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Immigrant Language Learning | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion | ( Topic Closed) |  |
| Mooby Senior Member Scotland Joined 6106 days ago 707 posts - 1220 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: Polish | Message 1 of 17 06 November 2010 at 9:56pm | IP Logged | |||||
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What plans does your country have, if any, to intergrate immigrants
through language learning? Here's what Germany is doing (See Link at end of this post). Penalties are being considered for incomers who refuse to attend integration classes that teach German language and customs. Here in Scotland, I don't think the measures go as far as to issue warnings to those who refuse to attend language classes, but the government does offer free classes and nursery care for those who want it. Governments have the delicate balance of encouraging integration so as to avoid segragated communities that could be future hotbeds of contention, while at the same time welcoming cultural enrichment and diversity. It raises all the usual questions about multiculturalism. And that in itself is what makes a language develop the way it does. After all, if it wasn't for all the 'foreigners' (Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Normans, Danes etc.), there would be no such thing as 'Eng-lish'. LINK HERE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11697665 Edited by Mooby on 06 November 2010 at 10:02pm 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| mrwarper Diglot Winner TAC 2012 Senior Member Spain forum_posts.asp?TID=Registered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5227 days ago 1493 posts - 2500 votes Speaks: Spanish*, EnglishC2 Studies: German, Russian, Japanese | Message 2 of 17 07 November 2010 at 9:10am | IP Logged | |||||
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My current government seems quite happy with all kinds of immigrants: legal or not, speaking the language or not. Not that the previous ones were much harsher. So... no laws about it that I'm aware of.
Were I part of any government I'd request good knowledge of the language (i.e. strict examinations) for those asking for permanent residence of any kind. Not a warranty for them wanting to integrate, but a necessary condition. Of course I'd offer free classes so there'd be no excuses ;) But I wouldn't think of living abroad without integrating to a degree, anyway. You know: your house, your rules. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Gusutafu Senior Member Sweden Joined 5522 days ago 655 posts - 1039 votes Speaks: Swedish* | Message 3 of 17 07 November 2010 at 11:12am | IP Logged | |||||
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Our thoughtful government funds education in the immigrants' old languages, even (I believe) for people born in Sweden from immigrant parents. We also make several government homepages and services such as driving licence tests available in immigrant languages so that they can immigrate, drive and receive their welfare checks without ever worrying about mundane things like the local language. It is working as expected.
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| Paskwc Pentaglot Senior Member Canada Joined 5678 days ago 450 posts - 624 votes Speaks: Hindi, Urdu*, Arabic (Levantine), French, English Studies: Persian, Spanish | Message 4 of 17 07 November 2010 at 11:24am | IP Logged | |||||
A hint of sarcasm? 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Kounotori Triglot Senior Member Finland Joined 5345 days ago 136 posts - 264 votes Speaks: Finnish*, English, Russian Studies: Mandarin | Message 5 of 17 07 November 2010 at 12:18pm | IP Logged | |||||
Do languages such as Arabic, Hindi and Persian have an equivalent of the adage "When in Rome do as the Romans do"? Because if not, that would explain a lot... ---- Anyhow, I can't really recall whether we have any laws relating to immigrants and language here in Finland, but I do know that we don't offer any "normal" services (such as getting a driver's license) in immigrant languages such as Arabic, Kurdish or Somali. The article "Immigrants in Finland" on the Finnish Wikipedia does have an interesting sentence, though, that gives some idea about official Finnish language policies toward immigrants: Kotouttamisessa ensisijaista on suomen tai ruotsin kielen riittävä hallinta oman äidinkielen säilyttämisen ja kehittämisen ohella. (On immigrant education) A primary part of integration is an adequate knowledge of either Finnish or Swedish along with the retainment and development of one's own native language. From personal experience it seems to me that ultimately our language policy comes down to "If you don't speak Finnish, then speak English. If you don't even speak English, then tough shit." 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| mrwarper Diglot Winner TAC 2012 Senior Member Spain forum_posts.asp?TID=Registered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5227 days ago 1493 posts - 2500 votes Speaks: Spanish*, EnglishC2 Studies: German, Russian, Japanese | Message 6 of 17 07 November 2010 at 2:30pm | IP Logged | |||||
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| William Camden Hexaglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 6273 days ago 1936 posts - 2333 votes Speaks: English*, German, Spanish, Russian, Turkish, French | Message 7 of 17 07 November 2010 at 4:06pm | IP Logged | |||||
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In London, I have helped Turkish-speaking people fill in application forms for drivers' licences, social security etc. This suggests that such forms in Turkish, at any rate, do not exist, yet these forms can be challenging even for native English speakers. Yet a few years back, free or low-cost EFL classes were actually cancelled or cut back in at least one North London borough with a high immigrant population.
(Edit to add missing word) Edited by William Camden on 07 November 2010 at 4:08pm 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Gusutafu Senior Member Sweden Joined 5522 days ago 655 posts - 1039 votes Speaks: Swedish* | Message 8 of 17 07 November 2010 at 5:47pm | IP Logged | |||||
The best part is that efforts are made to provide people with material on how to vote in their old languages. Apparently, not knowing the local language shouldn't stop you from taking an equal part in the decision making process. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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