Learn English or else

[johnlambert]

what do you tyhink about this?

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/12022007/344/jobless- must-learn-speak-english.html

Personally, I agree

[gina32]

if they havent got jobs to come to when they decide they want to live here then they shouldnt be allowed to enter, and if they have and then lose the jobs and still cant speak english then they should be sent back, jobs arent that easy to find for us let alone anyone else

[Dom Tuk]

Most immigrants are desparate to work. I have not known any one who is work shy. their entire ethos is to find work and work bloody hard they do. ofcourse there are a few exceptions to the rule but do you need a government policy for exceptions?? the hard workers will welcome the idea that they will be given opportunities to speak english.

[sp1814]

Eastender/gina32

Where did you get your information on the scale of immigrants on benefits?

gina32 - your post made me laugh out loud! When you say that immigrants who lose their jobs and "still can't speak English" should be sent back...what timescales do you envisage for this?

Should they be allowed to sell their homes and take their kids out of school, or should they be put onto a ship the minute they lose their jobs?

Can you see the impracticality of what you propose.

[jake-the-peg]

Of course there is the little issue of the employers who flout the law giving jobs to illegal immigrants with no right to work here.

Right now businesses doing so can be fined up to �5,000 per employee however in practice there were only about 20 cases over 6 years.

Now I know there are tough new penalties being planned but if there aren't any more prosecutions nothing's going to change.

Let's hope the "new inspection regime"

[kwicky]

I hope that the emigrants that have left these shores for Spain, France and Italy are not required to speak their mother tongue in retaliation.

[Kathyan]

Brionon, I didn't know if they had, that's why I asked the question.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814 perhaps the reason they do not speak English is because it is avantageous to them. And much more nearer the truth than your explanation is so we can't understand what they are saying about us.
Incidently how is it that one can understand young female Afro-Caribbeans and Asians, who have been born and educated here, but one finds it hard to understand the young Males?

[sp1814]

anotheoldgit

Please don't concern yourself with not being understand young black men.

My nephew is 16, and I understand him fully, and he hasn't said one interesting thing in the past year.

No teenager actually ever says anything interesting...they just think they're interesting.

[Dom Tuk]

sp1814...touche.....

[Dom Tuk]

aog....you listen to a lot of ethnic monirities do you, enough to work out that you understand the female and not the males. give over...from your lectures on this site you should not be allowed near the monirity communities.

[sp1814]

To answer AOG seriously...

Part of the reason may be that girls (not just from ethnic minories) generally do slightly better than their male counterparts (this seems to be evidenced every time the GCSE A Level results are announced).

There is a recognised issue in the black community of young black men under achieving where the 'education gap' is even more pronounced.

Not saying that a poor eduction leads automatically to poor diction, but some argue that there's a correlation between how one sees oneself and how one portrays oneself to the outside word.

Sorry to sound like an editorial from The Independent, but it's the only way I could explain it.

[gina32]

i meant that they should be able to speak english before they get here, if at all. britain for the british

[sp1814]

What a beautifully put sentiment gina32...however at what point would the incoming population be deemed sufficiently skilled in the English language?

Good enough to buy a lottery ticket?

Good enough to get a job in Aldi?

Good enough to enter a discource on post-modernism with Stephen Fry?

Good enough to produce and direct a Gilbergt & Sullivan production at the Royal Opera House?

[sp1814]

Just thinking about that actually...wouldn't it be unfair to expect any immigrant to have a better grasp on the language than the most unintelligable Brit?

There was a programme on telly a couple of weeks ago, where the interior designers, Colin and Justin attempted to renovate a crumbling housing estate in Glasgow.

Some of the people there had to be subtitled because their accents were so strong.

Would it be fair to only expect immigrants to have this level of 'understandability' (not putting down the people on that show, just trying to draw a comparison).

[Marky B]

I agree with the proposals,but will it be carried out? This government tends to get in spitting distance of carrying out a policy,then change their minds. Despite Kathyan's "tongue in cheek",she has a point - the real Prime Minister of this country,Cherie Blair,will insure it.
Ta Ta
Marky B

[Carakeel]

I have lived in several other countries and have always made the effort to learn the languages of those countries and have always respected the cultures of these countries, not expected them to change because they may be different to what I was previously used to. I do think that anyone wanting to reside in any foreign country should be obliged to learn at least the basics of the language of that country BEFORE being allowed residency. This goes as much for those entering the UK as the Brits who go to live abroad!!! It may sound harsh, but it would prevent so many misunderstandings and problems between locals and immigrants. In cases where people are fleeing because of persecution, I think they should be given compulsory, but free language courses as soon as they set foot in their new country of residence.

[Marvelman]

There has been that many Poles and Muslems arrived in my city, that it would be easier if we were to learn their language, i was in a local Lydel on Saturday and there were only about six people that were speaking English, i felt as if i was in another country,

[kaylamay]

I agree. If you go to live in a country other than of your birth then you need to assimilate and learn the language especially if you're being taken care of by that countries taxes. I live in the US and it is an English speaking country yet many, many jobs require bilingual English/Spanish as a prerequisite for the job. Ticks me off!!!! Also, every form imaginable has to be printed in 20 different languages. I believe if you go to a foreign country to live then learn the language! If you dont want to assimilate and become part of your new country then leave.

[Lindylou]

Kaylamay - I agree with every word.