Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Summer Wine]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/466/story.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10476805

Quote:

A few months back, a Korean restaurant owner told me he would never put an advertisement in an English paper, sticking only to the Korean papers because he preferred not to have English-speaking customers. "We like Korean customers," he said. "My staff don't speak English and they hide when Kiwi customers walk in."

[blackjack]

how does this mean NZ sucks at integration? It was the restaurant owner that didn't want english speaking customers

[mistermasan]

give them time. you'll have china towns and korea towns. the first generation will often mix slowly but the kids'll be ducks to water.

what does it take for ayank to trade in the US passport for a NZ one?

[Cheonmunka]

[Summer Wine]

Quote:

how does this mean NZ sucks at integration? It was the restaurant owner that didn't want english speaking customers

If you read the full post, then you learn that the attitude that seems to be among some asian immigrants and Chinese in particular is that english is secondary.

That raises the question that Immigrants, not migrant workers seem to view a language which is the main form of communication as being of little importance as they don't want to meet english speakers.

Yet they have the right to a vote, to a determination of future aspects of NZ. The writer of the piece who feels that NZ should focus less on forcing others to learn english and become more open to other languages misses the point that one language that everyone can communicate in is needed.
He also misses the point that many NZers can already speak two languages.

I also argue this point because in the 1950's when many Dutch and Poles moved to NZ. They were made to learn english, it was done in a negative way, but they fitted into the country easier. It should have and can be done better, but it worked in that helped them become NZers.

The Government of the past 20 years seemed to feel that pressuring new immigrants to learn the language was going back to the old days and that allowing a new form of immigration was better. They missed the point that many new immigrants need to learn a language well and waiting until the second generation misses out on the benefits that the new immigrants can provide.

It also ignores the fact that migrants can bind themselves in nationalism of thier previous country as a defence against the problems they face in a new country. Language can be a reflection of national identity as it either helps develop a new national identity or it restricts them to only understanding the old.

Sometimes people procrastinate and put off learning a language, therefore you need someone to give you a prod. To make introductions to communities outside of your own who speak the language of the country that you are in. If you are working, running a business, etc. then its more important that you reach a level of understanding quickly.

Otherwise you will rely on others who speak your language and that will drive you into a community of people just like you. Creating a situation where you don't need to learn the language and limiting yourself to speakers of your own language.

Also NZ history should show the dangers of not properly integrating a population of immigrants from a powerful country with a larger population than your own who wish to immigrate for economic reasons.

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[crusher_of_heads]