Foreign language speakers in America have always existed. Heck we had translators to deal with the Indians. Immigrants to our country usually lived amongst those who spoke their native language. History shows all sorts of areas in cities where the historic culture prevailed. Growing up in Chicago, my grandparents were first generation immigrants from Germany. The neighborhood they lived in was predominately German and they even read the locally published weekly newspaper, written in German.
But that was more “comfort” then a requirement. In the absence of a German culture, they knew they had to assimilate, and they went on to master English as a language and went on to own businesses that catered to Americans that spoke only English.
Many immigrants to America speak enough English to get by in society. They are scared to use their English for fear of embarrassment. Up until the 1980s, American TV was the great trainer. Repetitious commercials allowed for practice. Heck, TV was the English language trainer.
Oddly enough, many Spanish educators decry the English as A Second Language training as harmful, arguing that it doesn’t provide “forced” immersion.
English speaking TV no longer has a monopoly on the entertainment needs of foreign language residents of American. The proliferation of satellite TV allows anyone to watch “hometown” channels with ease.
Enabling and “forcing” assimilation is a challenge that America must come to deal with if we are going to remain a country. Read more here.