I’m racist, because I believe that people who live in England SHOULD be able to speak the language – in this case, English.
I’m racist because I’ve wanted to help, but instead have been sworn and hurled abuse at. I’m racist, because I have a 20-Hour TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate.
I’m racist, because I’m still in the process of completing the £129 course to be fully qualified, which I paid for with my own earnings.
I’m racist, because I get upset when a person who wants to ask a simple question can’t, as they don’t speak English. They are living in England, but speak French, they live in France but speak Chinese and they live in Greece but speak Spanish. It sounds slightly odd does it not? There would be chaos, if this is how the world worked. Racism isn’t actually any of the things I’ve listed above. Racism is something like knowing how to swear at the person wanting to help you in their language, but not being able to communicate!
If you live in a different country then you should be able to have a basic conversation in the language spoken there. Please don’t get me wrong, not knowing isn’t something to be ashamed of, but not wanting to learn is something that is shameful in my eyes.
You have no boundaries in a country where English is spoken, taught and thrown in your face at every opportunity. England is the root and home of this language; however as we are multi-cultural and ‘democratic’ then I see no reason why this government shouldn’t provide English speaking courses, free of charge and make them obligatory. Anyone care to discuss or debate this? If so, please email me or even join me in drawing up a petition for this type of obligation or law to pass.
Wouldn’t life be so much easier if we could all communicate simply, without having to argue, without having to scream and shout at each other in only the foul words we knew in that language? I certainly think so!
I call upon all of you reading this, whether you are fluent in English, struggle from time to time or are in a community where the most spoken language is not and should be English, to speak up. Do something about it, email me, do a bit of research, see how you can be part of making change. I will take this to our local council and parliament if necessary, because there is nothing more important than people’s communication in this country. You have the right to live here, then you should be given the right to learn English too, otherwise what is your gain with no dialogue?
So I suggest the next time you start throwing accusations or calling somebody rude or even something as harsh as “racist”, THINK before you do and then SPEAK.
(By the way: my parents are foreign, I have Jamaican and Asian relatives as well as several foreign friends and I wouldn’t change that for the world!)
