Riddle me this, Batman

[SengaKitty]

Why is it, that just because I spent the last four years of my educational life in another country and graduated a high school in Israel, the federal government mandates I take an English proficiency test before I can start college? Oh, and that I have to pay $100 for said test? I'll pay it, because I'm tired of finding reasons to put off starting college, but still. What sense does that make? Really? Can anyone explain this to me?

[Bramble]

I must say it... If it makes sense it's not allowed! But I have no idea really. Maybe because it wasn't an english HS diploma? But really? That's got me stumped.

[SengaKitty]

Well, considering I've spent 19 out of the 23 years I've been alive in the US, and my entire family was born in America, one would think they'd realize I speak English.

[NightWatch]

U a speaka da Ingrish? I'm sorry. It'd be funnier if you majored (or even minored) in English. See, then I would giggle til I peed. Just sayin.

[Broomjockey]

Well, considering I've spent 19 out of the 23 years I've been alive in the US, and my entire family was born in America, one would think they'd realize I speak English.

But, in those 4 years, you may not have progressed in English proficiency to the point required by a college course. Or that's the reasoning any ways. Especially since there's no real way to rank the material you learned while abroad. I'm willing to bet there'll be some basic essay-type stuff on the exam.

[ShadowTiger]

I spent the last four years of my educational life in another country and graduated a high school in Israel

Wait, Israel? Awesome. o.o ?את מדבר עברית


What I'd like to do is to just take the test right there. "I clearly speak English. Kindly have a conversation with me in English, as we are doing right now. It would be awful silly of you to have to give me a piece of paper that dictates whether my English is of a sufficiently proficient level that I would be able to function in casual American society or not. It is but paper; this is reality."


EDIT: Was really hoping this topic would have something to do with Batman. So instead, I quote from This page of the top ten most ridiculous weapons that Batman has ever had. A random snippet:

This culminated in the Batman television series, when they had bulletproof soles on their boots. This caused Robin to make the comment “Holy Dumbass, Batman, why don’t we just make our suits out of this stuff?” Which, of course, directly led to Batman getting a new, less mouthy Robin.

It's the Off-Topic forum.

[Food Lady]

Well, considering I've spent 19 out of the 23 years I've been alive in the US, and my entire family was born in America, one would think they'd realize I speak English.

There are people who've spent their entire lives in this country and cannot spell, structure sentences, or use punctuation correctly. You're not one of them, but the college doesn't know that.

[Soulstealer]

?את מדברת עברית

Fixed because otherwise it'd have bugged me all day. Don't forget to conjugate for gender as well as verb tense.

[SengaKitty]

Fixed because otherwise it'd have bugged me all day. .

It actually HAS been bothering me all day, but I wasn't sure how to switch my keys to Hebrew to fix it

[AccountingDrone]

Why is it, that just because I spent the last four years of my educational life in another country and graduated a high school in Israel, the federal government mandates I take an English proficiency test before I can start college? Oh, and that I have to pay $100 for said test? I'll pay it, because I'm tired of finding reasons to put off starting college, but still. What sense does that make? Really? Can anyone explain this to me?

Meh, happened to a buddy of mine from *London, England*

Ok, I can understand giving a Brummy or Glaswegian an English competency test .....

[Soulstealer]

It actually HAS been bothering me all day, but I wasn't sure how to switch my keys to Hebrew to fix it

I can't always remember so I just google a Hebrew keyboard, then copy and paste.

[ShadowTiger]

I used Google Translate. I know all the words, but it's just ... -really- awkward using a non-Hebrew keyboard for editing, so I was content to delete one letter and just groggily wonder about the other. x X.

[Jester]

I'm one of the resident Jews on the board, and yet not only have I never been to Israel, I also don't have the foggiest freakin' clue what that Hebrew read.

I know, I know....I'm a baaaaad Jew. Now give me some bacon!

[Soulstealer]

I'm one of the resident Jews on the board, and yet not only have I never been to Israel, I also don't have the foggiest freakin' clue what that Hebrew read.

I know, I know....I'm a baaaaad Jew. Now give me some bacon!

Not really Jester, Hebrew is pretty useless outside of Israel anyway. You'd like it there. It's nice and warm, also I was chatting with the family on skype today and they were all amazed at a thunder storm they were having. (We have a water problem.)

[XCashier]

It actually HAS been bothering me all day, but I wasn't sure how to switch my keys to Hebrew to fix it

If you're using Windows, click Start, then All Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools. You should find Character Map there, and that has several alphabets, including Hebrew. Then just select and copy!

BTW, could we have an English translation of what ShadowTiger wrote? Pretty please?