To feel sorry for this grandma?

[RebelRogue]

Kid in DD's class. Her parents don't work weekends but only grandma(who lives with them) takes kid to parties. Thing is she doesn't speak english at all, so spends 2-3 hours sitting by herself,not talking to anybody. Plus the awkwardness of attempted conversation from others where she just smiles and nods. All requests or info get passed through the child if she can be separated from her friends. The woman can't even ask for a glass of water or whatever.
I know it's none of my business, but IABU to feel a bit sad for her?

Well you can't make her learn English or punish her for not doing so!

Is this aimed at me?

No - just the comments about not been sympathetic to her not learning english. You've been very nice and thoughtful about her.

I do understand that it isn't easy for everyone to learn a new language, especially the older you get, but I would've thought her daughter at least would make sure she knew things like hello, my name is ......., coffee please etc. It just seems cruel otherwise to me.
I would just try and be as friendly as you can given the limitations. Bring her a coffee over if that is on offer etc. She will recognise the kindness behind it.

Will never forget the kindness of my school friend who spoke the language of non English speaking granny and her 90 year old boyfriend and chatted to them at our wedding.

That should be dhs granny.

Maybe she wants to do the parties etc in an attempt to get more familiar with English?

well I have an old granny fone and am perfectly 'tech savvy' thank you.
If she wanted to learn English, she would.

The Rumanian family in our village brought their grandad over to watch their preschooler because both parents worked all hours in low wage jobs (we're actually in Germany, and the dad speaks ok German but the mum spoke none, and no English, when she first arrived and was very shy and timid too, but she found a job stacking shelves as soon as she spoke a tiny bit of German). The grandad spoke no German and no English but was very outgoing and cheerful and generous and actually fairly easy to communicate with without a common language, which is kind of a skill in itself. He returned to Bulgaria when the DD started school to be replaced by various other family members each staying a few months then leaving again.

The grandmother in question here may have no intention of staying forever - if she's providing childcare as a short or medium term solution, even if a couple of years, and finds language learning hard, she may not be particularly unhappy not speaking the language.

Some people are perfectly content inwardly despite their resting bitch face :o

I feel sorry for her too. She's of an age, living somewhere she didn't choose while supporting her family and has to attend parties that most people with the necessary language skills find difficult/unbearable. It's bloody hard. I think the OP is being kind. I'd venture a hello in her language next time you see her. At the very least it might make her laugh

@AntigoneJones fair enough. I admit that was an assumption I made based on her age and where she is from. However I'm quite sure I'm right.

Greenworm makes a good point. After 15 years in France DOH only had a smattering of French (Bonjour, ca va, merci, and his favourite.. Voila!)but he was in his early 70's, secondary education severely affected by WW2 and like many boys not good with verbal skills. So, he relied on me... but I must say he seemed to blunder his way through the language barrier far better than me, who was constantly fretting about using the right tense, right gender and all the other crap associated with a non-native language.

Hand signals and a sense of humour seemed to get him through, so try that with your 'granny' Rebelrogue . And good on you for noticing she is left out.

If she wanted to learn English, she would.

I have worked with people who really wanted and tried to learn English, and still couldn't.