British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

This is interesting, in light of the ever-present immigration debate in the US.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6352793.stm

Basically, a new law in Britain will require people to demonstrate competency in English to receive unemployment benefits...from what I've read in the press, and heard from people here, sounds like something that would be generally popular in the US, too.

Re: British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

sadly in the US the only democratic/sensible thing to do would be to require people to know EITHER english or spanish.

Re: British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

I don't know why this wasn't implemented years ago.

I used to work at an unemployment benefit office and you would not believe the number of South Asian men who would bring their wives in to sign on. They were mostly from the villages, had had very little education and couldn't speak or read English. They were pretty much unemployable unless they worked in kitchens or cleaning etc. but even then wouldn't be able to understand instructions without an interpreter. I expect that the problem has grown with asylum seekers from so many different countries speaking different languages, looking for work.

The local newspaper in my home city (Coventry) is always advertising in the job section for school classroom assistants speaking in a variety of languages - some of which I've never even heard of. The cost must be enormous.

How can anyone planning to settle in the UK hope to participate in British life if they can't communicate with anyone outside their ethnic community? It creates a ghetto mentality. I'm sure that this affects more women than men - certainly from South Asia eg. Bangladesh, India, Pakistan as they're from a patriarchial society.

Does anyone know if the law may have been changed in the UK, that spouses brought in from overseas have to show at their visa interview that they understand basic English? I seem to recall that it was going to be implemented, not sure if it ever was or not?

Re: British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

Some Americans will be in trouble...

Re: British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

Goodness me, next thing you know all those Brits who retired to Spain will be expected to speak Spanish in order to get any benefits. What is the world coming to? :rofl:

Re: British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

About time too I say... personally I think that there should be a test at the POE and those not able to order bangers and mash, a pint and a chaser should be sent to France, or shot - their choice ! :blink:

Re: British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

Sure, why not?

In fact, why not make it a condition of citizenship? Give them a year or so to get a bsic grasp then review the status. Free classes to teach it.

Hell, they had me down for a TOEFL class at first until I called them up and told them what a bloody stupid idea that was.......... :rofl: :rofl:

Re: British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

Go through a lot of bullets that way......

Re: British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

and about bloody time to .....that is good news :)

Re: British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

There is, and they do provide the classes...don't know how low the standard is though :lol:

Re: British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

I thought it was now required for British Citizenship?

I remember reading a BBC article about some Ozzie's getting turned down for failing the English test.

Re: British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

"Some" ozzie's ...hahahahaha

Re: British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

Mille-wauke.......I did not know that.:D

Sounds like they did something intelligent for a change.....
prob should have mentioned in case you didn't know:

TOEFL = Test Of English as a Foreign Language.......:eek:

Re: British law requires learning of English to receive benefits
 

English used to be a requirement for citizenship, here. Classes were held at night schools.

There is a hilarious book, "The Education of Hyman Kaplan", about such a class. I checked, Amazon.uk has it but not amazon.usa.

I read it before I came here, but I enjoyed it so much that it has stuck in my memory.