tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973971530197733820.post5022986757063702005..comments2022-04-04T05:43:41.895-07:00Comments on MTHOKO QUOTES : Speak English or else you may not live with your UK sweetheartMthokohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07540006382197102369noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973971530197733820.post-77990769246460683442010-06-27T14:14:12.831-07:002010-06-27T14:14:12.831-07:00Will thank you for your comment. You will agree th...Will thank you for your comment. You will agree that there are far more non-Britons who speak English as a second or third language than there are Britons who speak any of the African, Asian or Arabic languages. In that case, if the marriage is genuine, it is very much obvious that the foreign spouse speaks enough English to get by and who says they cannot learn? What about the non-English speaking EU member who is allowed to live with his or her British spouse? No integration concerns there it would be seem. To me this clearly means that it is not about English competence but about which continent you are from.Mthokohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07540006382197102369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973971530197733820.post-7645096352280432172010-06-27T12:44:05.031-07:002010-06-27T12:44:05.031-07:00I disagree with you. I am British. This is about i...I disagree with you. I am British. This is about integration into British society. Living in a country but outside of its culture is not the way to go. I believe that to be a citizen of any country you should be able to speak the official language of that nation. I know an Iranian man who moved here in the 1970s and believes exactly the same, and is infuriated by those who do not try to learn the language. How else can you actively participate as a citizen? And I believe that Brits abroad should learn local languages, although they are lamentably poor at doing so and it is a national shame. But migrants can only be treated as equals and as active citizens if they can speak the language. If they learn it, they are likely to suffer less discrimination and encounter fewer difficulties. This is in their interests too.Willnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5973971530197733820.post-57926691949228972602010-06-23T16:49:41.842-07:002010-06-23T16:49:41.842-07:00Interesting post Mthoko. When immigrating to NZ I ...Interesting post Mthoko. When immigrating to NZ I had to prove that I spoke English or would be subjected to ELS (English as Second Language) classes. I do agree that having a primary language by which all residents/citizens can communicate with one another is beneficial. I have clearly seen what has happened in the US when immigrants (illegal or otherwise) come to the country and they are unable to communicate within the the business world or educational system. This is a problem that is being felt by many local governments and is causing division amongst the people... And please don't get me started on illegal immigrants crossing borders and demanding that everyone else start speaking their native language..The Empresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06158645736865180289noreply@blogger.com