English Please!
Official communications in the recognised language is fine.
Imposing English as the "official" language of the organisation, ie to be spoken by all employees while on organisation property...
Sounds like some desk driver who needs to be dislodged tbh.
Talk to his superior... you may find a sympathetic ear.
Chances are this is not the only mad cap scheme he's come up with...
Imposing English as the "official" language of the organisation, ie to be spoken by all employees while on organisation property...
Sounds like some desk driver who needs to be dislodged tbh.
Talk to his superior... you may find a sympathetic ear.
Chances are this is not the only mad cap scheme he's come up with...
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Sounds as though someone in management has been tasked with raising the level of spoken English throughout the company and has come up with the idea that it should be spoken everywhere when on company time. Probably didn't get his point over very well as a). the memo was in English and b). was not, therefore, properly understood by staff. The Spanish in aviation are not exactly famous for a high level of spoken and comprehended English, are they?
As for racism, management wanting to eavesdrop, any possible disciplinary action for not speaking English, breaching of civil rights etc. total tosh I would say, very much in the mind of Mike76, no one else!
As for racism, management wanting to eavesdrop, any possible disciplinary action for not speaking English, breaching of civil rights etc. total tosh I would say, very much in the mind of Mike76, no one else!
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The last time I heard about someone not beeing permited to speak it's native language, was about the Nazi's requesting so during WW2.
Even in the aeroplane I speak my native language if the person who I am speaking to understands this language better than english. And I am flying for a british airline
Even in the aeroplane I speak my native language if the person who I am speaking to understands this language better than english. And I am flying for a british airline
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Originally Posted by arc-en-ciel
The last time I heard about someone not beeing permited to speak it's native language, was about the Nazi's.............zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I should have put money on the Nazis being brought into this. Just can't help themselves some people.
Godwin's Law
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Rather than see it as a problem, see it as an opportunity for all in the airline to improve their English and perhaps improve their employability.
Some younger folks (and a few older ones as well) get in a snit when the company 'mandates' a certain standard....however, at my airline English is widely spoken, even amongst the various cabin crew, even though it is not the language of their country.
Why?
These folks seem to strive for a higher standard and have their sights set for bigger/better things.
The company that mandates English is most times doing you a favor.
To think otherwise is...well, I have to say so...backward thinking.
The ones too dumb to realise same need not apply....
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Welsh?
Have you ever spoken English in a crowded pub in wales and noticed how they all start talking welsh suddenly ?
most jobs in wales insist on being able to speak welsh when you see them advertised..
most jobs in wales insist on being able to speak welsh when you see them advertised..
Well I agree with the policy. Having worked in a multi-national company for many years, I dont see it as against your human rights or anything. I believe this rule is part of your contract of employment, and therefore breaking it, is breaking your contract.
It is also immensely rude, and devisive, to your fellow employees who do not understand your language. Do what you want out of earshot, but show some respect for your colleagues when in there presence, please.
It is also immensely rude, and devisive, to your fellow employees who do not understand your language. Do what you want out of earshot, but show some respect for your colleagues when in there presence, please.
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Your company's 'requirement' that all its personnel speak English everywhere has nothing to do with 'race' (People of many races speak English as their mother - and often only - tongue.)
IMO, the edict itself isn't worth getting worked up about, either. There are times when - for flight safety or operational efficiency reasons - it might be reasonable to require you to speak English. You may feel that there are times when that would be unreasonable.
Life's short and there are only so many beats in a heart. It's really not worth getting worked up about it. If there's no flight safety or operational reason (and you can prove it in a court of law) that would proscribe you from speaking Catalan on a particular occasion, then go ahead and do so.
Do you really think anybody will do anything about it?
If they fire you, take them to court (In Spain; it's not an EU matter - yet) and you will win.
Aren't you glad they didn't require you to speak Gaelic?
IMO, the edict itself isn't worth getting worked up about, either. There are times when - for flight safety or operational efficiency reasons - it might be reasonable to require you to speak English. You may feel that there are times when that would be unreasonable.
Life's short and there are only so many beats in a heart. It's really not worth getting worked up about it. If there's no flight safety or operational reason (and you can prove it in a court of law) that would proscribe you from speaking Catalan on a particular occasion, then go ahead and do so.
Do you really think anybody will do anything about it?
If they fire you, take them to court (In Spain; it's not an EU matter - yet) and you will win.
Aren't you glad they didn't require you to speak Gaelic?
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I'm a little surprised to read of airlines forcing English as a cockpit language on aircrew. Presumably the aircrew are given a great deal of training in cockpit English before this requirement is forced upon them?
The ability to use a non-mother tongue second-language in the cockpit in a very high workload situation (eg an emergency) requires a very high degree of fluency and way beyond what is required to make small-talk in the canteen.
The ability to use a non-mother tongue second-language in the cockpit in a very high workload situation (eg an emergency) requires a very high degree of fluency and way beyond what is required to make small-talk in the canteen.
The chances of anyone using Welsh on an airliner flight deck are pretty slim. It is an ancient language and doesn't have any words for anything modern, like 'wheel' or 'fire'......
Listening to 'Jones-the-motor' in Valley village conversing with his staff about the ailments of your car was hilarious - a few Druidic grunts interspersed with English for anything technical. Good chap though - he managed to find me a replacement MG Midget throttle cable at 1700 on a wet Friday evening!
Listening to 'Jones-the-motor' in Valley village conversing with his staff about the ailments of your car was hilarious - a few Druidic grunts interspersed with English for anything technical. Good chap though - he managed to find me a replacement MG Midget throttle cable at 1700 on a wet Friday evening!
Being of a somewhat "twisted" nature, if they are insisting that the only spoken communication is in english, I'd carry a small notebook & pencil in my hip or top pocket & suggest, in english of course, to my colleagues to do the same. It's amazing how quickly a sort of text message-like shorthand develops in any language, and to anyone not involved in it's development, or the conversation, it's almost like a code.
Yes, there are benefits in terms of langauge proficiency etc to constant use, but there are ways to promote this, and it sounds like there's been little or no thought gone into this one. If the mess room's silent for a couple of weeks apart from the scribbling of pencils, they should get the message.
Yes, there are benefits in terms of langauge proficiency etc to constant use, but there are ways to promote this, and it sounds like there's been little or no thought gone into this one. If the mess room's silent for a couple of weeks apart from the scribbling of pencils, they should get the message.
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Interestingly enough, there is currently an advert running for Instructors and Pilots for Air France - fluency in French is required.
I think Mike 76's post is a reflection on his airline trying to improve the standard of spoken English - maybe he has misconstrued the 'encouragement' for 'mandatory'?
I think Mike 76's post is a reflection on his airline trying to improve the standard of spoken English - maybe he has misconstrued the 'encouragement' for 'mandatory'?
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411A
Away from the cockpit a lot of those people aiming at better and grander things ( yuk !!) so just happen to also want to speak their native language. They often speak a better english than the folks around your neck of the wood.
It is just a matter of principle. You MAY speak as many languages there are within the european community.
Any manager who thinks he can dictate what belongs to the most basic of rights should be sent to Mars never to be seen again.
Lord Allmighty !!!!!
This kind of talks scare the living s..t out of me.
Why don't you learn another language ??? It'll broaden your mind and in these times of Alzeimer , it is a proven fact that learning one or more , foreign languages is good for your brain. Ya know things like " new neuronal connections ( no punt intended ) .It also makes you a lot more open to others and changes the perspective you have on the world. You know things like " another point of view " ??? ...........in short, human.
Tempted 411A ?
Away from the cockpit a lot of those people aiming at better and grander things ( yuk !!) so just happen to also want to speak their native language. They often speak a better english than the folks around your neck of the wood.
It is just a matter of principle. You MAY speak as many languages there are within the european community.
Any manager who thinks he can dictate what belongs to the most basic of rights should be sent to Mars never to be seen again.
Lord Allmighty !!!!!
This kind of talks scare the living s..t out of me.Why don't you learn another language ??? It'll broaden your mind and in these times of Alzeimer , it is a proven fact that learning one or more , foreign languages is good for your brain. Ya know things like " new neuronal connections ( no punt intended ) .It also makes you a lot more open to others and changes the perspective you have on the world. You know things like " another point of view " ??? ...........in short, human.
Tempted 411A ?
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Welcome all your comments,
After reflection, it probably doesnt have anything to do with RACE BUT
it does imfringe on ones personal right to speak what language they want,(when not on the aircraft)
I could start naming the AIRLINE, but hey I will just leave it to yourselves to figure it out.
I would agree, it seems to be a case where a manager has over stepped the mark, either to try and make a name for themselves, or just paranoid of what people are talking about. In order to cure their own self insecurity, a BLANKET BAN on ALL LANGUAGES except for ENGLISH seems to be managers way of fixing the situation, (if a situation exists in the first place)
Yes, taking this to court, the company wouldnt have a leg to stand on
So a word of congratulations to the manager,
you really know the staff that work under you
such a sympathetic ear,
imagine if an employee really did have a personal problem,
how difficult if would be to bring this to the attention of the manager,
especially if the manager thinks the world is out there going to get him
I wonder if this decision is was made at a higher level or not....
After reflection, it probably doesnt have anything to do with RACE BUT
it does imfringe on ones personal right to speak what language they want,(when not on the aircraft)
I could start naming the AIRLINE, but hey I will just leave it to yourselves to figure it out.
I would agree, it seems to be a case where a manager has over stepped the mark, either to try and make a name for themselves, or just paranoid of what people are talking about. In order to cure their own self insecurity, a BLANKET BAN on ALL LANGUAGES except for ENGLISH seems to be managers way of fixing the situation, (if a situation exists in the first place)
Yes, taking this to court, the company wouldnt have a leg to stand on
So a word of congratulations to the manager,
you really know the staff that work under you
such a sympathetic ear,
imagine if an employee really did have a personal problem,
how difficult if would be to bring this to the attention of the manager,
especially if the manager thinks the world is out there going to get him
I wonder if this decision is was made at a higher level or not....