladin's Flying Carpet. But we have run into non-English speaking people all over the parks and Hotels. Just try to speak to one of the housekeeping staff. (That wasn't totaly honest, and fair to say.)

stinoi · Post by **stinoi** » Feb Sun 17, 2008 9:05 pm

That's interesting. I wonder how some would define "good conversational English"? I know that I've encountered some individuals for whom English is their only language, and they still can't speak the language worth a darn!

ericpabear · Post by **ericpabear** » Feb Sun 17, 2008 10:02 pm

stinoi wrote:That's interesting. I wonder how some would define "good conversational English"? I know that I've encountered some individuals for whom English is their only language, and they still can't speak the language worth a darn!

Hey I fit that profile. I have a New Orleans accent, and people from New york think I am from their neihgborhood. (I flunked English a few times.)

Post by **acp** » Feb Mon 18, 2008 4:53 am

stinoi wrote:That's interesting. I wonder how some would define "good conversational English"? I know that I've encountered some individuals for whom English is their only language, and they still can't speak the language worth a darn!

I don't know this for certain, but as far as I know they do the interviews in English, since the recruiters that visit the countries to do them are from WDW, not the local agencies they use.

Andy.

Lion Sleeps Tonight · Post by **Lion Sleeps Tonight** » Feb Mon 18, 2008 6:43 pm

I did attend a Traditions class, and while the main facilitators were speaking in English, there was a table that had one sign language interpreter, and another table had a Creole interpreter.

coasterphil · Post by **coasterphil** » Feb Mon 18, 2008 7:11 pm

One of the things that surprised me most was how little English some CM's know. I've worked with people that can't carry on a conversation in English.

castmember04 · Post by **castmember04** » Feb Mon 18, 2008 7:14 pm

Must be the affirmative action hirees. I'm sorry, if you want to live/work in this country one requirement has to be that you can speak English. Disney should be know exception.

WishUponaStar · Post by **WishUponaStar** » Feb Mon 18, 2008 7:33 pm

That is strange to hear because even every cast member I've ever encountered even in the World Showcase, whether they are visiting on the college program, etc... have ALWAYS spoken English well enough to help with any question I had or order I placed.

I never experienced such a thing.

yodiwan1 · Post by **yodiwan1** » Feb Mon 18, 2008 10:24 pm

when i was a CP there were plenty of custodians that barely spoke english, if you can even call it that!

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Feb Tue 19, 2008 7:43 am

castmember04 wrote:Must be the affirmative action hirees.

That's a pretty amusing misinterpretation. The reason there are so many immigrants in certain service industries isn't government intervention, but the opposite (aka the "free market").

Immigrants with poor English skills will work for low wages, and that's music to a corporation's ears.

Also, for what it's worth, I've run into quite a few World Showcase employees who could just barely communicate in English, but I've always cut them some slack, for obvious reasons.

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Feb Tue 19, 2008 4:45 pm

Many of the Custodians that I worked with could speak english well enough especially with a very diverse background (Haitians, Hispanics, Malaysia). There was even a few cast members who were deaf and it was interesting working with them. However I gave everyone their respect from whatever background they came from whether they could speak broken english or not....A lot of them were actually helpful whenever I encountered someone who came up to me who spoke another language which happened A LOT.

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No speak English

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