Funny observation

09-01-2008


I am actually writing this in work, because after all that's what work is for, but feck it I would forget to do it later in the day. As mentioned before I have to re-sit my driving test (and soon thanks to my Arch Enemy and his crazy new plan) so I was just on the testing company's website looking for a way to contact them and see how long I have to wait for the damn thing. Looking around the website I came across this little note that is under the "Things you should know" page of the site.

An Irish language version of this form is available. Any person who completes this form in Irish or who completes the Irish Language version will have their test conducted in Irish. If you cannot speak English or are deaf you are permitted to have an interpreter with you. This person must not be a relative or your driving instructor and may not accompany you on the practical test.

Now most of this makes sense. Irish is the primary language of the country, even if we don't speak it all that much, and it would be unfair to not let a deaf person or somebody that doesn't speak English not sit the test. But the bit that I am finding funny is the line "may not accompany you on the practical test". Does this not seem a little backwards? I am sure somebody reading this is shouting at the screen that I am an idiot, but my understanding of this line is that a person who does not speak English or is deaf would appear to have a miracle occur during the practical section of the test which would suddenly make them able to understand English or hear perfectly.

Having sat a test, and failed of course, I know that the person testing you issues their instructions in English, sometimes with a hand gesture and sometimes without. So if the person is deaf how the hell are they going to hear what was said to them regarding instructions? They would need the interpreter there with them to help out, no? Then again considering they fail you for really small things, testing a deaf person is probably a foregone conclusion. "I am sorry, you failed to follow one of the instructions I gave you. You failed!"

I suppose the non-English speaking bit isn't too stupid, the tester probably will speak the language of the person being tested, but then it sort of makes the need for an interpreter during the question section a little stupid since if the tester can actually speak the language there is no need for an interpreter. Unless of course, and this being Ireland it probably is actually done this way, they send out a learner with a tester that only speaks English, in which cause the miracle must occur. Again would having the interpreter along in the car not make things a little easier for the student? They might actually know what the hell they are meant to do during the exam.

There has to be something wrong when people this stupid are allowed to test if you are deadly enough behind the wheel of a car.

Probably should archive a few rants as well, page is getting a little long.

Blue_jester