Regarding the Jan. 16 article "Long-term residents may face language test": The government seems to be intent on keeping new foreigners out of this country and making life increasingly harder for those already living here. Only weeks after the law subjecting us to fingerprinting on each re-entry took effect, the Foreign Ministry announces that they are planning to implement a language test for long-term residents.
I thought the headline must be a joke. But apparently they are quite serious about this. The argumentation seems to be that such a requirement will "improve the lives of foreign residents." How "thoughtful" of the government. It goes without saying that speaking the language of the country one lives in will make daily life easier, but shouldn't it be left to each individual to decide what level of proficiency they aim to achieve?
And what is the Foreign Ministry going to propose in the event that a permanent resident doesn't pass the test? Will he or she be cordially asked to leave the country, or to take up language lessons to earn their right to reside here? The whole idea of such a requirement is preposterous!
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