Why Brits can only Speak English
Learning a Foreign Language is not seen as important in England
Oct 4, 2008
French people are grateful when one speaks French to them. English speaking people expect to converse in English, wherever they are. Unfortunately, this is far less of an unfair generalisation than one would hope. It seems mainly to be the English (or at least those from English-speaking countries, as Americans are so frequently guilty as well) who expect to be able to travel without learning other languages. The prevailing attitude amongst Brits on holiday seems too often to assume that the other person speaks English. Thus the ‘speak slowly and loudly and they’ll understand, point if you have to’ mentality has become far too common amongst Brits and Americans. This can result in witnessing tourists treating intelligent natives as slightly deaf, intellectually challenged children. Unfortunately, there are reasons why many Brits can only speak English.
Learning a foreign language is not seen as important in England
Due to the constant export of English culture and language to other countries there is a prevailing feeling amongst many Brits that there is no need to learn a foreign language, as somebody somewhere will speak English and so translate for them. This sort of attitude is strengthened by English society’s refusal to expose children to foreign languages. Should anyone speak French on television, they get a voiceover in English; books need to be translated into English to be successful. To learn a second language requires motivation and a belief in its usefulness, however English children are growing up thinking that the world will translate for them.
Difficulties in learning a foreign language
Another problem for this lack of proficiency in modern languages is the perception of them as difficult subjects. Many students in England struggle with speaking foreign languages and wish to avoid the stress. Now that in many schools they are no longer compulsory at GCSE level many pupils ignore them in favour of so-called "soft" subjects, such as media studies. The limitations imposed at A-Levels, where pupils in the main take 3 or 4 subjects, furthers this trend as they are pushed into taking a subject where they are more likely to gain a higher grade, regardless of its academic properties.
Whilst far from blameless, the student who chooses the option of an easier year and a higher grade is easily understood. However, the influence of his teachers is key, and it is here that many schools fall down. Headmasters know the importance of league tables and standings, and have worked out which GCSEs are likely to provide better grades. Thus they are unlikely to push struggling students into taking a subject which could make the school look worse, regardless of how useful the subject is.
Should the world hate English tourists?
The colossal arrogance shown by the typical Brit on holiday is one reason why the rest of the world should hate English people. Strangely enough, this doesn’t seem that often to be the case, with tourists often welcomed with a smile – a chance for the native to practice their English. Whilst this may seem to be making life easier for British people, it merely encourages fewer people to learn a second language. It is a stereotypical Brit who scorns foreigners; maybe it should be the other way round.
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