Originally Posted by Christmas Sherry (Post 9093524)

There is no unemployment benefit in Spain, unless you have paid into the system for a year.....

In order to be eligible to receive unemployment benefits in Spain, a person must have been employed and paid contributions into the social security system. The amount of benefit received by unemployed workers varies depending on how long they were employed. ... Unemployment benefits are known as "el paro".

Originally Posted by Joannta Claus (Post 9093536)

I live in Portugal and I'm not fluent in Portuguese yet, I have put endless hours into learning, but I haven't really got a gift for languages, so I'm improving constantly but it's slow.

Health care isn't free for me here and I just filled out some paperwork last week but most of the paperwork is in both English and Portuguese, I have never been provided an interpreter or anything like that, even at the hospital.

Maybe the NHS could use Google translate or something like that for less severe things? :shrug:

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed (Post 9093540)

Regardless of the time scale, they have to take language classes if they don't speak Spanish and want to claim the equivalent of job seekers allowance.

Originally Posted by Withano (Post 9093529)

Why would translating a letter or a bill into a different language cos anybody any money? Effective communication just isnt required in some jobs so thats not an issue either...
And I disagree, if you wanted to work in Greece tomorrow for a job that doesnt require an extensive comprehension of the Greek language, then go for it. Language classes would be optional for you too.

Originally Posted by Brillopad (Post 9093550)

I wouldn't be going to Greece or anywhere else to take from a system I had never paid into to the detriment of the locals. I don't expect something for nothing and have no time for those that do.

We have limited resources and cannot support those that can't support themselves whether that be benefits, health care, housing, education etc. Practically or Morally there really is no such thing as 'for free'. Britain and the British taxpayer are not a charity or a bank to be milked by the rest of the world.

For every interpreter paid for someone else is likely to be refused certain treatments or have a procedure cancelled - when will people get it, there is not enough money in the pot and everyone suffers when money is wasted on non-essential services such as interpreters.

Originally Posted by Joannta Claus (Post 9093536)

I live in Portugal and I'm not fluent in Portuguese yet, I have put endless hours into learning, but I haven't really got a gift for languages, so I'm improving constantly but it's slow.

Health care isn't free for me here and I just filled out some paperwork last week but most of the paperwork is in both English and Portuguese, I have never been provided an interpreter or anything like that, even at the hospital.

Maybe the NHS could use Google translate or something like that for less severe things? :shrug:

Originally Posted by A Charlie Doherty Christmas (Post 9093549)

I'd learn the language if I moved abroad so people should here.

Originally Posted by A Charlie Doherty Christmas (Post 9093549)

I'd learn the language if I moved abroad so people should here.

Originally Posted by Withano (Post 9093554)

Youve kind of got an 'I should be the priority because I've lived here longer' attitude, and I think thats where and why we disagree. Equal rights for all UK citizens imo.

Originally Posted by Brillopad (Post 9093562)

I do believe those that have paid in should get priority over those that haven't. What is wrong with that?

Otherwise the system is totally flawed and will continue to encourage those that haven't paid in to take whilst giving nothing back and lead to the eventual collapse of the NHS. Then everyone will either have to take out private insurance to go without. No more freebies for anyone.

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed (Post 9093555)

Hi Jess,

You’re absolutely right. Some people learn a language easily whilst others find it very difficult. I tried to learn Portuguese btw and just gave up because I found it too difficult. I'm fluent in two languages and speak quite a bit of a third language but Portuguese proved to be really tough.

One of the things that is really noticeable in France is, so few English residents speak enough French to do anything more than buy a baguette in the local patisserie.

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed (Post 9093555)

Hi Jess,

You’re absolutely right. Some people learn a language easily whilst others find it very difficult. I tried to learn Portuguese btw and just gave up because I found it too difficult. I'm fluent in two languages and speak quite a bit of a third language but Portuguese proved to be really tough.

One of the things that is really noticeable in France is, so few English residents speak enough French to do anything more than buy a baguette in the local patisserie.

Originally Posted by Withano (Post 9093563)

So the homeless would be ****ed then. Good job youre not running the country.

Originally Posted by Brillopad (Post 9093577)

If they were born here they would be entitled. Those coming here to take advantage of our NHS and benefits system would not be.

You seem to have a money grows on trees mentally and somehow everything will be ok way of thing. A reality check would be good.

Originally Posted by Joannta Claus (Post 9093570)

Yeah, it's just harder for some people, I think. I do believe everyone should make an effort to learn the language of whatever country they are in but it's tough to just expect people to be conversational when it's not that simple.

I love Portuguese and I learn new words and grammar rules every day and to be denied health care even though I make this effort would really crush me.

Speaking of bakeries, the man who works at my local one always hears the wrong number of pieces if bread that I want and he gets extremely focused when I walk in so he doesn't give me fourteen instead of four again. :joker:

Originally Posted by Withano (Post 9093579)

Oh right.. So it really was anout nationality all along... Is this one of those 'its not racism, its patriotism' moments.

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed (Post 9093555)

Hi Jess,

You’re absolutely right. Some people learn a language easily whilst others find it very difficult. I tried to learn Portuguese btw and just gave up because I found it too difficult. I'm fluent in two languages and speak quite a bit of a third language but Portuguese proved to be really tough.

One of the things that is really noticeable in France is, so few English residents speak enough French to do anything more than buy a baguette in the local patisserie.

Originally Posted by Withano (Post 9093563)

So the homeless would be ****ed then. Good job youre not running the country.

Originally Posted by Brillopad (Post 9093601)

Good job your'e not as we probably would not have an NHS now. I hope you can afford private insurance.

Originally Posted by North Star Monkey (Post 9093475)

Millions of pounds are spent every year in Britain on translation services and interpreters.
The NHS alone spends £64,000 per day on interpreters.
When people go to live abroad in Spain for example all that paperwork is in Spanish.
So why is Britain spending all this money on this?
This money would be much better spent on teaching foreigners how to speak and read English helping them in the process.
All these translation services are doing is just leaving non English speaking foreigners stuck without being able to read,speak or understand the people in the country they live in with no motivation or need to learn English.
This is a counterproductive waste of tax payers money and will not end while we as a country pander to it.
So i say we'd be far better off spending the money on education which will help everybody.