Dave Smith wrote:
> notbob wrote:
>
> > What? Wally is supposed to learn every language on the planet to
> > accommodate tourists?
>
> Of course he isn't expected to learn every language on the planet to
> accommodate tourists. That's probably not even an issue. Most of the tourists
> who travel to North America speak enough English to get by, or else they travel
> in tours and have someone to translate for them. It sounds to me like his
> attitude is directed at immigrant groups, some of which are more likely to try
> keep operating in their native language than others.
>
> > Wally is right on target. It's a goddamn disgrace. We have no
> > national health care program, but govt ballots, public assistance
> > applications, etc, are printed in dozens of languages. Last I heard,
> > CA DMV driving manuals are printed in at least 6 foreign languages.
> > How in the Hell can someone obey English street signs if they take the
> > driving test in Tagalog?
>
> It's a puzzle isn't it. I know that immigrants here are supposed to be able to
> speak one of the two official languages, so it seems odd that forms like that
> should be in other languages.

Actually Dave I think that they are supposed to 'speak' the language.
I don't know if they need to read it. I don't believe literacy is a
requirement for citizenship. I can still remember my boss years ago
saying that he was not sure one of our bakers could read English and
then the realization struck: The baker was Greek.

Also there is quite a bit of difference between a survival level
reading in a language and being able to handle anything complex. I can
read La Press with a bit of effort and guessing at odd words but I need
to really concentrate and keep a dictionary handy to handle a technical
paper.


>Then there is the question of ESL classes for
> immigrants. There is no doubt that they are a good idea, but I question the
> funding. I can't think of any reason that the English speaking taxpayers should
> be footing the bill for foreign language speaking immigrants.

You prefer that we let only the francophones pay ? Humm maybe not a
bad idea at that.

> When they come here it should be up to them to deal with that.

Well if we let them in we probabaly should try to make them productive
citizens asap and if we have to spend a bit on ESL or FSL it probably
pays off. I suspect in many cases a family may arrive based on one
'prime' immigrant who speaks English or French but it may be worth our
while to see that others in the family learn the language.

Also refugees are a different matter. They didn't necessarrily plan on
coming here they just wanted to get out of wherever with a whole skin.