Quote Originally Posted by Gandalf View Post
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.




Miles, they must learn the language for their own safety and to ensure that they are getting fair treatment in the land they have migrated to. I for one don't wish to see immigrants illegal or otherwise railroaded by authorities, I don't want their rights infringed....granted illegals should be charged for illegally coming here and if they are violent criminals attempting to escape from their homeland they should be extradited back to face punishment for their previous wrongdoings but I don't think they should be shot on sight or anything (unless caught in the act of doing something worthy of being shot on sight).

The only way to guarantee this is for the migrants to learn the language of the land...it's not saying they have to unlearn their native tongue or completely forget their culture, but they have to practice within the "confines" of the laws of that land....I would expect no different if I was the one immigrating.