Page 4 - ELG1601 Aug-Sep Issue 439

Page 4 ELBrexit news August / September 2016

Brexit causes worries Survey:

ANDREA PÉREZ
writes non-EU
referendum, with more than but no slump in ELT
THE UK has seen a wave of xen-
ophobic attacks since the Brexit
500 racist incidents recorded in students
the weeks since the 23 June EU
membership vote, the Independ- nervous
ent reports.
The educational sector has been
affected too. A black first-year
student found the words ‘monkey’ A SURVEY conducted by
and ‘nigga’ written on a bunch of Hobson Solutions on 1,014 inter-
bananas in her hall of residence national students, 87 per cent of
at the University of Warwick, the whom were from non-EU coun-
Guardian reported. ‘Other EU’ tries, highlighted the extent to
nationals, especially the Polish which Brexit will impact inter-
community, plus British Asians national students’ decisions.
and other ethnic minorities, have Forty-three per cent of stu-
been increasingly targeted by dents reported that Brexit had
racists. According to the Metro affected their thinking – and
newspaper, a woman told a Polish almost 70 per cent of these indi-
student at Manchester University courses from Italy, and only had cated they are now less likely
that he should be ‘scared’ and pre- a couple of inquiries about visas to study in the UK, with 13 per
pared to have to get a visa to be for the UK. He said that he did cent stating they definitely won’t
able to stay in the country. not foresee a drop in bookings for consider this option.
The government of new prime two reasons. First of all, the pound The main reason given was a
minister Theresa May has prom- sterling is now weaker, making the perception of the UK as unwel-
ised to tackle this issue. The harsh campuses can be assured this will UK a cheaper destination. The UK coming, tied in with recent reports
international student visa regime be taken extremely seriously,’ the is always ‘the number one destina- of racism and xenophobia. Other
imposed by May when she was Russell Group, which represents 24 tion’ for prospective EFL students. reasons were more practical:
home secretary led students to leading UK research universities, However, in the past couple of increased visa difficulties and gain-
blame her for this increase in said in a statement on the EU ref- years the agency has seen figures ing employment after graduation,
xenophobia. A report by various erendum results and the increase in for bookings in UK and Ireland and a sense that the UK is now a
OPEN DOORS Glasgow school Live Languages threw a party in Glasgow school Live Languages threw a party in
social groups and supported by racist attacks. ‘Now more than ever OPEN DOORS virtually being swapped – with the less financially viable option.
the Institute of Race Relations we should ensure our campuses are early July to show that the city, which voted overwhelmingly to pound being so strong against the However, around 17 per cent of
said that May and her predecessor places where diversity is welcomed, remain, still welcomed its foreign students. As well as students euro, the UK was too expensive. respondents said the UK’s decision
David Cameron helped create the cherished and respected. Our uni- and staff, 50 per cent of whom are EU citizens, the event was Now this could change. to leave the EU makes the country
‘hostile environment’ that paved versities have always warmly attended by representatives of the Children’s Hospital, Second, he observed that with a more attractive study destination.
the way for post-referendum rac- welcomed people from different Refuweegees and Glasgow University (pics: Live Languages) the economic crisis in Italy people Some of them believe the UK will
ism, the Independent reported. cultures, ethnicities and beliefs.’ are very focused on learning Eng- now become more welcoming to
‘We simply will not tolerate The organisation is especially con- Higher education has been England. The leader of Hastings lish. The only worry could be the international students (plausibly an
abuse of this sort, and any student cerned ‘by reports of increasing especially affected by the refer- Borough Council said, ‘This was fate of students going to the UK option chosen by non-EU students),
or staff member who experiences xenophobic incidents and how this endum result. Universities UK reported on German television and on ‘work and study’ programmes while others mention the weakness
racism or xenophobia on or off our could impact on our communities’. calculates that fees paid by EU led to a spate of holiday accom- or to attend university: they could of the pound, which makes British
students totalled £600 million in modation cancellations by German soon need a visa or work permit, degrees comparatively cheap – a
2014–15, and that students from visitors. Not only are these nasty and could be faced with high fees statement supported by 70 per cent
EL Gazette August & September Europe spend £1.49 billion a year racists behaving in an illegal and and no access to grants and loans. of all respondents.
despicable way, they’re damaging
When asked what universi-
in off-campus costs such as rent
The EL Gazette talked to
editions combined and subsistence, the Guardian the local economy too.’ The econ- ASEPROCE, the main language ties could do to make the UK a
In order to give to us the opportunity to carry extensive cov- reported. One of the flagship pro- omy of the area depends heavily on travel association in Spain. ‘No more attractive study destina-
erage of Brexit together with our annual EL Gazette Centres grammes of the EU will be affected the language travel industry. The one has cancelled any English tion, students responded with a
of Excellence rankings, we are combining the August and too. The Erasmus+ exchange pro- British Council estimates that the courses because, when the refer- well-known triad of factors: schol-
September issues into one bigger issue this year. gramme is also at risk for the UK. ELT industry is worth more than endum happened, all the courses arships, post-study work visas and
To take account of this, all paying print subscribers More than 200,000 UK students £1bn a year to the UK economy. had been already booked. We lower tuition fees. Many students
will have their subscriptions extended for a further have taken part of this programme, The EL Gazette asked agents in will see the consequences of also expressed a need for reassur-
month. For details of how to get a print subscription which started in 1987 and is paid Italy and Spain for their views on this in one or two years,’ said a ance and clarity on the effects of
to EL Gazette, go to www.webscribe.co.uk/magazine/ for with EU funding. the UK ELT market. Paolo Baril- spokesperson. ‘The UK has been Brexit on higher education.
elgazette. To sign up to our free digital edition online The English language industry lari of Lingue Nel Mondo travel always the favourite destination With uncertainty over the
or to download the EL Gazette news app for smart- has also been hit. According to agency in Rome told the Gazette but these things will influence future of exchange programmes
phones and tablets – currently also free – see www. the Argus local newspaper, Ger- that he has not yet observed any people.’ After the Brexit result, and research funding, the indus-
elgazette.com/subscribe.html. man students were racially abused effects of Brexit or post-Brexit rac- the future of tens of thousands of try is probably asking itself the
in Hastings on the south coast of ism on bookings of UK language students is up in the air.  same question. 

Can you European Schools face fallout

prove it? CLAUDIA CIVININI a rare resource. potentially include conditions reassure UK staff, students and

writes
Secretary-general of Euro-
pean Schools Kari Kivinen for European Schools. families in our schools.’
The schools employ around
In a communication to Euro-
4.000 teachers – 120 are seconded
told the Gazette, ‘There is an
pean Schools principals, Kivinen
EUROPEAN
THE
Schools
Then we’ll group has been dealing with a unbelievable number of pupils from the UK at the moment. said, ‘Almost entirely without
in the anglophone section that
The shortage of seconded
shortage of English-speaking
exception all our students have
teachers for years. Could Brexit
are not English or Irish. Eng-
teachers can be offset by
chosen English as L1, L2, L3 or
print it. worsen the situation? lish-medium education is very recruiting teachers locally. If L4 and all our schools have an
European Schools were cre-
popular and there is always a
teachers are to teach English
anglophone section. So, what-
need for anglophone teachers.’
as a mother tongue (L1) their
ever happens, English language
ated in 1953 for the children of
Some countries second fewer
EU officials posted abroad. At
present there are ten European teachers than their quota. Oth- English proficiency needs to is, and will remain, an essential
part of European schooling.
be native-speaker equivalent.
Schools, located in Belgium, ers, like the UK, send more Requirements for those teach- ‘We need Anglophone teachers
Italy, Germany, France, Lux- – even though in 2013 the UK ing English as an L2 or subjects – seconded and locally recruited
embourg and the UK (the latter didn’t renew some contracts, in English is lower (around C1), – now and in the future.’
is scheduled to close in 2017 as reported by politico.eu, according to Kivinen. Mr Daniel Gassner, director of
according to politico.eu). Their over fear that the proportion- Around half of the students Europäische Schule Karlsruhe,
mission is to offer students from ality principle wasn’t being graduating with a European Bac- Germany, told the Gazette that
Get your story heard different member states the same respected and costs were not calaureat from European Schools the school hasn’t received any
go on to study at UK universities.
education they would receive at
seconded teacher from the UK
equally shared between the
home, and each member state member states. But Kivinen While EU students’ status in the since 2013. The institution is
seconds a number of teachers told the Gazette, ‘We are not UK has been confirmed for this now relying on locally recruited
that is, ideally, proportional to blaming the UK, they are still coming academic year, things teachers, teachers seconded
EL Gazette the number of students studying sending more than their quota.’ could change from 2017. ‘We from Ireland and teachers from
When asked whether Brexit
in their language.
don’t know how this is going to
the US, a new phenomenon in
The problem is that English
www.elgazette.com is a victim of its popularity. would worsen this situation, Dr develop,’ Kivinen commented. European Schools. ‘Brexit won’t
Kivinen replied it was too early
He concluded by saying, ‘We
make the situation worse, we are
The anglophone sections are to know, but that he ‘is not too [European Schools] are extremely already used to [anglophone
over-enrolled, leading to Eng- pessimistic’, expressing his faith sad about what happened. We teacher] shortages,’ Gassner
lish-speaking teachers becoming in negotiations which could are doing our best to support and concluded. 
p04-05_ELG0816.indd 1 8/12/2016 4:45:50 PM