Small hourglass island
Always raining and foggy
Use an umbrella
Always raining and foggy
Use an umbrella
The education system isn't to blame because a child can't speak a foreign language, the government on the other hand are to blame because foreign language should be taught from 5 years old through to 16 when they leave no if but or maybes. As for wages i have earned better money for shorter hours in France & Italy. I agree it does depend on what the trade is of course.FatherTed wrote:
It's pretty much not because of that.smuder201 wrote:
Total(French oil company) are employing workers from around the EU so therefore is totally legit. As EU members we can work anywhere in the EU as well but the British are to bone idle to do so.
1) Pay in GB is higher than most EU states
2) Due to what I'd call failings in our education system, the vast majority of employable workforce leave compulsory education without a worthwhile qualification in a European Language. Even factoring in A-Levels there isn't much interest in another language, and it gets even worse at university level.
I have been lucky to work all over the world & have managed to get by on English & bad French. If a child is supported by there parent/s as i was to learn then travel to continue learning this hovel of a country would be a better place.
Quote of the year so far "Fifa 11 on the other hand... shiny things for mongos "-mtb0minime
So the education system is to blame lol, the Gov dictates what we get taught! I will say however that the vast majority of British are just happy to have one language, as they generally have this attitude of 'well, they can all speak english, so fuck it'smuder201 wrote:
The education system isn't to blame because a child can't speak a foreign language, the government on the other hand are to blame because foreign language should be taught from 5 years old through to 16 when they leave no if but or maybes. As for wages i have earned better money for shorter hours in France & Italy. I agree it does depend on what the trade is of course.FatherTed wrote:
It's pretty much not because of that.smuder201 wrote:
Total(French oil company) are employing workers from around the EU so therefore is totally legit. As EU members we can work anywhere in the EU as well but the British are to bone idle to do so.
1) Pay in GB is higher than most EU states
2) Due to what I'd call failings in our education system, the vast majority of employable workforce leave compulsory education without a worthwhile qualification in a European Language. Even factoring in A-Levels there isn't much interest in another language, and it gets even worse at university level.
I have been lucky to work all over the world & have managed to get by on English & bad French. If a child is supported by there parent/s as i was to learn then travel to continue learning this hovel of a country would be a better place.
Small hourglass island
Always raining and foggy
Use an umbrella
Always raining and foggy
Use an umbrella
Because everyone else has learnt English and it's probably the most important language in the world. I had no interest in learning another language at school and when my options came I picked PE over French or Spanish. Most of Spain speak English and I will never go to France. British aren't bone idle at all, we just won't work for what the Polish, Czechs and other EU work for since the UK unions have agreed on a standard wage which the EU companies don't pay in our own country...FatherTed wrote:
So the education system is to blame lol, the Gov dictates what we get taught! I will say however that the vast majority of British are just happy to have one language, as they generally have this attitude of 'well, they can all speak english, so fuck it'smuder201 wrote:
The education system isn't to blame because a child can't speak a foreign language, the government on the other hand are to blame because foreign language should be taught from 5 years old through to 16 when they leave no if but or maybes. As for wages i have earned better money for shorter hours in France & Italy. I agree it does depend on what the trade is of course.FatherTed wrote:
It's pretty much not because of that.
1) Pay in GB is higher than most EU states
2) Due to what I'd call failings in our education system, the vast majority of employable workforce leave compulsory education without a worthwhile qualification in a European Language. Even factoring in A-Levels there isn't much interest in another language, and it gets even worse at university level.
I have been lucky to work all over the world & have managed to get by on English & bad French. If a child is supported by there parent/s as i was to learn then travel to continue learning this hovel of a country would be a better place.
Last edited by andy12 (2009-02-04 11:49:12)
It probably is the most important language (for the time being), and yes on face value there is practically no need for any student in GB to learn anything other than English... But it's just plain fucking rude to be honest.andy12 wrote:
Because everyone else has learnt English and it's probably the most important language in the world. I had no interest in learning another language at school and when my options came I picked PE over French or Spanish. Most of Spain speak English and I will never go to France. British aren't bone idle at all, we just won't work for what the Polish, Czechs and other EU work for since the UK unions have agreed on a standard wage which the EU companies don't pay in our own country...FatherTed wrote:
So the education system is to blame lol, the Gov dictates what we get taught! I will say however that the vast majority of British are just happy to have one language, as they generally have this attitude of 'well, they can all speak english, so fuck it'smuder201 wrote:
The education system isn't to blame because a child can't speak a foreign language, the government on the other hand are to blame because foreign language should be taught from 5 years old through to 16 when they leave no if but or maybes. As for wages i have earned better money for shorter hours in France & Italy. I agree it does depend on what the trade is of course.
I have been lucky to work all over the world & have managed to get by on English & bad French. If a child is supported by there parent/s as i was to learn then travel to continue learning this hovel of a country would be a better place.
Whenever i travel, i always try and get to a conversational standard in the language of the country, it makes them much more receptive, and gives British tourists a much better image.
Imagine if French/German/Dutch/whatever tourists came here and point blank refused to speak English - You'd be pissed
Small hourglass island
Always raining and foggy
Use an umbrella
Always raining and foggy
Use an umbrella
Andy mate I earned higher wages in continental Europe than in the UK so your argument unfortunately is not quite right & i earned better wages because i could speak another language & you saying you had no interest in learning another language proves how lazy some of the British people are, if you think that only Spain & France speak those languages you do yourself a disservice, learn a language & broaden your horizons as Ted said it bloody rude not to try.andy12 wrote:
Because everyone else has learnt English and it's probably the most important language in the world. I had no interest in learning another language at school and when my options came I picked PE over French or Spanish. Most of Spain speak English and I will never go to France. British aren't bone idle at all, we just won't work for what the Polish, Czechs and other EU work for since the UK unions have agreed on a standard wage which the EU companies don't pay in our own country...FatherTed wrote:
So the education system is to blame lol, the Gov dictates what we get taught! I will say however that the vast majority of British are just happy to have one language, as they generally have this attitude of 'well, they can all speak English, so fuck it'smuder201 wrote:
The education system isn't to blame because a child can't speak a foreign language, the government on the other hand are to blame because foreign language should be taught from 5 years old through to 16 when they leave no if but or maybes. As for wages i have earned better money for shorter hours in France & Italy. I agree it does depend on what the trade is of course.
I have been lucky to work all over the world & have managed to get by on English & bad French. If a child is supported by there parent/s as i was to learn then travel to continue learning this hovel of a country would be a better place.
Quote of the year so far "Fifa 11 on the other hand... shiny things for mongos "-mtb0minime
I somehow think I'll pass, the countries I most would love to holiday in speak English as a first langauge, New Zealand, Australia, America and Canada, and the rest such as Bahamas, Kenya, South Korea and Western Europe all have a large proportion of English speakers so I can get by. It's not rude at all, if you don't know the inner workings of Nazi Germany I'm not going to go off on one that you're ignorant and rude. Or is History a less important subject than Foreign languages?smuder201 wrote:
Andy mate I earned higher wages in continental Europe than in the UK so your argument unfortunately is not quite right & i earned better wages because i could speak another language & you saying you had no interest in learning another language proves how lazy some of the British people are, if you think that only Spain & France speak those languages you do yourself a disservice, learn a language & broaden your horizons as Ted said it bloody rude not to try.andy12 wrote:
Because everyone else has learnt English and it's probably the most important language in the world. I had no interest in learning another language at school and when my options came I picked PE over French or Spanish. Most of Spain speak English and I will never go to France. British aren't bone idle at all, we just won't work for what the Polish, Czechs and other EU work for since the UK unions have agreed on a standard wage which the EU companies don't pay in our own country...FatherTed wrote:
So the education system is to blame lol, the Gov dictates what we get taught! I will say however that the vast majority of British are just happy to have one language, as they generally have this attitude of 'well, they can all speak English, so fuck it'
For you as a single worker perhaps you got paid more in mainland Europe. AS A WHOLE the unions here maintain a higher average wage than Europe does, perhaps not in all sectors though.
If tourists came here and didn't speak English then they wouldn't be eating or sleeping much... Although it's hard to accept, it's different for a European to come here and not speak English and for an Englishman to go over to Europe and not speak German or whatever. Controversial I know, but English is a wider used language...FatherTed wrote:
It probably is the most important language (for the time being), and yes on face value there is practically no need for any student in GB to learn anything other than English... But it's just plain fucking rude to be honest.andy12 wrote:
Because everyone else has learnt English and it's probably the most important language in the world. I had no interest in learning another language at school and when my options came I picked PE over French or Spanish. Most of Spain speak English and I will never go to France. British aren't bone idle at all, we just won't work for what the Polish, Czechs and other EU work for since the UK unions have agreed on a standard wage which the EU companies don't pay in our own country...FatherTed wrote:
So the education system is to blame lol, the Gov dictates what we get taught! I will say however that the vast majority of British are just happy to have one language, as they generally have this attitude of 'well, they can all speak english, so fuck it'
Whenever i travel, i always try and get to a conversational standard in the language of the country, it makes them much more receptive, and gives British tourists a much better image.
Imagine if French/German/Dutch/whatever tourists came here and point blank refused to speak English - You'd be pissed
So? Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the world, yet they are still happy and content to drop into English when we're abroad?andy12 wrote:
If tourists came here and didn't speak English then they wouldn't be eating or sleeping much... Although it's hard to accept, it's different for a European to come here and not speak English and for an Englishman to go over to Europe and not speak German or whatever. Controversial I know, but English is a wider used language...FatherTed wrote:
It probably is the most important language (for the time being), and yes on face value there is practically no need for any student in GB to learn anything other than English... But it's just plain fucking rude to be honest.andy12 wrote:
Because everyone else has learnt English and it's probably the most important language in the world. I had no interest in learning another language at school and when my options came I picked PE over French or Spanish. Most of Spain speak English and I will never go to France. British aren't bone idle at all, we just won't work for what the Polish, Czechs and other EU work for since the UK unions have agreed on a standard wage which the EU companies don't pay in our own country...
Whenever i travel, i always try and get to a conversational standard in the language of the country, it makes them much more receptive, and gives British tourists a much better image.
Imagine if French/German/Dutch/whatever tourists came here and point blank refused to speak English - You'd be pissed
It's just courtesy, and it honestly does have an impact. If i order something in French, even if it's not exactly perfect, i'm much better received than if i just say it in English progressively louder, or point at the menu.
Small hourglass island
Always raining and foggy
Use an umbrella
Always raining and foggy
Use an umbrella
Actually Spanish is very close to English, Chinese is the most spoken language in the world. I doubt a waiter cares if I point at a steak and say "this please"...FatherTed wrote:
So? Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the world, yet they are still happy and content to drop into English when we're abroad?andy12 wrote:
If tourists came here and didn't speak English then they wouldn't be eating or sleeping much... Although it's hard to accept, it's different for a European to come here and not speak English and for an Englishman to go over to Europe and not speak German or whatever. Controversial I know, but English is a wider used language...FatherTed wrote:
It probably is the most important language (for the time being), and yes on face value there is practically no need for any student in GB to learn anything other than English... But it's just plain fucking rude to be honest.
Whenever i travel, i always try and get to a conversational standard in the language of the country, it makes them much more receptive, and gives British tourists a much better image.
Imagine if French/German/Dutch/whatever tourists came here and point blank refused to speak English - You'd be pissed
It's just courtesy, and it honestly does have an impact. If i order something in French, even if it's not exactly perfect, i'm much better received than if i just say it in English progressively louder, or point at the menu.
lol, actually most of the time they do!andy12 wrote:
Actually Spanish is very close to English, Chinese is the most spoken language in the world. I doubt a waiter cares if I point at a steak and say "this please"...FatherTed wrote:
So? Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the world, yet they are still happy and content to drop into English when we're abroad?andy12 wrote:
If tourists came here and didn't speak English then they wouldn't be eating or sleeping much... Although it's hard to accept, it's different for a European to come here and not speak English and for an Englishman to go over to Europe and not speak German or whatever. Controversial I know, but English is a wider used language...
It's just courtesy, and it honestly does have an impact. If i order something in French, even if it's not exactly perfect, i'm much better received than if i just say it in English progressively louder, or point at the menu.
Small hourglass island
Always raining and foggy
Use an umbrella
Always raining and foggy
Use an umbrella
Lol, I'm sure they'll somehow get over it...FatherTed wrote:
lol, actually most of the time they do!andy12 wrote:
Actually Spanish is very close to English, Chinese is the most spoken language in the world. I doubt a waiter cares if I point at a steak and say "this please"...FatherTed wrote:
So? Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the world, yet they are still happy and content to drop into English when we're abroad?
It's just courtesy, and it honestly does have an impact. If i order something in French, even if it's not exactly perfect, i'm much better received than if i just say it in English progressively louder, or point at the menu.