
Originally Posted by
Gandalf
I disagree with that one. For instance, English teachers, especially in their first few years out here, teach around 30 hours a week and are expected to use their native tongue. Where would they find the energy or time to learn a second language? And why should they? Granted it makes more sense if you are long term and actually manage to get some free time, but statistically you are unlikely to ever master the language. It is probably different for migrant workers who don't have such specialised work, but on that basis I disagree with you there Lyle.
It is in the next generation that the integration can and should be much more complete as the child would be bilingual and typically the child will have a parent who is a local and so will be fully immersed into the culture. I know myself how difficult learning a language is and to be honest I tend to give up half way through each semester as I have too much work to do. I could take a few years out and take a course, but that is a heavy investment to make.
The problem the West has is that most immigrants marry among themselves and you end up with no go areas that are like little countries within countries. There is no cultural integration and the cultures are too different. I agree that something needs to be done about that. I would hate to see that here. But English teachers come and go and the ones that stay are typically those who end up married. They are all educated, checked, and had jobs lined up prior to arriving. Little welfare dependency or any of those things. You cannot expect everyone to speak Korean, but you should know some basics for the sake of politeness.
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