LPGA Says, "Speak English"
The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) says starting at the end of next year players who've been on the tour for two years will be required to take an oral English exam and those who fail will be suspended until they pass.
The deputy commissioner of the women's golfing organization Libby Galloway said that they are in a sports entertainment business and the LPGA wants to make the players more approachable to the fans and sponsors.
Part of the US golfing community is questioning the legality of the new language rule pointing out that it violates the US 1964 Civil Rights Act which prohibits discrimination based on race and gender.
Deputy Commissioner Galloway says the LPGA is not trying to discourage players from speaking other languages during competition and they don't have to be fluent in English.
She stressed the mandate is in line with players being able to communicate with each other and the media as well as give a victory speech in English.
World Golf Hall-of-Famer Pak Seri a five-time PGA champion concurs with the policy but says a fine would be more fair than suspension.
The LPGA has more than 120 foreign players on its roster from over 20 countries and 45 of them are from Korea.
VOCABULARY LIST :
approachable - friendly and easy to talk to
legality - the fact that something is allowed by the law
violate - to break or act against something, especially a law, agreement, principle or something that should be treated with respect
mandate - the authority given to an elected group of people, such as a government, to perform an action or govern a country
DISCUSSION POINTS :
1. What do you think about the sport of golf? Do you play or watch it? Would you like to learn how to play it ?
2. What do you think about the LPGA's new "Speak English" rule?
3. Do you agree that speaking English will make the players more approachable to fans and sponsors?.
4. How important is it for an athlete to be approachable? Is being approachable as important as being skilled? Explain.
5. How do you think this rule will affect the Korean and foreign golfers in the LPGA?
6. Do you agree that a fine for not passing the English test would be more fair than a suspension ?
7. Should players take legal action and sue the LPGA for discrimination?
8. What do you know about the performance of Korean golfers in the LPGA or PGA?
9. Name some of the most successful athletes from your country? Do you think they would become even more successful if
they spoke English fluently? Why or why not?