How To Improve Immigrants' English (1940s Instructional Film) [HD]

How To Improve Immigrants' English (1940s Instructional Film) [HD]. Originally called '48 Paddington Street', British Pathe issued this as a cinema newsreel in the 1940s, although it was produced by 'British Instructional Films Ltd'

Today the video comes across as quite harsh in its tone, and looks a little racist perhaps.

Others have said the clip looks like the basis for a Two Ronnies sketch. Several comedy characters in recent years such as Matt Lucas' Marjorie Dawes in Little Britain or Catherine Tate's translator have parodied this kind of attitude towards people who speak English as a second language.

Produced by British Instructional Films Ltd, Welwyn Garden City, for British Pathe Ltd.

Directed by Mary Field
Photographed by Frank Mundy
Recordist - D. Howells

Cast:
The Professor - A. Lloyd James (Secretary to the BBC Committee on Spoken English)
The Student - Dr. M. D. Ratnasuriya B.A.. Ph.D.

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[DjAshleyParr]

this is cool, i learned why indian ppl sound similar when they are speaking english! interesting video.

[Londonfogey]

@rudeboydreaming Chill out, it was just a little observation on the modern predisposition to find offence in everything...and good luck with building your better world!

[rudeboydreaming]

@Londonfogey Does this mean that you think this video is racist? Or do you mean that you think others would find it racist? What does it mean to you that you can recognize what others find offensive? Don't you find it strange that you feel it is ok to prioritize your feelings (of NOT being offended) over those that do? Why do you think your opinion matters more? Would it not be a better world if we kept others from feeling hurt, rather than force others to stop feeling pain?

[Nukle0n]

@Londonfogey He's illustrating an example and is not using it to mock. Unless the Sinhalese guy was seriously out for trouble I don't think there'd be a case.

[Londonfogey]

Fantastic! The tutor would nowadays be sacked for 'racism' because he imitates the Indian accent...

[Dddddorian]

@GRAVYRAQUEPz

That lock and knob were on the wrong side of that door; obviously not a real office but an imporvised set.

.

cheers.

from,

del-boy.

[funnyfacerful]

unintentional comedy <3

[drifter105]

this is genius

[GRAVYRAQUEPz]

are door knobs at that time is at the head level?

[jn2585]

Priorities are all wrong, this poor imigrant doesn't even know where he lives, no point dithering over accents and rythm when he's still wandering the streets :)