It's not an analogy; it's a hypothetical. And it makes my point perfectly well.
The Way It Should Be!
- Thread starter Hedge
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It's not an analogy; it's a hypothetical. And it makes my point perfectly well.
Soldato
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You're right it is hypothetical and no it doesn't make your point because it will never happen.
Yes, they have an interpreter service. However, it can take up to a minute and a half for the call to be redirected, which might cause problems in an actual emergency.
90 seconds is a long time to wait when you're bleeding from the femoral artery.
Good grief, you're just not getting this are you? Is English your second language, by any chance?
My point was that people who can't speak English are no problem to anyone until you have to deal with them in some professional capacity.
I speak from personal experience, since I deal with people whose English is feeble at best and non-existent at worst, on an everyday basis as part of my job. It's insanely frustrating and wastes a ridiculous amount of time - time that I don't have to waste.
To illustrate the point by way of a hypothetical, I presented the 999 operator scenario.
So yes, it does make my point.
I agree if that person is living by his/her own means, but its when their inability to speak english starts to cost the taxpayer that is the real issue.
If someone came here with enough money to support themselves comfortably then no problem. Sure it's rude to not be able to speak the native language but they aren't causing any harm.
If on the other hand if someone came here without the ability to support themselves then their inability to speak english will only cost the taxpayer more. You'd have to provide a translator or forms in a language they understand and they would have significantly less chances of getting a job and ever being able to move away from benefits. In this case learning the countrys native language should be a top priority.
Soldato
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No it doesn't because there are plenty of people who can't speak English who work professionally. Some of the building sites I've been on are full of foreigners and most of them speak English but a few don't. Seems to work okay though.
I'm not disputing that for you its a problem when you deal with people who can't speak English but that's not true of every situation.
Your hypothetical about 999 operators is pointless because they obviously wouldn't get the job in the first place. Yes, that is a problem in itself that they would be unable to qualify but that's their individual problem.
No English is not my second language. I got your 'point' the first time around thanks very much.
What is your job if you don't mind me asking?
Permabanned
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the equality guy is a tool - by his logic, I'd have to speak welsh to the local butcher, bangladeshi from my newsagent, polish to my food store and russian to my chinese take away (I know thats messed up right!)
schools would have a field day with this! "Right kids today we are learning maths, science, computers, english, welsh, french, german, iranian, bangladeshi, polish, russian, spanish, italian and aboriginal.
schools would have a field day with this! "Right kids today we are learning maths, science, computers, english, welsh, french, german, iranian, bangladeshi, polish, russian, spanish, italian and aboriginal.
Associate
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Sure, it will work pretty well at a basic level, in basic jobs where only basic skills are required and communication is... well... basic.
You're right, it's not true of every situation. I shouldn't have generalised in the way that I did.
Exactly. They wouldn't get the job because people realise that it wouldn't be feasible.
I'm an account manager for a multinational facilities corporation. I regularly speak with our employees (many of whom are foreign) and I frequently take phone calls from people applying for work (many of whom are foreign).
I can't begin to tell you how insanely frustrating it is to speak with someone who can only understand one word in three, and whose English vocabulary has advanced no further than lower primary school level.
This is particularly difficult when I am trying to resolve complex issues like pay queries, tax code changes and visa problems.
In this instance the ones that do speak English will be translating for the others. Can you imagine the disasters that could occur on a building site should a worker not understand his instructions?
The OP subject is simply "when in England, learn to speak English". Why does anyone have a problem with that? Indeed, how can anyone in England have a problem with that?
Anyone that goes and lives in a country that speaks predominantly a forieign language should learn that language. Full stop.
Anything less is inconsiderate, ill-mannered, arrogant, and downright stupid, as the consequences could be dire, as has been mentioned.
Imagine dropping to the floor of a heart attack and someone walks past, "GREAT" you think, they will dial 999 for you...
OH, BUT WAIT
They dont know HOW to dial 999 and even if they did, they may not be able to communicate with the first operator they speak with, thus wasting valuable time.
If choosing to LIVE in ANY country for whatever reason, you need to learn the native language, NO EXCEPTIONS.
OH, BUT WAIT
They dont know HOW to dial 999 and even if they did, they may not be able to communicate with the first operator they speak with, thus wasting valuable time.
If choosing to LIVE in ANY country for whatever reason, you need to learn the native language, NO EXCEPTIONS.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/7956570.stm
He's left his job now.
I got to love this line though:
He's left his job now.
I got to love this line though:
Should we care that Polish migrants are boycotting the branch?
I don't understand these gimps who are saying it's wrong. If someone goes into the post office and they can't understand the customer it's wasting their time and other customers time as well.
They should atleast learn basic phrases because some English is better than non, especially when you're in this country.
They should atleast learn basic phrases because some English is better than non, especially when you're in this country.
Cant believe so many people support this...Its ridiculous..
What about people who are still in the process of learning english? New immigrants etc..
How many of you have actually lived abroad? I would bet that most of you wouldnt be agreeing with this if you had experienced foreign post offices doing their BEST to try and help you even though you could only speak english and not a word of their own tongue.
What about people who are still in the process of learning english? New immigrants etc..
How many of you have actually lived abroad? I would bet that most of you wouldnt be agreeing with this if you had experienced foreign post offices doing their BEST to try and help you even though you could only speak english and not a word of their own tongue.