Should children start learning an asian language in school here in the UK like hindi or urdu because of asians

Question

in the country.

It would be a way of mixing with cultures and getting along better.

There are a lot of asians especialy older ones that dont speak english

Kamran- dont be abusive and anyway the whole world doesnt revolve around you- who the hell are you

No issues very happy- just dont like people calling names buddy- you can do better than that

When English people go to other countries they learn that language why are we so special that we have to be different

Answer 1

I live in Spain so its up to me to understand Spanish not the other way round,so its a case of only if they choose to do so,when in Rome do as the Romans.

D'luego senor.

Answer 2

We all have our own diverse cultures and languages for a reason.

If I went to a foreign country then I would try and learn some of the language in much the same way I would expect anyone coming to live here learn ours. There are some cultures who never attempt to intergrate into British society and have for 40 or 50 years got by speaking their own language because the children speak the English for them. This is wrong they should make an effort.

Years ago I lived in South Africa part of our school lessons were to learn Afrikaans, a language which is now becoming rare. I wasn't there long enough to learn fully but I tried my best and wish to this day that I had the time to be there learning it.

In my local area there are a few schools that actually say you must be able to speak an Asian language because the area around it is mainly of Asian culture. Someone is I believe in the process of taking the Education department to Court for discrimination against English speakers !!

Certain well known stores also in my area are now stocking a high bulk of Polish goods because where I live has a high Polish quota no one can read the tins and even the staff don't know whats in them. Banks are putting up signs in Polish and our local council has started putting up streets signs in Polish in the area where they mainly live. The local newspaper ran a Polish section.

Now I have nothing against this except that other cultures are not being treated the same , we have a vast Asian culture here too and they don't get special sections in the newspaper or street signs.

My point being everyone should be treated the same and that is not happening. So rather than create differences we should encourage all newcomers to learn our language English.

Answer 3

No I don't think so. I think children should learn a second language but not necessarily an Asian one. It would be more beneficial for Asian children to be taught English at home from birth. I live in an area where there is a large percentage of ethnic minorities and went to a school with approx' 50% Asians. All the children could speak English just as well as me, I don't know why, now they are married with children many Asian parents seem unable to understand English when it is spoken to them. I know a few will not have been in the country long but a lot will have never been out of the country.

Answer 4

schools that actually say you must be able to speak an Asian language because the area around it is mainly of Asian culture. Someone is I believe in the process of taking the Education department to Court for discrimination against English speakers !!

Certain well known stores also in my area are now stocking a high bulk of Polish goods because where I live has a high Polish quota no one can read the tins and even the staff don't know

Answer 5

Got nothing against Urdu or Sanskrit but why should my children learn languages that have little use. Instead I'd encourage them to pick up Mandarin Chinese in view of the importance of that country as an economic power. There are some 30 million non-Chinese (outside China) learning Mandarin.

Knowledge without putting it to useful purpose is useless. Urdu is near useless because Indians do speak English. Foreign immigrants should put in extra effort to integrate with the established practices and trends of their adopted country and not the other way around.

Answer 6

I don't think it should specifically be an asian language, just a second language would be good because I think it opens up more opportunities through communication. Maybe people should have the opportunity to learn an asian language but seeing that the UK hasn't really sorted out learning languages nearer to home i.e. French or German (falling number of students picking these for GCSE and A level) maybe we should sort out that first before being more adventurous.
xxx

Answer 7

This is the British Isles and the generally accepted language is English(I know about Welsh,Cornish,and Gaelic)so those
who wish to live here should learn the language.Brits living abroad do try to learn the language of the country to which they have moved,how else are they to "get on" with the
indigenous.

Answer 8

Some of the UK kids cant speak English never mind another language

Answer 9

Yes, I feel that children should be taught a second, and a third language. Possibly one other European language and an Asian language. I would suggest Chinese or Japanese as the better choices for an Asian language because of their place in international trade. Mandarin Chinese is spoken in a number of countries.

My first language is English and I learnt French in High School which I used with translating magazine articles, writing to friends and also in my work building aircraft (the Mirage jet fighter). Later I used it in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam when I worked there as a journalist.
I also have learnt to speak Cambodian and have picked up a good smattering of Thai/Lao, Indonesian/Malay and Mandarin Chinese while working as a journalist in Asia.

Many other European countries have people who are multi-lingual and the same in Asia. Singaporeans usually speak three or four languages fluently and they are taught three languages simultaneously in school. Most Swiss speak French, German and English and many also speak a fourth and fifth language. Jews in Israel speak several languages -- Hebrew, Arabic plus English or Russian or whatever language of their parents.

Answer 10

Do we not live in England?! Surely, those who join our country should learn to speak our language instead of it being the other way round.

Why English people and traditions are discriminated against in their own country is beyond me.

Answer 11

That seems like a very negative idea!
Surely in a British country, the onus is on the immigrants to learn the native language - and not the other way round.