FOREIGN LANGUAGES - THE NEED TO LEARN?

David Cameron has announced that he's going to give £20m to help Muslim women learn English as a way of integrating into British society and to prevent them being radicalised.   Depending on which sensationalistic headline you read if, after two and a half years of study they don't achieve a certain level of English, they possibly won't be able to fulfil their Visa acceptance criterion and will be deported.

One of the reactions of this announcement has come from some in Spain who have asked what would happen if this rule were adopted over here?  The general thought would be that some 90 to 95% of British immigrants would be sent packing; and judging by the amount of Spanish being used in the local clinic this morning (nothing wrong - just Mum having her monthly INR blood test for Warfarin) my percentage figures are probably an under estimate!

I believe that any such law in the UK would be simply unenforceable. The first person that would be recommended for deportation would go to the Human Rights Courts and have any conviction overturned.  An inability to speak the language of the place you choose to live should NOT prevent you from living there.  It's all about the need to learn it in the first place. Let me try to justify my statement.....

A couple, both in their mid '60s retire to Spain.  They've bought their property as a result of an inspection trip using the services of an estate agent and in-house translators.  They paid in cash, let's say €200,000.  They employ the service of a Spanish but English speaking lawyer to look after them, set up their utility bills and pay their taxes.  They register with a local doctor with the help of their translator and should they need the hospital, many of the staff speak English or a friend, neighbour or their faithful translator goes with them to help. They're also law abiding citizens, 100% legal with all the necessary paperwork to enable them to live in Spain and they've also spent €20,000 on a new Spanish car.  They've also spent €10,000 on an extension to their property giving Spanish builders some work and a good income.

They go shopping in the local Spanish markets and supermarkets spending their monthly pensions paid into their Spanish banks, probably only knowing the numbers in Spanish and a couple of polite salutations.  They hardly know a word of the language, yet they more than get by with a little help. 

This couple watch their cable or SKY TV set up and never watch the Spanish news or weather.  Their neighbours on both sides of the street they live in are also English speaking, and they go and enjoy a coffee (or something stronger) every morning in their local Spanish bar where their favourite Spanish waiter speaks more than enough English with a smile. 

Just because this couple hardly speak a word of Spanish, does that mean they haven't embraced the culture or the lifestyle of their chosen country of residence?  Does it mean they don't respect the people? 

This couple have no need whatsoever to learn Spanish.  Should they be deported from Spain?

Returning to the UK scenario that started this blog, why should it be essential for Muslim women to learn English?  If people from any country or background or religion are living in that country LEGALLY, then I don't see an issue.  If they are ILLEGAL, then deport them immediately.  It should not be the problem or responsibility of the taxpayer to insist on people learning English if they don't want to or have no need to.

My issue however would come to the fore if people voluntarily choosing to live in another country started insisting that people speak their language and complained when they didn't...and I'm talking about people living in the UK, not Spain!  Oh, hang on a minute......

Hasta la proxima!