Canada has two official languages. Two. Period. English or French - take your pick. Not Mandarin or Cantonese, not Punjab, or German, or Spanish, or Russian. If you want to live here for any length of time, please learn and develop a working knowledge of at least one of our languages. And if you've chosen to live in western Canada, that language would be English.
Today, a young family came into my place of business to ask for directions. No one in this family could speak enough English to make themselves understood, and it was only through catching the odd word and figuring out some gestures that I finally got what they were trying to say. These people were not tourists (if they had been, I would have sympathized with their plight). They were asking for the auto insurance business that used to occupy the space where my business now resides. This means they've been in Canada long enough to have a driver's license and an insured vehicle. And since they were carrying the tell-tale insurance packet, this was obviously a renewal, which means they have owned their vehicle for more than a year.
Bottom line: this couple (perhaps in their mid-thirties) have lived in Canada for a year or more, and still cannot function in English with any significant proficiency.
This is a problem. A big problem.
We are seeing large numbers of immigrants coming to our country - no issue there - but they are settling in their ethnic communities. This means that unless they actually leave their community, they have no need to learn the language of their adopted country. They start their own businesses, schools, and in many cases have their own laws. Not good.
But that's another blog post.
Today, a young family came into my place of business to ask for directions. No one in this family could speak enough English to make themselves understood, and it was only through catching the odd word and figuring out some gestures that I finally got what they were trying to say. These people were not tourists (if they had been, I would have sympathized with their plight). They were asking for the auto insurance business that used to occupy the space where my business now resides. This means they've been in Canada long enough to have a driver's license and an insured vehicle. And since they were carrying the tell-tale insurance packet, this was obviously a renewal, which means they have owned their vehicle for more than a year.
Bottom line: this couple (perhaps in their mid-thirties) have lived in Canada for a year or more, and still cannot function in English with any significant proficiency.
This is a problem. A big problem.
We are seeing large numbers of immigrants coming to our country - no issue there - but they are settling in their ethnic communities. This means that unless they actually leave their community, they have no need to learn the language of their adopted country. They start their own businesses, schools, and in many cases have their own laws. Not good.
But that's another blog post.
Comments
Post a Comment