Make all efforts to learn English

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I write this letter with respect to the commentary, We don’t want your Patios, UWI, which was published in The Gleaner, on September 8.

Jamaica needs to move forward. Millions and millions of immigrants come to USA, Canada and UK to make the aforementioned countries and themselves prosperous.

With the exception of Canada, all of USA speaks American English, and UK speaks British English. Many of the immigrants speak many different dialects and none of them speak the English language for the purpose of this letter.

The aforementioned countries are not going to teach the different dialects in public schools, or develop courses to teach the different dialects at the university level, because this is not going to create growth and develop their economy.

In fact, the population of Hispanics in the USA is 62.1 million. When they are enrolled in public schools, they are taught American English.

Therefore, immigrants know they must learn the English language on their own, if they are not enrolled in a public school. They may buy basic English books, and get friends, relatives to help them to read and write English language. They know they need to learn to read and write English so at least they can get a job, etc.

Those immigrants in the USA study for their General Education Development (GED), which is a high school diploma, so they and their family can live a better standard of life.

Also many of them attend night schools, community colleges, and universities to get their high schools diploma and their college or universities degrees.

When immigrants do the above, it makes the aforementioned countries more prosperous and wealthy.

So for those students in Jamaica, who are having difficulties at least getting a passing grade in English language, I would suggest they read more.

For example, the newspaper, or any reading material that will help them to understand and improve their grades in English language. Also I suggest they have a notebook, and make notes of unfamiliar words, and look them up in a dictionary. Don’t be afraid to use them in regular conversation followed by simpler words.

Millions of Jamaicans speak Jamaican Creole from the inception. They have got good grades in English language and many of them have attended universities, attained many degrees, and have got great jobs and are very successful – in Jamaica or overseas.

They never needed Creole to be taught in schools to get good grades in English language. They made every effort to study hard to get good grades in English language, and many of them read every day.

I implore all students to make every effort to get good grades in England language so they will create more growth and develop the economy of Jamaica.

CARGILL KELLY