Latest news with #Esol
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Starmer says migrants should speak English – but all of the UK's languages are important for integration
When Keir Starmer said: 'If you want to live in the UK, you should speak English', it laid bare an assumption – that English is the only language that counts in the UK. This view not only overlooks the UK's rich linguistic diversity, but also runs counter to the language policies being developed across the devolved nations. While the UK government's latest proposals on immigration treat English proficiency as the main pathway to integration, governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are taking different approaches. Immigration is a matter controlled by Westminster. But integration, including language education, is devolved. That means each UK nation sets its own direction. Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK's latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences. Despite frequent political emphasis on English language learning and testing as key to integration, England does not have a national strategy for migrant or refugee integration. It also does not have an England-wide policy for teaching English for speakers of other languages (Esol). Instead, decisions about language classes are made locally but provision is uneven. In some areas, support is well-organised and accessible. In others, it's barely there. Despite the lack of national leadership, the Esol sector in England has long benefited from grassroots activism. Organisations like the National Association for Teaching English and Community Languages to Adults and English for Action have been vocal in campaigning for better funding. Researchers and teachers also continue to call for a joined-up strategy for migrant and refugee integration. By contrast, the Welsh government has made language education a core part of its progressive integration policies. Its ambition to become the world's first 'nation of sanctuary' is backed up by practical measures. This includes a dedicated language education policy for migrants, focused primarily on Esol – the only one of its kind in the UK. The first national Esol strategy was published in 2014, revised in 2018, and will be updated this year following a review. The introduction of Welsh as an element of migrant language education is helping to build a more inclusive, multicultural society too. It shows learners that all languages, including their mother tongue, have a role to play in a modern, multilingual nation. Since 2014, Scotland has implemented three refugee integration strategies. The new Scots refugee integration strategy has been internationally recognised as a model of good practice. It adopts a multilingual, intercultural approach, emphasising that language learning should include home languages and the language or languages of the new community, which may include Gaelic, Scots and English. Scotland had two successive adult Esol strategies from 2007 to 2020. These were developed in consultation with Esol learners and detailed clear progression routes into further training, education and employment. But they were discontinued in favour of a broader adult learning strategy in 2022 which covers all adult learners rather than just the needs of migrants. It was a decision criticised by some due to concerns about losing focus on the specific needs of Esol learners, and reducing the voice of Esol learners and teachers in Scotland. In Northern Ireland, there is no dedicated migrant language policy yet. But its draft refugee integration strategy does at least acknowledge the importance of language in helping migrants feel 'valued and respected'. In 2022, the Identity and Language (Northern Ireland) Act granted official status to the Irish language, and to Ulster-Scots as a minority language. Nevertheless, the Northern Ireland refugee integration strategy focuses solely on English language classes as the primary language education provision. What all UK nations share, however, is chronic underfunding. Adult education, where Esol funding sits across all four nations, now faces yet more cuts meaning many language learners will continue to face long waiting lists for classes. But how language education for migrants, especially migrants seeking sanctuary in the UK is perceived, organised and provided is critical to fostering inclusion, promoting integration and bestowing a sense of belonging. Developing competency in the dominant language or languages of the host nation can enable migrants to navigate health, housing or social security systems. It can help them cope with the needs of daily life and to use their skills and knowledge to enter work or education. Read more: Many people seeking sanctuary have experienced trauma from undergoing forced migration. This makes it vital that language provision is trauma-informed and recognises a learner's existing multilingual skills. It's also important that it is shaped around their needs, not just on externally imposed assessments of English proficiency. Multilingual education is more than just a nice thing to have. There is growing evidence that valuing the languages refugees already speak, and recognising their linguistic skills as assets, improves wellbeing, builds confidence and enhances social inclusion. Too often in the UK, language learning is treated as a condition for acceptance, rather than a right that can enable belonging. That risks undermining the very integration that policymakers claim to support. If the UK is serious about being a modern, inclusive and multicultural state, it must embrace the reality that it is also multilingual, and that different nations may choose different routes to welcome those seeking sanctuary. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The authors wish to thank their respective universities for the support they have received in researching this issue. They would also like to thank their co-researchers Sylvia Warnecke and Mel Engman and their co-authors on their recently published policy briefing. Gwennan Higham and Sarah Cox do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Korea Herald
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
KiiiKiii enters K-pop with goal to be outlier
Five-memeber girl group sets sights on one of K-pop's most coveted rookie honors KiiiKiii, Starship Entertainment's first new girl group in four years since Ive, officially entered the K-pop scene Monday with the release of their debut EP, 'Uncut Gem,' aiming to break away from traditional idol molds. 'Rather than trying to fit into certain standards, we value showing our natural selves,' said member Haeum during the group's debut showcase held in Seoul. 'We believe our uniqueness is our greatest strength,' added Sui, while Jiyu shared that though the group stands out for their individuality, they "truly shine when we come together as one team.' The five-member group drew significant attention with the prerelease of their single 'I Do Me' on Feb. 24, which entered Melon's Hot 100 chart at No. 13 and peaked at No. 4 on the platform's Top 100. The track's music video also topped YouTube's trending video chart for two consecutive days following its release on Feb. 16. 'Time has flown since the release of 'I Do Me.' It's been a joyful and exciting experience to perform and show ourselves on music programs,' member Esol said. 'Thanks to the support we've received, we're growing little by little. We'll keep working hard to show even better performances.' 'Uncut Gem' includes six tracks: title song 'I Do Me,' 'Debut Song,' 'Groundwork,' 'There They Go,' 'BTG (Been That Girl),' and 'One Off.' The album blends various genres such as hip-hop, retro synth pop and EDM, with lyrics that reflect the group's identity and ambition. 'The title 'Uncut Gem' refers to an unpolished stone. It represents our raw, unfiltered identity as we set out into the world with our own set of questions,' Jiyu said. 'The title track amplifies our confident charm. It expresses a girl's determination to trust her own instincts and live confidently. The lyrics deliver a powerful message of youthful self-assurance,' Esol added. Having debuted as part of the latest wave of girl groups — often referred to as the fifth generation — KiiiKiii is naturally positioned alongside other rookies such as SM Entertainment's Hearts2Hearts, who debuted on Feb 24. While the comparison is inevitable, Esol expressed a sense of camaraderie rather than competition. 'Just being able to promote at the same time is an honor. Rather than seeing them as rivals, I think we'll inspire each other and grow together,' she said. KiiiKiii also said they received words of encouragement from their label-mate, Ive. Jiyu, who trained with members of Ive, said, 'I used to train with them, and I shared a vocal coach with Liz. She encouraged me and cheered me on, which meant a lot. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank her again.' Looking ahead, KiiiKiii has their eyes on one of the most coveted rookie honors in K-pop. 'At the end of the year, I'd love for us to win Rookie of the Year,' Jiyu said. 'You can only win it once, and it would mean the world to us.'
