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Language test works both ways
21/11/2003
HOME secretary David Blunkett wants immigrants to pass a
language test but I maintain that the mastery of at least two
languages as well as the mother tongue is essential to secure the
future of British society.
The government says that every child from the age of seven will
have the chance to learn a foreign language.
The first wave of Muslim immigrants arrived with two or three
languages including English but their British born educated
children could only speak English in local accents. Muslim children
need to learn Standard English and Muslim children from the Indian
sub-continent should be taught Arabic and Urdu languages right from
age five.
It will make them read and understand the Holy Quran, Islamic
literature and poetry. They will not find themselves cut off from
their cultural roots. It will be easy for them to have reasonable
conversations with their parents and elders. They will not be a
laughing stock while visiting their homeland for speaking English
in local accents.
I hope the government's language supremo will look carefully to my
proposals.
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