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Simple way to eliminate language barriers is to introduce English as main language of schooling, thus making all next generation bilingual. It's done by middle
by anovikov 2y ago
Simple way to eliminate language barriers is to introduce English as main language of schooling, thus making all next generation bilingual. It's done by middle and upper classes anyway so idk why commoners are intentionally left in the dust by the System.
Let's face it: our culture (all across the EU), is American, anyway. It's stupid to pretend otherwise.
- KK7NIL 2y ago> idk why commoners are intentionally left in the dust by the System. There's extreme wealth inequalities between EU countries (we're talking about one order of magnitude in the extreme cases), language barriers are the main things holding back the demographic crisis that would come from mass economic immigration within the EU. > Let's face it: our culture (all across the EU), is American, anyway. It's stupid to pretend otherwise. EU is a big place (and so is the US). Perhaps you've mainly visited major urban centers of both and so don't see the rather unique cultures both hold.
- valval 2y ago[flagged]
- pfdietz 2y agoPart of their identity is shockingly low TFR (Total Fertility Rate). In Japan, it's 1.26 live births/woman. In Singapore, it's an astounding 1.04. Both are worse than Europe (1.46) and the US (1.66).
- valval 2y agoThat’s super unfortunate and I’m well aware, but it’s a separate issue.
- pfdietz 2y agoI don't see how it can be separated from the culture as a whole. After all, what causes such differences, if not differences in cultures?
- valval 2y agoSince this inverse correlation with birth rates and GDP is observed everywhere in the world, I'm certain we're not speaking of a cultural issue.
- pfdietz 2y agoIt's not a terribly good correlation; there's a lot of variance that could well be cultural. Unless you think it's explained by genetics?
- anovikov 2y ago>There's extreme wealth inequalities between EU countries (we're talking about one order of magnitude in the extreme cases), language barriers are the main things holding back the demographic crisis that would come from mass economic immigration within the EU. But that was the whole point of EU's existence: to make it easy for people to move countries. Do you claim that removing extra point of friction will make things somehow worse?
- KK7NIL 2y ago> Do you claim that removing extra point of friction will make things somehow worse? Yes, did you not read my comment? The peripheries of the EU (Portugal, Spain, Southern Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, etc) already see massive youth immigration and brain drain to the richer areas of the EU. Make the majority of EU citizens fluent in English, and you can imagine how that would quickly massively increase this issue and destroy local economies and create massive political issues.
- anovikov 2y agoIf that was true, it means whole idea of EU was wrong and people should have been forced to stay in their countries? How about building a wall huh?
- derelicta 2y agoI hate that you are right regarding the cultural aspect. I wish we were better at preserving our respective identities. That's why I like going to small movie theatres; they tend to play local films. And you do stumble on gems from time to time.
- Dah00n 2y ago> introduce English as main language of schooling Good idea - wrong language. English would make EU less European. German would be a better choice, or French or <inset an actual EU language>. Not that I believe in the idea.
- sealeck 2y agoEnglish is the language spoken by the broadest base of people in the EU, and since Brexit lacks the kind of partisan status that e.g. French or German would have.
- miningape 2y agoAt least in the wealthier western European countries, English is already a mandatory subject from a young age. It of course varies by country, but for example Danes are learning English by age 10, followed by German/French/Spanish by age 13.
- ninalanyon 2y agoEnglish is taught in Norway from the the first year at school at age five or six.
- blibble 2y agoEnglish was European before the EU existed and will still be after it is gone the EU tries very hard to conflate itself with "Europe", but it is not Europe it is a political entity that happens to be based in Europe, and one that does not even represent a majority of the European population it does not get to decide what is and what is not European
- cbg0 2y ago> Let's face it: our culture (all across the EU), is American, anyway. No, it isn't. At most you could say that a part of our culture is American, but even amongst each other, EU countries differ quite a bit in terms of culture.
- gwbas1c 2y ago> At most you could say that a part of our culture is American Don't forget that American culture mostly comes from Europe. The influence goes both ways.