English lessons shouldn’t be an immigration test – why the UK’s new policy risks deepening exclusion

English lessons shouldn’t be an immigration test – why the UK’s new policy risks deepening exclusion

shutterstock Media_Photos/ShutterstockWhat happens when learning English stops being a bridge into society and starts to feel like a test of belonging you can fail? That is the question raised by the the UK government’s proposed new immigration policy, which would raise English-language requirements for most visa routes, with the aim of improving integration and workforce readiness. This represents an increase in emphasis on language proficiency…