Thread: Calls for migrants English debate

Here is a common sense approach by the British--READ ON!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6380867.stm


Last Updated: Tuesday, 20 February 2007, 22:21 GMT

Calls for migrants English debate
Brent Council's homepage with information in other languages
Translation: Many public bodies see benefits in other languages
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."


The cost in translation

"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.

I don't know now.......this actually does border on reasonable and lately that has been totally unacceptable. Here though it seems they want to be seperate. Seperate means "special" and you can't pull the race, discrimination and poor victim card unless you are "special" in some way. Heck there's people that have been here for 25 years or more and still can't speak English. I mean watching old cowboy movies I atleast learned some basic words. I beleive they want to make it an issue here so it prevents people that don't speak Spanish from getting a job. A little job security in a round about way. They have even started wanting to change a towns language to Spanish ,even in an English official state. There is no intention and now really no need to have to learn it.

They might as well try to find a suitable way to mix oil and water.

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

[/quote]

Kraft foods can do it---Miracle Whip!

Maybe Kraft could be put in charge of assimilation!