http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2150667/Second-generation-migrants-struggle-understand-basic-instructions-English.htmlhttp://uk.onlinenigeria.com/news/37668-second-and-third-generation-migrants-struggle-to-understand-even-basic-instructions-in-english.htmlThey were born in the UK, but many second and third generation immigrants speak or understand hardly any English, it was revealed today.
Their poor understanding of the language means they are unable to take notes or understand basic instructions on training courses ranging from engineering to electronics.
Experts warn that low standards of English in some minority groups have been blamed for widening ethnic divisions and creating communities where it is the second language.
It was also reported that:
Schools were blamed for failing to teach the language to children well enough. And;
Families deliberately discouraged children from learning English to protect their culture and ensure they could talk to their grandparents.
Philida Schellekens, author of the national standards for translators, warned about English standards last week at a conference run by Cambridge Assessment, the exam board:
She said: 'It upsets me to go into further education colleges and you see Oxbridge material sitting there and, because they {the students} don't have the language to express themselves, they are stuck ... it's not good for them as individuals, but for society as a whole it's a tragedy.'
According to the Sunday Times, Ms Schellekens first analysed the issue of poor English skills among migrant students in 2005 in a study at a Birmingham college and said the same problems were still prevalent today.
'What happened was that these were kids born in the UK [but] their parents or even their grandparents came from abroad, ' she said.
'There were second language speakers where a less-than-sure command of English really [did] hold them back ...their tutors were really concerned.
'[The students] couldn't read a manual, couldn't get the meaning of what they had to do and follow instructions. They couldn't listen and take notes at the same time.'
As a result, students were not able to go on work placements because they could not understand what employers were telling them.
Phil Woolas, the former immigration minister and Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth backed Ms Schellekens.
He told the Sunday Times that poor English was a significant cause of segregated communities in northern towns.
A government spokeswoman said English language courses were available for the jobless and there was £10m to support English teaching in 'areas facing the most significant integration challenges'.
How on earth has this managed to come about, where there are 3rd generation immigrants that STILL cannot properly co operate using English? What solutions can we bring to this, maybe more english teaching courses in minority areas if you were to take the liberal approach? Further cost to the taxpayer which he didnt ask for, having to pay to educate half the 3rd world and their offspring, if you were to look at it from another point of view. 3rd generation and they havnt even got the audacity in this time to learn/teach the language of the country they live in properly.