Calls for migrants English debate

[mrsquirrel]

People who are seeking to come to the UK to work or to join a spouse already living here should be required to learn English, an expert body says. The Commission on Integration and Cohesion says language is the single largest barrier to community relations.
The government set up the body to review how well the UK was integrating people from diverse backgrounds.
In its interim report, the commission said it would advise councils when to stop offering translation services.
Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly set up the Commission last summer amid pressure over multiculturalism and claims that not enough had been done to tackle issues raised by the July 2005 London bombings.
If you can't speak English, you are on a path to isolation and separation


Commission chair Darra Singh

The commission was asked to come up with policies to help make an increasingly diverse society more cohesive.

In its interim report, the commission asks whether enough is being done to ensure that the correct first steps are taken to integrate two key groups into British society: foreign migrant workers and spouses.

If people do not speak any English on coming to the UK, the commission says ministers should consider changing immigration rules to ensure they have some command of the language before being allowed to come as a worker or through marriage.

'Translation no substitute'
Darra Singh, chairman of the commission, said: "Learning English is clearly the responsibility of the individual, but local authorities, central government and employers have a key role in supporting migrants to improve their language skills."

INTEGRATION COMMISSION: KEY AIMS
Examine why tension grows
Help politicians break down barriers
Study how communities tackle extremism
Research strong and successful communities



The cost in translation
The UK's ties that bind

"Translation should never be a substitute for learning English in the first place.

"Just as mastering reading and writing for school children opens up the rest of the curriculum, mastering English opens up participation in British society and accessing employment.

"If you can't speak English - whether you are a new migrant or someone who has lived here for years - you are on a path to isolation and separation.

"It is less of a problem for second, third, fourth generations," he said. "Language support offered to spouses from abroad is therefore of real interest - should we be asking whether they should speak English before they get here?"

Under current proposals, only migrants who are unemployed or on benefits will qualify for free English lessons from September. But critics predict a huge number of foreign workers in low-skilled minimum wage jobs will not be able to afford to take classes. The government also proposes to cut benefits to those who cannot prove they are learning English.

'Better balance'

A spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said it would respond fully to the commission's recommendations once the final report is produced in the summer.

"As we have said before, there are instances where it makes sense to translate certain materials in order to ensure that people are able to access certain vital information," said the spokesman.

"However, there is a need to strike a better balance so that translation does not become a barrier to learning English.

"The guidance that the Commission are planning to produce will help local authorities in getting this balance right."

The commission's final months of work ahead of its June report will focus on finding examples of local communities that have overcome some of the problems of integration so that their experiences can be repeated elsewhere.

From BBC.

About bloody time. If they want to be let in then the should speak English.

Rule Britannia Britannia rules the waves nah nah nah nah nah nah

[humphrey]

It is a good idea. One way of trying to understand and assimilate into a culture of a society is to learn the language.

A sound proposal.

[mrsquirrel]

I'm pretty sure John HOward tried it and got slated.

I think it's a great idea. It will also help break down the stigmata associated with people from other cultures and they way they group together

[Lily]

I'm pretty sure John HOward tried it and got slated.

I think all non English speaking immigrants are given something like one hundred hours of English language tuition, but I dont think they are compelled to take up the free course.

[ChiangMai noon]

like one hundred hours of English language

effectively 4 days of language study.
chicken and egg situation.
the only way to learn a language properly is to be exposed to it daily.

[lom]

I see an opening for a big TEFLer business in England..

[Lily]

effectively 4 days of language study. chicken and egg situation. the only way to learn a language properly is to be exposed to it daily.

Well, given that they are in Australia, you would imagine that they are exposed to it on a daily basis.

I see an opening for a big TEFLer business in England..

I think there already is and there is also a big telf industy in Sydney.

[ozman]

I think all non English speaking immigrants are given something like one hundred hours of English language tuition, but I dont think they are compelled to take up the free course.

It's actually 500 free hours and from what I've seen most migrants do take the offer. They can also do the learner driver test as a short course.
My step daughter is currently doing her certificate in age care as part of her 500 hours, hasn't cost us a cent.

[ChiangMai noon]

Well, given that they are in Australia, you would imagine that they are exposed to it on a daily basis.

Hardly..

[slimboyfat]

And any citizen's found to be putting apostrophe's for plural's will be deported to Australia

[reinvented]

everybody should be forced to learn english
including colonials and the working class

[in4zip]

And any citizen's found to be putting apostrophe's for plural's will be deported to Australia

many here s'hould be

[lom]

withdrawn

[Lily]

many here s'hould be

Some here were!

[Lily]

Hardly..

As I was typing that, I knew someone would come up with that line.

[ChiangMai noon]

As I was typing that, I knew someone would come up with that line.

i knew you were going to say that.

[ENT]

It was compulsory to learn Swedish for any one wanting to reside or study in Sweden in the 90s, a free six week language course was available.

To study at a NZ uni one has to pass an English lang. test.

Maybe Thailand should make learning Thai compulsory for immigrants too.

[Marmite the Dog]

I think they should have to pass an IELTs test before they're even allowed on British soil!!

I hope Thailand doesn't do the same thing...

[ChiangMai noon]

I think they should have to pass an IELTs test before they're even allowed on British soil!!

i have had students whose english is at best elementary that want to study a 22 hour IELTS course.
I would say that most native English speakers would struggle badly with the IELTS exam, yet they genuinely believe they can pass it in less than 24 hours.
dumbfucks.

[Lily]

i knew you were going to say that.

But I did think it would be Marmite!

[Marmite the Dog]

Moi?!

[danbo]

I....It will also help break down the stigmata associated with people from other cultures and they way they group together

Mrs Malaprop on top form


Surely this plan is just common sense and can not be argued with by anyone, anywhere, ever.

[stroller]

And any citizen's found to be putting apostrophe's for plural's will be deported to Australia

Right on, make the Brits take some spelling and pronunciation lessons before asking others to do so.

[ENT]

^^ Too right!

[Butterfly]

silly debate, this is just another way to curb immigration

how many Thai "girlfriends" would be refused because their local English wouldn't be understood by examiner in England