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The first thing Gabriel's father did when he came to England was to learn English. He agrees.
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LANGUAGE
By Gabriel Lock
Gabriel's father sought asylum in the UK in 1939. The first thing he did was to learn English. Gabriel thinks the most important thing for asylum seekers to do is learn the language.

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     BBC Asylum Day
Refugee Council
Home Office Asylum Advice

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Your thoughts about this video

    

Marion Taylor
Like your father, and like my grandparents, my English students are real asylum seekers too - they came here to flee unimaginable horrors. Come to my class and listen to an Eritrean list the family members he no longer has; watch - if you can bear it - a Sudanese mother mime the murder of her children. And marvel at a 70-year-old's determination to learn to read and write - holding a pen for the first time in her life. These new asylum-seekers are no more the cause of hatred towards them than our relatives were the cause of anti-semitism - shame on you for even suggesting it.

James Naughton
I couldn't agree more. English now is regarded as the international language. 85% of all international calls are made in English. Perhaps we as a nation can be slightly arrogant in this regard, but I don't think the British people want to alienate immigrants. If asylum seekers want to live here comfortably, they would make the transition and life for themselves easier here if they learn English immeadiately.

Sean Flanagan
I agree that compulsory English classes should be introduced. If you can't speak the native language you will find it much harder to integrate into mainstream society, harder to find work amongst other things.

James Kinsella
Very good comment if people want asylum in this country they should live as British people and not try to recreate their home countries here.

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Title:
LANGUAGE
Contributor:
Gabriel Lock
Length:
0.56 mins
Date:
11 Jul 2003
Source:
Video Nation UK
Country:
England - London
Categories:
Belief
Identity
Feature:
Asylum Day


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