England UK

In article <lkbbf19071tjmrqr5u6umhgikjiel16fen@4ax.com>, cynic_999
@yahoo.co.uk says...
> >> >As interpreters are available free of charge, I would doubt those would
> >> >be the first words they learned. The fact is, there are a lot of
> >> >immigrants who do not, and have no intention of ever learning English.
> >>
> >> Of course, the English are renowned for diligently learning the
> >> language of other countries they decide to settle in.
> >
> >And of course, you do realise that was not the point I was referring to.
>
> So what was your point?

The op was obviously a way of saying all immigrants want to come here to
claim dole and the first words were "give me the dole", I pointed out
why those words were not needed.

> >But again you are taking a racial stereotypical viewpoint. For myself, I
> >speak English, German and a little italian, but perhaps you have not
> >looked at the numbers who are currently learning a second language
> >recently?
>
> I know the percentage of people I know in the UK who can speak a
> second language (as opposed to taking another language at school). I
> know the proportion of English people I meet in other countries whoi
> can speak the language of that country as opposed to the foreigners in
> the UK who can speak English.

I would not know in which circles you move in, a large percentage of my
colleagues and friends are learning or actually speak more than one
language, as they are not planning on living abroad, I suppose it is a
moot point.
I have not spoken to many English abroad, apart from the travel reps and
touts and timeshare people, but I must say 100% of those speak a
language other than their own.
Your last sentence, well, is it really surprising as English is the most
prevalent language in the world. Numbers wise
--
regards
Joe