Speak English?

[Jemisa]

Should foreigners who come here to live and work be able to speak English?
Evidently there's a new law that says YES and they won't be able to enter the country without a test.

Having said that, what about the Brits that go out to Spain to live without being able to speak a word of Spanish? Should Spain enforce this law too.?

jem

[daisya]

There's a thread about this elsewhere. Yes they should IMO as should ANYONE who lives in another country, they too should learn at least the basics of their host country's language.

[RATTER15]

Yes they should or it should be law that they subscribe to an English course or be sent home.

As for Spain, that's nothing to do with us, that's up to them!

[Safiya]

I think but im not sure that the english test is just for migrants marrying uk citizens not for everyone...i may be wrong though

[Safiya]

marrying or joining a spouse ...sorry

[milly143]

There was just a piece on the radio Safiya about a woman (indian I think) who lives here but her husband has been refused entry as he does not speak English.

[abstibus]

http://www.ukba.homeo...0/nov/57-elt-partners

[Safiya]

so he would be a spouse then milly rather than coming here looking for work or studying or whatever..... im 99% sure its just for spouses or people coming to get married

[RATTER15]

I believe they have to sit a written and spoken English test before becoming a British citizen.

[tinkerbell23]

Personally i wouldnt go to stay in a country if i couldnt speak the lingo!! How scary would that be! I agree with at least signing up to learn and completing basic english- but some people come here who are desperate to leave their countries for terrible reasons and turning them away at the "gate" is harsh because some people have had no access to education unfortunately- or very little x

[pa___ul3]

I think it's just plain ignorant to not learn to communicate in the language of your host country, it's a classic British trait that I really dislike that so many go abroad and expect everyone to speak English and so they don't even make an attempt at the language.
That said, I don't think it should be a legal issue. For starters, it would make a right mess in football!!

[tinkerbell23]

I feel rude! Take myself off to spanish speaking countries every year and take it for granted that they speak english. Its defo on my to do list! One course at a time LOL and polish actually. Basic polish x

[Ric.ror]

On Radio 4 this morning one of the items was about the woman suing the government because her 57 year old husband refused to learn English. I am sure we all know the case.
The thing was the woman - who speaks English - spoke in Indian and the BBC had to employ an intrepret! Now if thats not being awkward I dont know what is

[Safiya]

i'd call that taking the p1ss rather than awkward ric

good luck with the polish tinks, my mates polish and i find it a really hard language to grasp for some reason...

[tinkerbell23]

Yeah. I can say hello and thats it haha but my best mate is married to a polish person and theyre expecting a baby and i think itd b nice to be able to speak to my new neice/nephew in basic polish? Plus with my job too it will be an advantage ! Still one thing at a time! My dad wants to learn spanish! May get a download or something x

[pa___ul3]

good stuff Tinkerbell! I'm considering Mandarin next, a local course starts in September so I'm looking into that.
What really annoyed me one time, I was in McDonalds or Burger King in Liverpool and some foreign football fans were in there ordering, their English was broken but not too bad, the girl behind the counter was incredibly rude and just going "what!?" and tutting when you just know when she goes to order her kebab in benidorm she has the same attitude towards the locals' levels of English not being good enough for her.

[tinkerbell23]

Haha i know paul! Im one of those ones who asks for stuff plain!! In foreign countries!!!! ..... May just rope my pal in to teaching me! Its the pronunciation i think that makes it difficult x

[Ankou]

the idea that english people - generally - are or will be able to speak and write a language fluently in order to pass an entry test before entering a country, is ludicrous.

as said on the news thread, if i worked in saudi, and do indeed know some passable arabic but not how to write it (except my name), are you suggesting that my wife should not be able to come and see me until she had done the same ?

or is it just one rule for us etc ?

[ladybirder]

Aren't we talking about living in a country and not just visiting?

[Ankou]

i was living there.

[abstibus]

This is the level that incoming partners intending to settle are asked to demonstrate. It sems logical to me that anyone coming here should be able to complete these fundamental tasks.
CAN understand basic instructions or take part in a basic factual conversation on a predictable topic. CAN understand basic notices, instructions or information. CAN complete basic forms, and write notes including times, dates and places.