Only 14% of Spanish academics working in British universities would have moved to the UK under current circumstances. Considering the consequences of the UK decision to leave the European Union, 46% would not have moved to Britain and 40% are unsure of what their choice might have been. The views of the Spanish academic community were captured in a recent survey by Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom (SRUK), a non-profit society with some 600 members.

A second survey, ran by SRUK among students and researchers in Madrid, revealed that almost 72% of respondents consider the UK less attractive now than before the Brexit referendum.

The two studies were carried out between November 2017 and January 2018. Different concerns emerge depending on whether respondents were based in the UK or in Spain.

Spanish academics in Britain are anxious about access to research funding (90% expect major or dramatic impacts), bureaucracy associated to living and working in the UK (87%), and the consequences of Brexit for the British economy (81%). This signals a loss of trust compared to 2016, when a similar survey was carried out. At that time only 62% of respondend were concerned by the possible loss of European funds and 82% worried about the bureaucracy associated with permanent residence.

There are about 3,500 Spanish scientists working in the UK, a number that rises to 5,000 if R&D public institutions, companies and administration are taken into account. The majority of those who answered the SRUK questions say that Brexit will have major or dramatic impacts at a personal (45%) and professional (49%) level. 42% are waiting for the outcome of the UK-EU negotiations to decide what to do, whereas 24% have already changed plans due to Brexit.

If the UK loses appeal, Spain seems to gain from the situation. 45% of respondent said they would return to Spain if they were to leave Britain, against 30% last year. Only 44% would go to another EU country now, against 60% a year ago, and 10% would consider a move outside the EU.

A second questionnaire was distributed in November among participants in CienciaUK, an annual event organised by SRUK in Spain to inform students and researchers about opportunities in Britain. In this case respondents were mostly students. For 72% of them, the UK is less attractive now than before the EU referendum. Their main concern for the future is about mobility and free movement, as 56.25% said they were considering moving to the UK in the next two years.

A report summarising the findings of the surveys was submitted as evidence to the Brexit enquiry of the House of Commons science and technology committee. SRUK said the UK should provide as soon as possible concrete details on how to apply for settled status, the new legal framework that will grant rights to EU nationals in the UK after Brexit. The Society also called for an easy and affordable visa system for new arrivals and recommended to improve communications to show that the UK is open to research.

SRUK also suggested to continue the UK participation in EU research programmes. Concerns and suggestions were shared at a Brexit summit held by the House of Commons science and technology on February 23 (video).

The Wellcome Trust, Europe’s biggest charitable funder of medical research, also called for continued participation in EU’s research programmes. They said the UK should become an associated country, contributing financially and retaining a voice in setting research strategies.

The UK is currently the second-largest recipient of competitive research funding from the EU. But a study has found that academics and institutions across Europe, and particularly in Germany, could make significant gains as Brexit shakes up the European higher education landscape.

 

Claudia Delpero © all rights reserved.
Photo via Pixabay.

The perception and understanding of immigration to Europe varies depending on countries. Northern European states, plus Spain and Portugal, are generally positive, while Central and Eastern Europe and other Mediterranean countries tend to have negative views about it.

The attitudes were revealed in the newly released Eurobarometer survey on the integration of immigrants in the European Union. Little more than half (57%) of the over 28,000 respondents across the EU said they would feel comfortable having social relations (being friends, colleagues, family members, having doctors, neighbours or managers) with residents not originally from their country, while 34% said they would not.

But figures hide major differences across countries. In Spain and Sweden (both 83%), Ireland (80%), the Netherlands and Portugal (both 79%), around eight in ten respondents feel comfortable having any of the explored social relations with an immigrant. In Bulgaria (15%) and Hungary (17%), instead, the situation is dramatically different and the same pattern has been observed in all the relationships considered in the research.

The survey found a link between age, education levels and economic circumstances of respondents and their attitude, with younger, educated and better-off people generally being more open to migration.

Interactions

However, less than half (40%) of respondents said that they have immigrant friends or family members currently residing in their country. Sweden (48%), Spain and Ireland (40%) have the highest proportion, while the percentage is low in Central and Eastern Europe (around 25%). This is not suprising given that in countries like Bulgaria and Romania immigrants are only about 1% of the population, compared with the EU average of 6.9%.

At the EU level, 61% of respondents interact with immigrants at least weekly and 37% daily,
whether it is about exchanging a few words or doing an activity together. The places where interactions are more frequent are the neighbourhood and the workplace. People living in large towns are also more likely to respond positively to this question.

Perceptions

Almost half of people polled (47%) thought there are at least as many illegal immigrants in their country as those legally staying, while 39% said that the proportion of legal immigrants is higher. (In 2016, 984,000 third-country nationals were found to be illegally present in the EU, while 21.6 million were legally resident on 1st January 2017.) Countries on the Mediterranean coast or at the Eastern border of the EU have the most negative views.

Nearly four in ten (38%) Europeans think that immigration from outside the EU is more of a
problem than an opportunity and 31% see it as equally a problem and an opportunity. Once again attitudes are more positive in Northern European states and rather negative in Eastern and Mediterranean countries (with the exceptions of Spain and Portugal.)

In 16 of the 28 EU countries, less than half of those polled agree that immigrants have a positive effect on the economy. Three countries, however, stand out for a high proportion of people agreeing with this statement: Ireland (72%), the United Kingdom (69%), and Sweden (69%).

A majority of respondents also believe that immigrants are a burden on their country’s welfare system, from 51% in Ireland to 74% in Hungary and 75% in Malta and Greece. In five countries, however, the majority disagree: Luxembourg (66%), France (58%), Spain (52%), Finland and the UK (both 50%).

Integration

Just over half of Europeans say that integration of immigrants is successful, but again this varies widely between states.

A majority of Europeans think that for integration, it is ‘very important’ that immigrants speak the language of the country they move to (68%), contribute to its welfare system by paying taxes (62%) and are committed to the values and norms of society (56%). Other important factors are having the qualifications and skills to find a job, feeling like a member of the society and having ‘locals’ as friends.

Just over two thirds (68%) think it is important to obtain the citizenship of the host country and 66% believe civic participation (taking part in organisations or local elections) plays a role too.

On the other hand, among the obstacles to integration, people see limited efforts by the person to integrate, difficulties finding a job and facing discrimination.

Most respondents in all countries think that difficulties in accessing long term residence
permits could be an obstacle too, and in Portugal, the Netherlands, Greece and Sweden more than 90% hold this view.

While a majority say that not being able to bring along family members could limit integration, the percentage varies from 59% in Estonia to 90% in Portugal and Greece. More than half of respondents also think so in the UK, which has one of the most restrictive laws in Europe in this regard.

69% of people surveyed believe that fostering integration is a necessary investment for their country and actions that could help include offering language courses upon arrival (88%). Granting the right to vote in local elections is also important, according to the research. Portugal (70%), Sweden (71%), the United Kingdom (72%) Spain (73%) and Ireland (74%) have the highest percentages of those agreeing that extending or maintaining the right to vote in local elections would aid integration.

In all but one state (Hungary), a majority of respondents say that giving everyone the same rights in access to education, healthcare and social protection helps people integrate.

Information

The media play their part too in shaping these attitudes, and the majority of respondents said the way media portray immigrants can be an obstacle to integration. 39% say that the media presentation of immigrants is objective, while 36% say that it is too negative. The highest proportion of those who believe that the media are too negative is the UK (54%), the Netherlands (55%) and Denmark (59%).

In 23 of the 28 Member States, less than half of those surveyed said that they feel well
informed about immigration and integration matters.

The survey was carried out in October 2017 and included both EU and non-EU citizens.

 

Claudia Delpero all rights reserved.
Photo via Pixabay.

It is a common belief that you have to learn a language from early childhood to be fully proficient in it. True, the age at which a language is learnt matters, as at different ages we have different strengths and weaknesses, so we learn differently. But adulthood does not need to be a barrier to language learning. For example, becoming literate in primary school is a huge boost for memorising. Developing abstract thought during secondary education allows us to lift learning to a new level. Discipline to work and focus on a target make young adults very good learners in yet another way. And onwards and upwards with analysis, deductive reasoning and more skills developed with maturity.

So we can learn new languages to whatever level is required of us at any age really. We can always become proficient in another language if we have the opportunity and necessity to learn it, if that language is meaningful to us and if we are prepared to work through a considerable amount of discomfort. In other words, there are at least three factors that are more powerful than age in learning a language: Life, Love and Effort.

Life

There is a big difference in learning a language in a classroom and learning it through life in a country where that language is spoken. The latter is a far more powerful predictor of our learning outcome than our age. We all know this intuitively, so much so that we take it for granted.

The reason is the so-called social fact. This is a sociology concept. Social facts are ways of thinking, feeling and acting that are collectively established in a particular society to the extent that no individual can escape them through choice. Social facts are hence external to the person and they are constraining in nature. Conforming to social facts is a necessary condition for social participation.

Language is a mighty social fact. For example, if I only knew the Finnish language in the UK, I would not get far. I could not read street signs, nor the names of the products I am buying. I could only communicate by facial expressions, mime and tone of voice, as my words would mean nothing to my interlocutors. I could not even react to anything anyone else says. If you want to live in a society, you need to learn its language. No other choice.

If we had the possibility to choose another language and still being understood, that language would not be a social fact. This may be the situation of an expat only mixing with other expats and speaking a different language to that of the country where they live. But they would not be participating in the social life of that country.

It is much harder to learn a language without the external constraint of the social fact. So we tend to learn the language that is our local social fact, but only to the extent we need to use it and no more. If we want to learn it better, we need to create an external requirement for us to improve, such as changing profession, writing for publishing or… something else.

Love

Many adults learn a new language to an exceptionally high standard by combining the power of social fact with another formidable force: Love. Love moves mountains, including when it is about becoming an advanced bilingual person. The obvious reason is the high level of motivation during the early phase of the relationship. But love opens some other unique learning opportunities.

When we romantically commit to a native, we get a privileged access to the life of his or her family and friends. We access authentic language use and can take part in it, both in the public and in the private domain, in a way that is usually not accessible to learners.

To conduct an adult relationship in our partner’s language we have to find nuance and sophistication in communicating intimate, meaningful and potentially conflict inducing topics. And thanks to the closeness, we get corrections that other people would not offer out of politeness. The ability to give and receive learning feedback safely is also the power of love.

Effort

Can you recall the feeling of discomfort in learning another language at school? That was not because of lack of talent. It was the feeling of the brain making new connections, otherwise known as learning. Learning to live everyday life in a new language is a task much larger than any we normally undertake at school.

To achieve that effortless state, a substantial amount of discomfort must be endured over a prolonged period of time. And unless we live with native speakers, we do not even get the chance to put ourselves through enough discomfort.

However, prolonged and progressive study of a foreign language at school prepares us to interact faster when we do get a chance.

For example, I started learning English at school in Finland when I was 9. When I first arrived in the UK, aged 20, I could hardly get a word out of my mouth, but I understood a lot and could struggle through a newspaper. In two weeks I was speaking intermediate English and getting by. Learning more would have required considerable effort.

I moved to Italy aged 23 knowing no Italian at all. I immediately started an intensive language course. I was living with my Italian boyfriend and Italian students who spoke English at my level. Soon I realized that to make a breakthrough I had to tell everyone to not speak English with me. In 6 months, I was speaking intermediate Italian and getting by. In 12 months I was accepted at university. In 3 years my Italian overtook my English.

In Italian I had all three elements: the constraint of a social fact, love and masses of self-inflicted discomfort in the form of academic study in the local language. Starting English at age 9 and starting Italian at age 23 made virtually no difference to my long-term learning outcome.

In my work with bilingual families I often get asked which languages should be part of children’s life for them to become bilingual. The rule of thumb is Life and Love. What language is the social fact outside the door? Your child needs that language. What is the language of the fundamental bond between you, the parent, and your child? Your child will need the language he or she is loved in.

In many families Life and Love mean learning 2 or 3 languages. In others, it will be one. Either way is fine. We learn languages at different ages as and when we need them, and to the level we need them, but always with great Effort.

 

Soile Pietikäinen © all rights reserved.

The author is a sociologist specialised in bilingual family interaction. She helps families through private bilingual family consultancy and is the founder of Bilingual Potential, an ethical business dedicated to every child’s right to learn and use the language of his or her parents, as defined in the Article 30 of the UN Convention of the Right of the Child.

On 15 and 29 May the European Bookshop in London hosts two free events where parents can ask Soile anything about bilingual family and bilingual parenting. To book a seat at the Bilingual Cake Q&A click here.

Read also: How to manage bilingualism at home: understanding children’s response.

Photo courtesy Pixabay.

What will we think of Brexit in 30 or 40 years? It is impossible to know, but as a start, we should remember what it was about. Such is the ambition of French photographer Lionel Derimais, who is recording the history of Brexit in video.

Originally from Paris, Lionel studied in New York and lived in Brussels, Tokyo, Beijing, and on and off in London, where he is currently based. In 1982, the first time he moved across the Channel, he photographed the area of Canary Wharf, the financial district in east London. “There was nothing there at the time. Now it’s all skyscrapers. When I look at these photos now, they seem old and dated. But they also show the fast pace at which the country has modernised,” he says. “In 1982 London was dark. There was a great atmosphere, though. The British eccentricity was more visible. Now there is a corporate approach to life, everything is determined by real estate interests and small quality shops that still thrive in other European cities have almost disappeared.”

A lot can be said through photography and Lionel’s favourite works, which he publishes in outlets such as the New York Times, Le Monde and El Pais, are those telling people’s stories and illustrating social life. This is also why, in October 2016, he started to film short video interviews asking people what they thought of Brexit. To date, he has collected 45 interviews, all published on the website “Brexit Video“. A simple setting, always the same questions, the idea is to deliver the memory of these times to history.

“We are living through a historical moment and I thought that should be recorded,” he explains. “Everyone talks about Brexit and everyone is bored about Brexit, but I think, like the pictures of Canary Wharf 30 years ago, we will be happy to watch these videos in 30 years time. They will look old and dated. What will ‘take back control’ mean in 30 years? Probably nothing. The point is that we tend to forget. In fact, we are already forgetting.”

 

There is no particular criteria to select interviewees, he says, and the choice often depends on opportunity or casual encouters. “There are only 17 women out of 45 interviewees, and only few interviewees from outside London,” he says. “I am looking to re-balance that. I want to do as many interviews as I can and hope to exhibit them one day.”

Lionel has been trying to interview people who voted to remain or to leave the European Union in equal numbers. “But those who voted leave do not want to speak,” he adds. “On the other hand, Brexiteers who do speak out are the only persons who seem hopeful about the future. Interviewees are asked to describe in one word how they feel about Brexit and the answer is almost always different. Most feelings are negative: upset, muddled, betrayed, sad, absurd, apprehensive are some examples. Only people who voted for Brexit are positive, because they believe it will be great in 20 or 30 years, hope is on their side.”

 

Although there is no video recording, we have asked Lionel to answer the same questions he asks in his interviews.

What were your feelings on Brexit day?

I was stunned. I was in Paris that morning with my Irish girlfriend, who had joined me in France after voting. When I switched on the French TV, for the first thirty seconds I thought I did not understand. Then they showed the newspapers and it was clear.

What did you think when the referendum was called? Did you foresee the result?

I did not anticipate the result. Just shortly before the vote, I worked on some stories for French newspapers outside London and we could see that everyone was voting to leave. The writing was on the wall.

Has this situation changed the image of the UK?

When you think of all British people looking to get EU passports or moving to France, you can see this is a huge blow to a certain image of England. One thing that I loved about England was the sense of trust that everyone had in each other. For example, to prove his identity to a ‘bobby’, a friend of mine showed a letter he had in the pockets from that morning. In France you’d need an ID. There was this atmosphere of trust and freedom that I never really felt in France. In France trust in each other was destroyed by the war, as many people were prepared to work with the Nazis. I am afraid Brexit will have a similar long-lasting effect and the loss of trust will be one of its biggest impacts in society.

Has Brexit caused any changes to your life?

Yes, as a photographer I have a lot less work. England, or at least London, used to be in international news every day. It was about fashion, sports, lifestyle, finance, politics… Now it is no longer in the news every day and if it is, it’s all about Brexit.

Do you have a personal story to share regarding Brexit?

I was interviewing the Dutch husband of a British friend and she was waiting from distance with their dog. We were by the sea, in Hampshire. An English couple came by and asked her what we were doing. She told them it was an interview about Brexit. He said: “Good, let’s get rid of those f***g foreigners!” Besides the accident itself, these events make you think of kids who grow up now, and their first memories will be about Brexit.

What is the word that best describes how you feel?

Hopeful. I hope even though Brexit is happening, it might help us improve. I have no idea what, and when I see populist trends in Europe, like in Italy these days, I think it might get worse before it gets better.