It seems a sensible expectation, but policing people on their language abilities can come across as arbitrary and mask anti-immigration sentiments
“If you come to this country, you have to learn English.” That old adage. Somehow, it seems to unite bigots and those of a relatively progressive mindset, frequently appropriated as an endnote to what can often be explosive discussions over immigration.
If the phrase were a country, it would be Switzerland. In my experience, when a debate over foreign nationals turns bellicose, the assertion that one has to learn English if they’re going to live in the UK seems to corral everybody into neutral territory, garnering affirmative noises from all camps.
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