Migrants to be a A level standard English - good idea?

[mids2019]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8679q0pe57o

I think this is entirely reasonable as communications such an important part of being able to work and become part of the community in the UK. Too many times I have encountered people in a work/retail setting where communication problems have lead to error. From simply having to repeat my self there times to be understood using different vocabulary to having to decipher strange sentence structure I continually am frustrated by this.

I've been thinking about this today. I think a-level is a misnomer. If they had said B2 (which I think is a reasonable level) then I think it wouldn't have got people's backs up so much.

I think the issue of translators is a bit of a red herring. You will always need them.for two groups: tourists receiving emergency care, and people whose health conditions mean they may lose their English (stroke, dementia, brain injury). But aside from that I absolutely agree tgat if you want to live and work in another country, you should speak or demonstrably be learning the language to a high standard.

If we expect immigrants (and their husbands/wives) to be self supporting then they need a degree of fluency to be employable, and also to support their children’s’ learning.

Most Brits couldnt do an English A level. Imagine if every Brit living abroad had to be fluent in the local language. Spain and Dubai would see a mass exodus

I don’t think most English people could pass an A Level English exam!

Yes I agree that a decent understanding of English should be required but A Level is way too high.

I hope other countries follows and ask the Brits living abroad for the same level of language
In my native Scandinavian country very few Brits could pass Alevels in the native language.

Othrr countries have the same service for UK citizens traveling or living abroad not speaking the local language. Just saying.

Basic English, good job and plenty of money in the bank is enough for me, as long as you apply beforehand and gain permission to come here. Like we would do if we wanted to ship off to Australia.

Overstaying your student VISA, illegals on boats etc can all do one as far as I’m concerned. Get them on a plane and get rid.

Let's be honest, an awful lot of British people couldn't pass B2.

Yes, a level of understanding and communication in the language of where you live is good. Helps integration and a sense of community.

My parents live in Spain. DM speaks some Spanish, DF none. DM also speaks just a little Catalan. Not enough to integrate them into Spain though, not enough so as to really communicate with local people.
Many Brits have no Spanish and choose to talk to each other in English, when out and about, excluding local Spaniards.
My DF would have managed much better in his long stay in hospital in Barcelona and would have less reliance on English speaking staff and translators.

Let's hope that many other countries follow suit and we create a much more cohesive world.

It wouldn't be unreasonable for Spain or Dubai to implement a similar requirement.

It really wouldn't. I'm an immigrant - I speak 4 languages fluently, two (my own included, obviously) at native speaker standard. But if I decided to move to Spain, I would bloody well learn Spanish.

I applied for British citizenship a few years ago and as part of the process you are asked to either take an English test or show that you have a degree that was taught in English (I did my degree in London so that is the option I used).

So I don't see any reason why people moving to this country should not have their knowledge of the language checked.

However I am not sure whether the A-level element is really needed.

Also I assume that if this is put in place then British ''expats'' in place like Spain and Portugal won't object to also having to prove to their host country that they can speak their language...

The UK accepts GCSE English as the level to access further and higher education as well as work/apprenticeships etc - so why do immigrants need a higher level?

GCSE level is reasonable but A level English content contains material that is completely unnecessary in order to be able to carry out the vast majority of jobs in the UK.

It's not A-Level English in the sense of an A-Level in English Lit or English Language; it's the equivalent of an A-Level in a foreign language, which I think is the bare minimum needed to get by living in a country.

Pot kettle? 😳🙄😂

The average Brit can't even read, write, understand nor speak GCSE standard English.

Yes, they can - I know slagging off working class Brits to make an apparent point about the benefits of immigration is a favourite hobby of some, but acting like the vast majority of native-born British people can't communicate adequately enough to pass the equivalent of an A-Level or even GCSE in English as a foreign language is just ludicrous.

"We therefore need to set a high bar for communication ability and this seems entirely reasonable."

I guess the UK will find out how reasonable that bar is when 300 London Underground staff are sent home abroad for failing to meet the language test, and a countless more for not meeting the minimum salary. System will grind to a halt because native Brits who probably wouldn't meet the same standard themselves don't want to work there anyway...

A level is a b2 level I think.
sensible, I think.
being able to hold a conversation and manage daily life and the many forms life throws at you

I think it’s perfectly reasonable to expect Brits living abroad to be fluent in the local language.

I think they should be expected to learn you language.

Orally, they all could (some sen aside). Reading and writing is different. Speaking the language is a basic need.

"native Brits who probably wouldn't meet the same standard themselves don't want to work there anyway."

And you know this how, given you live in Azerbaijan?

A level seems very high, as many people born in England don’t speak, write or have comprehension to that standard.

That should be the requirement for certain professionals though.