Someone who has lived in the USA for 23 years still doesn't speak English.

[SteveLaura 0]

Phah, Guy Falkes!

I make a little effigy and burn him in our firepit every year. Seriously.

[Peikko 1,575]

I always liked the back garden fireworks, despite the fact that they are dangerous and in my day, incredibly inconsistant, particularly those pesky Catherine wheels...

[SteveLaura 0]

I always liked the back garden fireworks, despite the fact that they are dangerous and in my day, incredibly inconsistant, particularly those pesky Catherine wheels...

Yeah, they always had a tendency to fall off the fence and whizz unhindered around the garden. Ah, first degree burns. Such memories.

[Peikko 1,575]

I'm jealous, ours just wouldn't work, ever! I think now my dad probably fixed it to be so.

[Ban Hammer 14,569]

y la llevo puesta orgullosamente

[panamania79 2]

I apologize to the OP if my remarks were a little strong. I presume I have somehow missed the point of the question regarding her friend. I still think I would be miffed though if someone I thought of as a best friend started asking stranges if they thought I was lazy or stupid just because I have a terrible way of speaking English. However, there has to be some motivation that is in the best interest of the friend, I guess.

There is no need to apologize.We always get in these discussions and he always says to me "well if I spoke the English you do,I'd do this or I'd do that." When he came to work with me the first day another co-worker told him "it's America,speak English." And I told her off.He's always scolding me for not getting a better job.

[Amby 490]

No country requires it's citizens or immigrants to be proficient in the host countries language - that's just wierd.

Ok, I have no idea if that statement is true, but it should be.

Tell me, if someone falls in while in Australia and they can't afford to pay for treatment, what exactly happens?

purchase travel insurance then you won't have this problem

[Peikko 1,575]

Oh look I said fall in not ill. You know I wasn't thinking holiday makers

[Heracles 417]

No country requires it's citizens or immigrants to be proficient in the host countries language - that's just wierd.

Ok, I have no idea if that statement is true, but it should be.

Tell me, if someone falls in while in Australia and they can't afford to pay for treatment, what exactly happens?

Medical is covered but they are not eligible to receive any other benefits. If you are a tourist then you will have to pay unless you are from a country which has a reciprocal universal health care agreement with Australia. Like New Zealand, The United Kingdom, The Republic of Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Malta, Norway.

PS You now need to speak English to apply for citizenship in Australia. Plus if you are an anchor baby, one of the parents must be born there otherwise you are not eligible for citizenship.

Edited August 1, 2008 by Aficionado

[S and S 12]

No country requires it's citizens or immigrants to be proficient in the host countries language - that's just wierd.

Ok, I have no idea if that statement is true, but it should be.

Tell me, if someone falls in while in Australia and they can't afford to pay for treatment, what exactly happens?

Medical is covered but they are not eligible to receive any other benefits. If you are a tourist then you will have to pay unless you are from a country which has a reciprocal universal health care agreement with Australia. Like New Zealand, The United Kingdom, The Republic of Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Malta, Norway.

PS You now need to speak English to apply for citizenship in Australia. Plus if you are an anchor baby, one of the parents must be born there otherwise you are not eligible for citizenship.

Good for Australia! I like the way they think.

[Peikko 1,575]

No country requires it's citizens or immigrants to be proficient in the host countries language - that's just wierd.

Ok, I have no idea if that statement is true, but it should be.

Tell me, if someone falls in while in Australia and they can't afford to pay for treatment, what exactly happens?

Medical is covered but they are not eligible to receive any other benefits. If you are a tourist then you will have to pay unless you are from a country which has a reciprocal universal health care agreement with Australia. Like New Zealand, The United Kingdom, The Republic of Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Malta, Norway.

PS You now need to speak English to apply for citizenship in Australia. Plus if you are an anchor baby, one of the parents must be born there otherwise you are not eligible for citizenship.

Yes, speak English, but what level of English? What kind of test do they apply? I also wonder what happens regarding the aborigonals. Do they speak any indigenous languages any longer? is that encouraged?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Tazmania. With an emphasis on mania.

[Heracles 417]

Yes, speak English, but what level of English? What kind of test do they apply? I also wonder what happens regarding the aborigonals. Do they speak any indigenous languages any longer? is that encouraged?

A level which allows them to function and communicate in an English speaking nation. The classes are actually provided free for anyone who wants to learn.

The Aboriginals are not immigrants. Therefore your question about their language choice has nothing to do with the requirements of citizenship.

Edited August 1, 2008 by Aficionado

[Peikko 1,575]

Function and communicate? Well, as we have discovered, that's rather a wide remit isn't it?

Really, aboriginals aren't migrants, I wish I'd known that before I asked the question...

You are kidding me, right?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I would imagine there is some external pressure on aboriginals to abandon their way of life and assume the dominant culture... To some extent this must have already happened as the majority of the aboriginal population live in urban areas - and suffer pretty much all the same problems that apply to poverty-stricken urban populations in other countries.