Here are the exit row requirements presented by Continental (and based on FAA regulations) (bolded type mine):

"Continental will assign an exit row seat only to those customers who we determine can open an emergency exit and are able to take all additional actions needed at the exit in an emergency.

Note these:
Read English well enough to understand instructions for opening exits and emergency procedures.

Hear and understand well enough to understand English commands. Customers may wear a hearing aid.

Speak well enough to give information in English to crewmembers or other customers in an emergency.

Be able to use both hands, arms and legs, and be strong and flexible enough to quickly open the exit and go through the hatch.



Those are the rules but they are not always followed.
I was on Flight 303 yesterday (6-11-06) EWR-IAH, row 14 737-800. I had the isle(C) while two older non-english speaking passengers had A and B. The did not seem to speak any english, were quite elderly, couldn't answer yes or no when asked if they wanted the snack or a beverage, just pointed when they saw I had a soda. They might have been able to open the hatch if both of them worked together, but with the touble handling luggage I don't think one of them could do it alone. Cabin crew didn't ask any questions or find out about the language issue until we were in the air.

These people boarded last, must have been stand by so the Newark GA put them in these seats and had to know they couldn't speak english. They would have been a liablity in an emergency.

I saw this once before, again EWR departure in an MD80's, where a non-english speaker had the exit window. Again we were in the air and food was coming out before they noticed the problem. And he was flying standby, boarded last and to be lead to his seat if memory serves. Maybe the GA's read the policy as only one person in the row has to be able to help in an emergency?

I seem to remember being asked in past years by a cabin crew member if I knew I was in an exit row and would help out. Can't remember if this was Northwest or CO.