Should non-british ppl convert to british living???

[AnnaInManchester]

e.g. wearing western clothes, speaking english in public

[monkeytrousers]

'Course not! How you gonna make them??

[katierocket]

what?
are you trying to start an argument on here or something

[Aero]

Dons hard hat and runs for cover..............

[SoupDragon]

They should all be able to speak English well enough to converse and get by in everyday life. That's all.

[starlover]

personally if i moved to another country i would make an effort to learn the language, abide by dress codes etc... but it's up to them really isn't it.

[handlemecarefully]

No they should be able to retain their cultural identity and freedom of self expression - however they should respect the prevailing laws, philosphy and culture of the country that they live in (which I am sure the majority do)

[Kayleigh]

I think you should stop this thread NOW

[whymummy]

que?

[lou33]

calling all mods!

[starlover]

oh fgs are we not allowed to debate current affairs now?

[WigWamBam]

Like British people living abroad take on the clothing and language of their adoptive country, you mean?

Hasn't there been enough racism and religious intolerance on MN for one day?

[handlemecarefully]

Kayleigh - I read it as a question, not necessarily the belief of the person posing the question

[lilaclotus]

i always speak english in public and 90% of the time at home. and people usually don't notice i am foreign until they have to pronounce my name.

[handlemecarefully]

Different to the Wiltshire thread I think...

[starlover]

i agree hmc

[sharklet]

Your just trying for some flames here really arent you.

I am moving to another country soon and I will be endeavouring to learn the language, and about their culture while enjoying my own culture at home too. Why does everyone have to be the same?

[starlover]

no-one is saying everyone has to be the same!

[NotQuiteCockney]

It is a big issue with immigrants, and the UK doesn't seem to have worked out where they stand ... in Canada, we're in favour of immigrants retaining their culture. It certainly works well there, generally. Lots of immigrants don't really learn English.

[oliveoil]

Knowing the language is a definite, if I moved to another country it would be my first priority.

I don't think this country has dress codes as such so not sure what they would 'abide' by.

hmc puts it far better than I can .

I do sometimes think that this country is seemed to bend over backwards in a very PC way to accommodate people, but most of the time, the very people they are trying to accommodate find this attitude very patronising and wish the dogooders would just sod off and annoy someone else. I am thinking of banning Christmas cards, flags, etc.

[starlover]

yeah, i don't tihnk people should be MADE to conform. but it'd be nice if they were encouraged to learn the language etc... simply because they will find life easier, be able to make friends more easily etc

[starlover]

oo i agree! when i mentioned abiding by dress codes i was thinking in terms of if i moved abroad. ie to a place where women are only allowed to wear skirts, or have to cover up etc... i wouldn't expect to be able to walk around in a bikini just because i do here iyswim

totally agree with xmas cards and all that! totally OTT

[SoupDragon]

What you wear simply is not an issue in the UK is it? Does it matter if someone wears full burkha or a mini skirt and a bikini top?

[SenoraPostrophe]

I do think immigrants to any country should attempt to learn the language, but that's it. I don't think they should speak it all the time in public though. why? so nosey parker's on the bus can hear all about their daughter/auntie/doctors appointment or whatever their talking about?

One thing that constantly annoys me about living in Spain is meeting British expats who have lived here for 20 years and don't speak a word of Spanish. I met an au-pair once, who said she worked for a family in which the children were born here, but still couldn't speak any Spanish. Judging by the number of copies of the daily mail on sale in the shops on the coast, these are the same people who would go loopy if they heard about an immigrant family in the UK who hadn't bothered to learn English. winds me up. That and British people who shove their kids into Spanish schools without teaching them any Spanish at all first, and then whinge about the school system.

[SenoraPostrophe]

eeek! what is that apostrophe doing in nosey parkers?

[SoupDragon]

My in laws recently moved to SPain and are making the effort to learn the language. It's common sense really.