Do you agree ...or not?

How about recent immigrants who have been granted British citizenship? Or people who have been here a while but never mastered the language?

I'm trying to master Welsh.

I have to say it is disappointing of Channel 4 to put Anne Robinson on Countdown. I find her rude, abrupt and not that funny.
It's a shame that Channel 4 who gave us the brilliant Desmond's can't find anybody better.
I am just glad we don't have the likes of Jim Davidson on tv any more with his rascist and sexist banter.
Thank goodness we moved on.

If English is being taught as a foreign language, then it must be the native speakers of English who are the foreigners.

i thought English as a foreign language was for people overseas, often business people, who wanted to learn English.
English for Speakers of Other Languages is for people who live in UK but speak another language at home.

True in some cases but not always.
There are language schools in the UK staffed by British native English speakers who teach overseas students.

There are also many schools in English-speaking nations where students from countries where the first language is not English visit to learn English.

Added to which, there are English language schools in other countries where English is not the first language which take students of many nationalities but where British teachers teach English!

That was in response to FarNorth

When I lived in Devon, I was called a furriner although I am British..

Callistemon

I know someone called Blackman, he's fair (well grey now) and blue-eyed.
Perhaps his ancestors were charcoal burners.

The last name Blackman is most common in the SE of England and mainly in the Weald. GGG grandfather was a charcoal burner (amongst other things such as smuggling). Your friend ‘s ancestors may have originated in this part of the world.

Apologies for going off piste, btw

I realise that Callistemon.
In the context of the teaching, tho, if the students are learning a foreign language then the teacher and other native speakers of English must be foreigners to them.
The language is not being taught to foreigners.

welbeck that makes sense, and also makes it clear that Anne Robinson's comment was indeed rude.

Interesting, ayse , he has certainly come up in the world from charcoal burning!

Callistemon

^There are still a few people who have Scots Gaelic as their first language. If they wanted to learn English, would you feel entitled to refer to them as foreigners?^

No, but they would be learning English as a foreign or second language.
It's just a term.

Perhaps best to contact the bodies which award the teaching qualifications for teaching English as a foreign language.

Its got nothing to do with how various teaching organisations describe their courses. Just don't assume that people who don't speak English are "foreigners".

I was just being pedantic, FarNorth.
If a British person teaches English to eg Swedish and Dutch students in France then all are foreigners!

It could get very complicated.

Alegrias, I had described most of our neighbours as foreigners, and a certain regular poster accused me, in no uncertain terms, of being racist. The next time I looked, my post had been deleted.

Alegrias1

Callistemon

There are still a few people who have Scots Gaelic as their first language. If they wanted to learn English, would you feel entitled to refer to them as foreigners?

No, but they would be learning English as a foreign or second language.
It's just a term.

Perhaps best to contact the bodies which award the teaching qualifications for teaching English as a foreign language.

Its got nothing to do with how various teaching organisations describe their courses. Just don't assume that people who don't speak English are "foreigners".

Did I say that?

I don't think so.

Just don't assume that people who don't speak English are "foreigners".

I did not assume that or say that.
Either you misunderstood or twisted what I said for whatever reason.

There are still a few people who have Scots Gaelic as their first language

Does that mean they have a second language?
If so, which language?

Her poor face

Yes, it's rather sad, Bluebelle
For a 76 year old she looks very strange.

Dear me, lots of people getting a wee bit defensive here.

Hellogirl1 I didn't see your post so wasn't commenting on it.

Callistemon, I wasn't making any comment on anything you said either, no need for indignation.

Newatthis wrote that she was told to substitute "non native speaker" instead of calling someone foreign. So I was pointing out why not all "non native speakers" are foreign.

All clear now?

Callistemon

^There are still a few people who have Scots Gaelic as their first language^

Does that mean they have a second language?
If so, which language?

Are you serious?

I was wanting to identify a friend to another person. I said” I am not being racist, but N is black” . It was the quickest way to identify the person I meant. She agreed,
There is a load of nonsense about politically correct language in my opinion.

In the early 1990’s I attended training called Racial Equality run by trainers from the local voluntary sector. We were told among other things never to ask for white or black coffee or tea, it should be with or without milk. I and others experienced the trainers as aggressive and actually quite frightening, hectoring people. Did the training raise my awareness? Well, it made me afraid to ask questions during that very long day and fearfully watch my words at work for many months to come. I understood far more from informal discussion with peers who were happy to explain why they found some terms and behaviour offensive and were understanding and respectful of the history I also carried with me Since then preferred language has changed goodness knows how many times. I understood training approaches had also changed. How sad if people are again going to be treated aggressively rather than engaged in genuine discussion to improve understanding. Not a circle I would wish to see completed.

Callistemon

Yes, it's rather sad, Bluebelle
For a 76 year old she looks very strange.

From the trailers, it seems that Robinson has trouble speaking properly. It must be very uncomfortable.
I don't think that she will be doing it for more than one series.
I can't see her being popular with the punters.
After that they'll give it to a safe pair of hands, like Gyles Brandreth.

I always quite liked The Weakest Link. I loved her cheeky wink at the end. It was as if to say 'only kidding'. 'The Chase' is no different really. Expect to have the 'mickey' taken out of you.

I'd be surprised if she could manage 'a cheeky wink' these days! (miaow ?)

Cabbie21

I was wanting to identify a friend to another person. I said” I am not being racist, but N is black” . It was the quickest way to identify the person I meant. She agreed,
There is a load of nonsense about politically correct language in my opinion.

Why say I am not being racist then!!!