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MINISTERIAL FOREWORD
The importance of supporting the acquisition of English
language skills for those for whom English is a second or
other language is at the core of participation in a
democratic society. Without adequate language skills,
people can neither fully participate in their local and
national communities nor are they given the opportunity to
meet their full potential. New Scots - as the First
Minister's Fresh Talent Initiative outlines - are key to
the future of Scotland. Our changing demography reinforces
the need for a coherent, learner-centred approach to these
challenges.
Scotland has a long history of supporting second
language acquisition. Our history has been one punctuated
by immigration, migration and emigration. Thus, many of us
are the descendants of immigrants, migrants and/or émigrés
some of whom were also constrained - amongst other factors
- by barriers to them acquiring full language skills.
This consultation document proposes ways in which the
Scottish Executive and its agencies, providers of English
for Speakers of Other Languages (
ESOL), local government, employers, the
wider education community and other local services can all
work better in meeting the needs of
ESOL learners, Scottish society and our
economy. The commitment of
ESOL practitioners and organisations
working with
ESOL learners is further illustrated by
the efforts of the many individuals who contributed to the
process of informing this document at its various stages of
development.
July 2005
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