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| Aug 2008 |
Per ESPN, the LGPA Tour has a new policy:
The reportedly new rule that will force foreign members who have been on tour for two years to pass an English oral evaluation test or face a suspension is harsh. And it certainly does not send a very positive message when the game continues to grow to all parts of the globe.
English conversation in two years? Are you kidding me?
It takes a lot of time and effort to learn a new language and be able to speak it proficiently. Certain people master English faster than the others, not just because of their linguistic talent or lack thereof, but because of their mother tongue. A person who speaks European language may find English easier to learn than…say, a Japanese or Chinese person. (BTW — it's much easier to go from Korean to Japanese or vice versa because their grammar, etc. is so similar.)
So instead of hiring an interpreter, which may be easier, all foreign golfers must pass an English conversation test in two years or else. Hmm. Not sure when they are supposed to practice their swing and have some sort of life and study English.
P.S. Yes, I know a talented foreign golfer can study English before doing the tour. But the foreign golfer probably lives in her own non-English-speaking country, which means it's going to be much harder to learn English.
