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Confessions of an immigrant: Knowledge of Life in the UK
To accompany the other thread from a journalist's blog, here's another blog about a Swiss national becoming British by naturalisation, surprisingly rant-free IMO.
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/...ife-in-the-uk/ I normally remain unmoved by blogs, but this one certainly appears to have the ring of truth about it. And I had no idea that there was an alternative date for the Magna Carta. :eek: :p YQ on BA redemptions is as nothing compared to the fee increases charged by HMG for certain immigration services. (See what I did there? Tried to mention an on topic detail in an off topic post. ;)) |
Originally Posted by Roger
(Post 18863669)
To accompany the other thread from a journalist's blog, here's another blog about a Swiss national becoming British by naturalisation, surprisingly rant-free IMO.
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/...ife-in-the-uk/ I normally remain unmoved by blogs, but this one certainly appears to have the ring of truth about it. And I had no idea that there was an alternative date for the Magna Carta. :eek: :p YQ on BA redemptions is as nothing compared to the fee increases charged by HMG for certain immigration services. (See what I did there? Tried to mention an on topic detail in an off topic post. ;)) |
Originally Posted by Roger
(Post 18863669)
To accompany the other thread from a journalist's blog, here's another blog about a Swiss national becoming British by naturalisation, surprisingly rant-free IMO.
Life in the UK includes a 25-page, 11,000-word introduction to British history written by the late professor Sir Bernard Crick. He defended it from criticism from the Historical Association that it was "a bizarre tour of British history" by saying it was written for immigrants and their language teachers and was not an official history. Crick also revealed in 2006 that he resisted pressure from the then home secretary, David Blunkett, to include history questions in the test: "I refused, both in principle and on grounds of practicality: could any test for immigrants be devised that 80% of our fellow citizens would not fail?" he said. |
I agree the failure rate could be quite high.
But then my school was founded in 1213, and had Charters from Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. Not sure that helps, but I do accept that 'education' seems a bit different these days. |
Originally Posted by Roger
(Post 18863669)
To accompany the other thread from a journalist's blog, here's another blog about a Swiss national becoming British by naturalisation, surprisingly rant-free IMO.
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2012/...ife-in-the-uk/ Whereas http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/ju...?newsfeed=true is just depressing, including the corker: A Home Office official said: "It's a move away from the old one – stuff on rights, practical info that has little to do with British culture |
Originally Posted by T8191
(Post 18863763)
But then my school was founded in 1213, and had Charters from Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
Ouch. |
Originally Posted by shorthauldad
(Post 18863835)
Hmm.... I've just checked and it seems my school was founded in 1963.
Ouch. I just posted that to highlight the enormous disparity in education establishments in the UK … and age doesn't make them any better ;) The OH's alma mater rates in the top 10 … my old place struggles to be in the top 100 :D |
My school was founded in 1979 it transpires, so perhaps that makes me somewhat of a dullard. Still, it could be worse: I can access Wikipedia with sufficient competence to find out said information, so all is not lost! :D
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Originally Posted by sts603
(Post 18863695)
Which still has nothing to do with BA. And the comparison is about as reasonable as saying don't complain about beef prices because caviar is much more expensive.
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Originally Posted by shorthauldad
(Post 18863716)
Maybe all UK school-leavers should all sit the test?
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Originally Posted by Cradders
(Post 18863902)
My school was founded in 1979 it transpires, so perhaps that makes me somewhat of a dullard. Still, it could be worse: I can access Wikipedia with sufficient competence to find out said information, so all is not lost! :D
I was learning Latin before my 11th birthday … why, you may ask, but it gave me a feeling for language. It didn't enhance my ability to de-coke a motorcycle engine or calculate the relevant benefits of Avios v. TPs. That came later :D |
Originally Posted by Globaliser
(Post 18863918)
Maybe all UK school-leavers should sit and pass the test before they're allowed to vote.
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My wife passed this the year before last. Beforehand I ordered the practice materials online and had them delivered to my work. Passed it round the office and most of my (white, British) colleagues struggled to pass a test!
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Goodness - when I got my Brit citizenship back in '95, I filled in a form and the only check after that was when a nice chap from Liverpool called to ask if I had a police record (the answer was no and he said they didn't need to check further). Perhaps the *test* was that I could sufficiently understand "scouse"?
T819, we also learnt Latin at school down in the colonies of NZ... as recently as - oh, maybe not so recently. I keep thinking the '80s were last week. |
Originally Posted by CreativeBill
(Post 18864830)
T8191, we also learnt Latin at school down in the colonies of NZ... as recently as - oh, maybe not so recently. I keep thinking the '80s were last week.
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