Comments on: Multiculturalism, linguistic diversity, and citizenship testing

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By: Should new Australians have to pass an English test to become citizens?

Should new Australians have to pass an English test to become citizens? — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 09:49:31 +0000

[…] of language tests for citizenship see them as promoting migrant integration and social inclusion. Requiring prospective citizens to pass an […]

By: Should new Australians have to pass an English test to become citizens? – The Central Asia

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 22:52:05 +0000

[…] of language tests for citizenship see them as promoting migrant integration and social inclusion. Requiring prospective citizens to pass an […]

By: Kaniz Rahman

Kaniz Rahman — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 04:08:00 +0000

I totally agree with that most are eager to learn English but it is not a easy task to learn a second language so easily specially sitting in a non speaking country; that makes the job harder. Moreover Australia is renowned for it’s diversity. Every culture is welcomed here so as every language. Of course English is a must. However an IELTS band 6 is a bit too much. It feels like a strategy to reduce the number of immigrants coming to Australia. Knowledge of English should be considerable is long as a person can communicate with it. A language is a tool of communication and it should be treated as one.

By: Xi Yang

Xi Yang — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 06:15:00 +0000

Hi Saida, I strongly agree with your comment. Three of the most popular English evaluation test in Australia, known as IELTS, TOEFL and PTE cannot truly reveal a person’s English proficiency. Sometimes people who took the test multiple times or spend a lot of time in practice the test questions in all four skills, are possible to achieve good grades. Not because they have strong English competence, but they are good or multiple exam-takers, this is probably why there are an increasing number English center now are providing more English exam preparation courses.

By: fadiyah

fadiyah — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 03:27:00 +0000

‘multiculturalism of Australia’ has the gist of the global problem of all the largest countries where there are immigration programs. For hundreds of years immigrants with their cultural diversity have been the inseparable part of developed countries, where immigration was always welcome. No such strong language testing requirements were needed to apply for citizenship. From one side, it is important that the immigrants attend ESL classes, but from the other side, to have a score of IELTS 6 is not realistic for them. Increasing the score of language knowledge does not increase the security in the country.

By: Gin Parrish

Gin Parrish — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 02:51:00 +0000

Achieving IELTS Band 6.0 is challenging, so many people may have to attend IELTS preparation classes and retake the tests many times before attaining their desired score – which costs them around AUD$350 for each test and more for the preparation courses. This discriminates people with low socio-economic backgrounds as well as costs a lot of money, meanwhile, the need for such test is still questionable. Many topics in IELTS Test are abstract and foreign to daily life, and the test involves a lot of academic skills, which discriminate working people who don’t have enough time to study for these tests, people with low literacies backgrounds, people without access to formal learning, as well as old people who find learning more difficult than the young.

By: Katherine Douglas

Katherine Douglas — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 06:47:00 +0000

Those in government who connect new immigrants and refugees with terrorism have a problem. There is always some risk (however low) that any new person to Australia presents a risk of terrorism. However, what if terrorism is committed by someone born in this country? It is foolish to not have some awareness of terrorism and have measures in place, but I think this has gone too far.

Also, what is the point of expecting newcomers to have English skills that are so advanced that even most native Australians don’t use regularly, and turn them away if they do not? I believe that incoming Australians should try to master the English, but Faine is right – there is more to being a worthy Australian citizen than achieving Band 6 on an IELTS exam.

By: vy ha

vy ha — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 08:43:00 +0000

I am not opposed to the idea of having some sort of English proficiency test for citizenship because after all, English is an official language in this country but the requirement is 6 IELTS is beyond ludicrous. Content for both IELTS academic and general requires certain level of education which is not easy to attain for many immigrants and refugees and even when they master the content on the test, it has little to do with their lives in Australia. In fact, Australia government should consider proficiency test that focus on the communicative aspect of English which can be of use when migrants have to learn to cope with their new lives here instead of requiring them to analyze all sorts of chart or writing an argument essay, which has 0 value on the daily basis.

By: Ha Pham

Ha Pham — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 01:12:00 +0000

I think that that is policy is invading human rights. Language should only be one of factors to be considered when someone wants to be accepted as australian citizen. language is a precious gift for people, helping them to discover new things in life, which means the most. however, this policy is preventing that dreams coming true. why dont politicians think about other criteria other than English profiency, the length of stay and achivements for example.

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 02:13:00 +0000

Attaining certain levels of English proficiency will surely afford the commitment immigrants bring to Australia in all aspects. However, as they also contribute to the Australia of multiculturalism and linguistic diversity, the citizenship testing may not have to strictly base on IELTS 6.0 applying to all potential citizens. The article actually has reasoned many points to explain the whys which I share with. The threats, to lesser or greater degrees, will not barely be attributed to immigrants only though the policy-makers would find it hard to make a ‘best’ solution for the concerned problem.

By: Thi Lam Tra DINH

Thi Lam Tra DINH — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 07:36:00 +0000

This article reminds me of the article on the Guardian with the title “Computer says no: Irish vet fails oral English test needed to stay in Australia” on Tuesday 8 August 2017. This Irish woman has two degrees; however, she could not overcome the oral test in English. The problem may result from the reliability of the language test, the computer malfunction, or the woman lacking skills completing the oral test. So if English is Australian National Language, is it really necessary for those who English is their first/offical language and has certain qualified certifications in English to take an English test for their immigration point? It is obvious that applicants with such backgrounds are eligible to apply for Australian universities. Why is it not the case for immigrants?

By: Miriam Faine

Miriam Faine — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 05:42:00 +0000

In reply to LauraSK.

thanks for the comment Laura – I would have replied earlier but have ben on holidays. I had read your earlier post with interest – not last because it has personal reference to the other side of my family as I believe Australia followed South Africa’s lead in imposing a language test for entry in 1903. (South Africa was trying to keep out Indians). My great grandfather, a Russian Jew, had been working in South Africa when his wife died in 1901 or 1902 and he had to return home to his children, He subsequently ended up migrating to NZ and it seems likely that the reason he could not return to South Africa was that at that point Yiddish was not deemed a European language.

By: David Valls

David Valls — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 09:32:00 +0000

In reply to Language on the Move. the test should be available also in, at least, the main aboriginal languages.

By: LauraSK

LauraSK — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 09:30:00 +0000

Australia has a long and proud history of using language tests as a supposedly fair and unbiased way to exclude particular groups of people. We have only to look at the dictation tests used under the White Australia policy for another example. I discussed this in another LotM blog post.
http://languageonthemove.com/discrimination-by-any-other-name-language-tests-and-racist-migration-policy-in-australia/

Language tests as a prerequisite to residency (and this indirectly to citizenship) already exist for some visa categories – namely skilled visas. However, given the logic behind those visas, this makes some sense. In reality, the application of a language test on all would be citizens is bound to disproportionately block those who have faced most difficulty in their lives, through limited access to education. It is likely to therefore block e.g. More women than men, and people have experienced socioeconomic disadvantage or persecution (and are residents in Australia on humanitarian grounds). Therefore, as Miriam argues, all such a test would do is create two classes of residents/citizens and effectively entrench disadvantage.