to be incredibly touched by some of the stories of people who don't speak English?

[lessonsintightropes]

The Congolese refugee lady and daughter really touched my heart. It's a fascinating exploration of cultural difference and the issues relating to language learning. I'm sure I'll be flamed for this, but thought that at least one person was hugely deserving of an escape route from an impossible situation.

I watched most of it the planting of the trees made me have a lump in my throat

Anyone with even half a heart would have been touched!

Caught only half of it. Very insightful. Why does it seem only Channel4 tackles these so-called prickly issues? Cant see anything of this ilk on BBC...

The Indian lady said "Go back to Poland" and seemed very surprised when Agnes was upset. Or was it very clever editing?

I was uncomfortable when the niece of the couple kept pressing the woman from the Congo about why she'd come. She was old enough to know the history of that part of the world, and to know that a family massacre may be a possibility.

Loved the Chinese lady, and the whole liquorice allsorts conversation cracked me up!

I expected it to be "immigration bashing" as it was channel 4 but I actually thought it was quite well done.

Felt really emotional about that poor lady from Congo, she was so brave.

Lovely people and my heart goes out to them and the situations that have forced them to be here.
I would like to say though, that if they have been living in this country for even a few months they should have made some attempt at learning the language, enough to get by, at least. I am saying this as someone who has just lived abroad for a year and learnt to speak enough of the language to communicate as I needed to.

Parts of it were so sweet. I couldn't help smiling when the English lady was explaining to her Chinese guest what a fridge and a cooker are- as if they might not have such things in China!!

Next week they're going to swap roles and the 'immigrants' will be the hosts - should be really interesting.

Really looking forward to next week. And Positive I lived in South America and had both the cash and time to become fluent in Spanish in my first six months - but realise that my situation is/was very different to all of the stories tonight, can you see the difference?

DS1 attends a secondary school with a lot of immigrants. Eight different languages spoken at home in his class alone. For a geography project, the students chose to do a survey on each family's reason for immigration. I was expecting employment to be the most frequent reason, but it came second. War was the first.

It was a really interesting programme. The Congolese lady made me cry - what an amazing spirit she has.

And Positive I lived in South America and had both the cash and time to become fluent in Spanish in my first six months - but realise that my situation is/was very different to all of the stories tonight, can you see the difference?

Yes indeed. I have lived abroad and did learn the language, but I had plenty of opportunity to do so and lots of people to help me practise.

Some immigrants are very isolated and may struggle to practise the language with native speakers. Others may lack time and money etc. Also, some of the immigrants may have arrived with no English at all - we don't know how much progress they might actually have made. All of them had some knowledge, even if limited. The Columbian guy was actually doing quite well, I thought.

Lessons I can see that they had been traumatised, but if they learnt English they would feel more accepted by people here, less isolated etc. Yes, I can see that they did not have money for a teacher, but just going to a place where they can meet and start to learn a little would make a huge difference to them and their life here.

The Indian lady said "Go back to Poland" and seemed very surprised when Agnes was upset. Or was it very clever editing?

I think that was partly frustration - Agnezsa (sp?) wasn't listening to her when she was saying, "you need more detail, not just 'hairdressing', but washing, cutting, styling, weaving, dyeing," and A kept saying, "no, I must be modest," and she wasn't understanding that your CV is not where you should be modest, but she seems to think it is like that in Poland (I don't know - there are differences between countries' CV styles, so it could be.) But she didn't understand that it doesn't really matter what you do in Poland, if you're trying to get a job in Britain, because you need to do it the British way if you're competing for British jobs. I think her Indian host was basically saying, if you're only going to do a modest Polish style CV, you're only going to get a job there. I did feel a bit that A didn't want to hear what she was being told, and didn't want to work on her CV, rather than she just couldn't understand, but she seemed more relaxed and open later in the pro, so maybe she was just still nervous and settling in. And it could also just be the way it was edited.

I'd be interested to know if Polish CVs really do expect you to be modest - does anyone know?

I did enjoy the programme, though.

Positive which is probably precisely why they've joined up for this programme. The facilities for refugees and other people in this position are very hard to come by and I'm not sure that you have an understanding of some of the barriers to accessing social networks when your language skills are virtually nil and also traumatised. I do think all of them were trying the best they could to integrate. No-one chooses to put themselves in an incredibly disempowered and miserable position, but lots can't 'choose' to exit it IME - thinking about lots of women brought over to marry British-born husbands in cultural enclaves, for example. I understand what you are saying but am just trying to say that it really isn't quite that easy. Would you mind sharing your experience and explaining why you think that people are being lazy/not trying? Sorry if I have misunderstood your post, am genuinely interested.

And EBear I found that frustrating too. Am not sure if it's a cultural difference or just fear of failure on A's part - had a lot of sympathy for her host.

What programme are you talking about? It sounds interesting.

It was on Channel 4 at 9pm. Called "why don't you speak English?"

Channel 4 - Why Don't You Speak English?

It was really touching.

Positive I teach English as a foreign language and have worked with recent immigrants (most refugees from war) which was a pretty heartbreaking experience. They were desperate to learn the language and assimilate in British culture, have a decent job etc, but had no money to buy a dictionary, free English classes are very rare (there are volunteer groups in some cities but don't follow a structure, they are really just a way to practise a bit of conversation rather than do "formal" learning), they live in not-nice conditions with a group of people from the same country. It was definitely not a lack of effort on their part!

Loved the relationship between the Polish girl and the grandmother, it was lovely to see! Fabien was pretty good I thought, and I hope he can find a good job. Sifa was so brave, and the part with her host mum talking about their son was just heartbreaking to watch. Apple was adorable but why the heck were they trying to teach her words like "moat" and "liquorice allsort"! Poor lady!

I was cringing with the chinese womans hosts and their' speak slowly and wave your arms a lot' teaching method.

Thanks :) Looks like it is repeated tomorrow on "4seven" (is it just me or do they keep renaming the channels just to confuse everyone?) at 9pm.

I am absolutely NOT saying that these people are being lazy.

I have been working for the past year in Cambodia with young girls sold into the sex trade, with families who survive in the most horrendous situations on earth, so please do not think that I have lived in a bubble and have no idea about the real world out there. I have seen and heard things that not many others would even believe.
What I am saying is that these people must feel so totally isolated from their roots, from their families and their old life and communication is vital to breaking that isolation. It is only through being able to communicate that they will be able to start to rebuild their lives and feel loved and accepted, increase their self worth and get a fulfilled life here. Yes, there should be more opportunities for them to have free English lessons to help them.

i am probably not explaining myself very well.

I just thought the programme tried really hard not to fall into the lazy stereotyping.

The best part of the programme was how loss united the Congolese woman and her host family and how they were able to communicate so well.

Ithink the sad thing is how the programme kind of simplifies the whole immigration issue that somehow the premise is no English = no integration. Speaking English is just part of the equation

I live in Sweden where all immigrants are entitled to free full-time language classes. They're compulsory for those dependant on state support (ie refugees). I've been going part-time (half days) for 6 years and my Swedish is still dire whereas my daughter is fluent. It's not just resources that's a problem. Some people have a natural aptitude for languages as others, for various reasons, don't.

Yes meddie that was hilarious to watch. And cringe-worthy in equal measures. Almost all of the teaching methods were "point out things and say the word in English" not sure how effective that is...

As an aside the Chinese host's fringe was fascinating