New initiative announced to help teaching, learning and speaking of standard English
ARTICLE!
Singapore is once again embarking on new initiatives to improve our standard of the English language. It is inevitable that everyone must know how to speak English, it being our global language. In most countries, English is used as a communication tool between to non-english speaking countries. Thus, I can understand why the education ministry has been finding ways and means to improve the teaching and learning of language. The emphasis would mainly be for future use. Currently, there are many of us in Singapore who do speak English, however how many of us speak standard English that is universally understandable? This is the problem that our government is tackling with.
It is easy to say ‘I can speak English’ however, not many would dare say that they do speak in a standard of English though some think they do. The government is trying their best to improve the standard of English not only through reviewing the current syllabus, it is also stepping up on more trainings for the teachers. I feel this is better because often, its not always the students alone who are the cause of this, it could also be perhaps that the teachers way of teaching may not be as effective for the students. The student may be hardworking but from a non-english background, if the teacher is unable to teach effectively, the student may not benefit fully. On the other hand, the curriculum could be too easy. Nonetheless, both should be reviewed. One way they are doing this is to have retired english teachers to go back to observe and mentor the younger teachers who are more inexperienced. This I feel is a good method because with these teachers’ experience, they are most likely, to give wise advices on how to teach and can contribute to more ideas as well. The new teachers would also feel more confident with a mentor by their side and will possibly find better ideas through communicating with these experienced teachers. This way, the retired teachers themselves are also able keep their minds lively, after all, being retired they must enjoy mentoring again!
The main problem however, is because of we are a diversified country, there are many whose first language is their mother tongue. Our main language is English so that all can communicate with a common language to avoid any language barriers or sorts. Thru our diversification over the many years, the English that we speak has already been corrupted and therefore is not of global standards. ‘Singlish’ is what we called it- English with a mixture of other languages here and there. This form of English that we have; simply cannot be understood globally can it? But this ‘singlish’ is uniquely Singaporean! By inculcating standard English in Singaporeans, would this language that we speak vanish into thin air?
With that said, we also cannot ignore the fact that to survive globally, it is essential to be understood by being able to speak standard English and not some language that only we can understand. However, it is possible that we may try to be versatile and use ‘singlish’ and English at appropriate times so that we may be understood better in different environments.
In Singapore coffee shops, ‘ ah peks’ (old uncles) say coffee as ‘kopi’ whilst if in a high class café, ‘kopi’ could just be too inadequate. Therefore, it is definitely good if we are able to be versatile and change the way we speak at appropriate times. This can only be done if we are really efficient in the English language. Already there are so many who do not speak the standard English, how then will they be able to switch as and when they like? In my opinion, this is something Singapore will struggle with throughout the years because of our multiracial community.
639 words!
posted by heeledfantasies @ 9:58 pm
8 comments
8 Comments:
I feel that the Speak Good English Movement is a very good way to promote the use of standard English. This is one of the most essential steps to making Singapore a country which uses good English. Speaking good English, I feel, is rather important as a language is also a form of identity. Although we may not be Caucasian, the English Language is an international language and can also be viewed as part of our identity, besides our own mother tongue.
Reviewing the curriculum for English and also reviewing the skills of the pool of English teachers is a good way to ensure that the proper standard of English is being taught to fellow students. Personally, I think that it would be very good if teachers were subjected to competency-based training. This training will be able to bring out the competency of teachers and thus at the same time, tests the ability of the teachers to teach in a proactive way and not just a one-way approach. I do believe that learning is a two-way approach as it is most effective that way. Students, on the other hand, must be more open towards the different ways in which they learn English. Learning will not take place if students were to think of English as a burden. Indeed, learning a language should be viewed as an enjoyable and fruitful learning process. One should look beyond textbooks and school and work, in the usage of English as it is not only confined to these aspects.
However, I do agree with Stephanie that Singapore will face difficulties in ensuring that citizens speak good English, due to our multiracial community. This is an obstacle Singaporeans must strive to overcome in order to be able to have a good command of the standard English. Many of us will face difficulties in mastering the English language due to our fluency in other languages such as our mother tongue languages. We have to learn to be flexible though. We must learn to be versatile in speaking different languages. In this era, those who know many languages and are able to communicate well through this languages, will have excellent future prospects.
It is good that our government sees the importance of speaking good English in our country and is taking steps to encourage Singaporeans to speak good English. the english language in this current society is very important as English has become our universal speaking language to communicate with other people in different countries.
The Speak Good English Movement encourages Singaporeans to speak good English so as to be able to communicate more effectively. This year, the Movement will be introducing "Good English !cons" to show Singaporeans that it is not difficult to speak good English.
The Movement has identified a group of Singaporeans, ranging from talented performing artistes to ordinary Singaporean workers, parents and students, to be its "Good English !cons". Like most Singaporeans, they use English in the course of their work instead of other languages. They want to, and do speak standard English in order to be understood.
We should learn to speak proper and standard English not only for our country's image but for our future sake where we can communicate much better with other people in the world. As English is the universal language for business, communication and socialising, we should make it a point to speak it well. Those who are not able to speak proper English tend to lose out more to those who speaks standard English in our very competitive society.
English is a key and prevalent language in the world today. It is used for everything from international academic conferences to news reports to popular music lyrics. Even though it does not have the greatest number of speakers in the world, it is the most widely used language in the world, and more people will use it in the future. It is with this in mind that the Singapore government is earnestly paving out ways to improve the teaching and learning of the language.
Through such efforts, the government aims to mould citizens into those who are able to speak a universally acceptable standard of English. By approaching the process in this manner, people do not need to worry about the high expectations they might need to meet when it comes to speaking clear and fluent English, as they only need to know how to speak in a way, which will be commonly understood by anyone who knows the language. In that sense, this step is headed in the right direction and everyone will be able to learn and progress at the same pace. However, some might view this step as being a waste, as what proof is there which says that out of all the years of campaigning and numerous efforts to get Singaporeans to speak good English, this particular effort will reap such gains? If people want to improve their proficiency in English, shouldn’t they be the ones who should take the initiative to do so? Even so, one should realise that in Singapore, majority of Singaporeans are propelled by a herding instinct, where many would choose to follow the crowd. As such, if the government decides to take a step in a direction, the odds of Singaporeans following suit is pretty high. But for such efforts to work, the people have to open their eyes and find out why the government is spending so much time in drilling the importance of this “foreign” language into them.
Cultivating the growth of any language is important, and this is no exception when it comes to the English language. Many find themselves uncomfortable in using English when faced with basic situations like striking a conversation and greeting one another appropriately. Instead of focusing on the technical aspects of the language for so long, it’d be wise to move on to the finer aspects of making use of it-namely through verbal communication. If the government intends to fine-tune citizens into becoming comfortable with the language, more chances should be set up for them to make use of the language. Even with the setting up of things like the Speaker’s Corner to get people to voice out their issues, it has only resulted in the majority to shy away from opportunities to communicate to others in English. When people start feeling embarrassed about making use of a language, they will slowly start to avoid using it at all in front of their friends and colleagues. As such, to think that the government has already started dishing out steps to ensure that something like this doesn’t; happen is indeed praiseworthy. It is only when a language is made use of that it has fulfilled its purpose, and it is this idea that the government wants to bring about in the people.
In conclusion, even though the government has seemingly been on the move when it comes to promoting and getting people to become comfortable and proficient in speaking good English, the reality is that there are a handful who still do not see the importance of the language. As long as there are people who do not see form the government’s perspective, it would only spell failure for the government in achieving its goal.
standard english, hmmmms. seriously i think this fuss about standard english is a no need. language needs to be alive, if language were to be too standard, where's the fun of learning and using the language?
learning english is a must, now that countries would like to communicate with a common language. language is invented so that humans can communicate with each other and convey ideas, if that can be achieved by speaking just normal english, why the need for a "standard english" ? plus, define standard? does it mean the correct use of tenses? grammer? or the correct way to convey an idea?
true, it is good that singaporean citizens are trying to learn english, but need it be ultra high class? singaporeans, being mixed with other races, have come to develope our own form of singlish, it may not be standard, but it is ALIVE. there is a flavour to it. are we going to destroy that flavour in place of a standard, high classed, all powerful, dull english? although it may be nice to learn standard english, but is it a must? yes, some may argue that it may make us seem high class in the business world, but, still i feel that, well, the world is too formal a place.
plus plus, i am sure that other parts of the world have also come up with their not-so-standard-english, with a little influence of their own launguage. see what i mean by saying flavour? spice up the language, add your own lil slang. must english be dull, standard and boring? i think not, as long as your ideas are conveyed one way or another is enough.
picture this, foreigners come to singapore, they go to a coffee shop, and other coffee, then some uncle chouts, KOPI! the foreigners would laugh, maybe not because they are ridiculing the uncle, but they see the fun of changing the pronounciation way, the adding of flavour to the language and, yeah you get the idea.
be less formal but formal at the same time.
According to the article, now, one in two students in Primary one speaks mostly English at home as compared to 1996; one in three speaks English at home. We can see the improvement made. If I had not remembered wrongly, the “Speak good English campaign” was held to encourage the use of English, then the “Chinese cool campaign” started out when most of the students starts to speak English. That’s the whole point the government had wanted us to see. We should not be only well-versed in one particular language but instead we should be bilingual. It is true that English is a globally recognized language nowadays due to the fact of the big brother of the world being America. However, as China prospers, we need to take note of the importance of Chinese too.
Well, Singaporeans are well known for their singlish. This has resulted in the degradation of proper and Standard English that the world recognizes. Imagine yourself speaking singlish almost everyday and speaking to the world with the exact kind of language, wouldn’t you make a joke out of yourself? Therefore, in order to ensure that the English we are using is Standard English and not mixed with our own slang, we should practice it from young. Teach the young generation proper English and as well as make them practice their mother tongue would enable them to handle both languages well.
I notice that its mostly the Chinese that are unable to cope with the languages at the same time whereas, the other racial groups are able to maintain their language and master English at the same time. Therefore, I do hope that the young are able to be nurtured with the right languages and therefore enable them to be able to face the challenges of the world with the well versed language.
English is one of the most spoken language in the world and everywhere in the world, the use of English is definitely in existence. One cannot hide from the fact that English is here to stay.
An interesting point to note is that the English Language is actually a diverse mix of many different languages such as French and Latin. Perhaps it could be one of the many reasons why English is the most accepted and spoken language in the world as it is a part of every culture and it brings the many different diverse societies together.
It is heartening to know that the government is doing something to raise the English standards here in Singapore. I feel that perhaps, a little too much emphasis has been placed on the importance of the chinese language. English is an important language no matter what. Even with China and India rising, the people there are also acutely aware of the importance of English and has been keenly picking up the language.
Singapore, being one of the most developed and advanced countries in the world and especially Asia, cannot be complacent and rest on its laurels. Precisely because of our vulnerability as a small nation, we have to ensure that we have the extra edge when it comes to dealing with the rest of the world. Imagine how it would be like if we, one of the most developed nations in Asia, cannot even put together a grammatically correct sentence.
The existence of Singlish could be partly due to the rich and diverse culture that makes up our country. While it may not be such a bad thing to have something that is so uniquely Singapore (pardon the pun), it should not be tolerated as we seem to be implying to our own children and the world at large that we accept sub-standard English.
I am personally heartened to know that the government is stepping up to the challenge and finding ways to improve the English standard here. While it may seem a bit overboard to want to hire native English speakers to teach in Singapore (how strange is that?) I feel that it could also be an interesting experience both for the teacher and student alike. However, I think what is most important is to make learning standard English fun and interesting. Many students cited the reason of not wanting to appear pompous or wanting to fit in with their peers that caused them to speak Singlish.
Last year, my english teacher was an Australian lady. She made her lessons interesting by explaining to us the many different ways we could interpret a single word and also gave us crossword puzzles to solve in a bid to improve our vocabulary. It may not be a big deal but it indeed opened our eyes to the vastness that the English language can bring.
Thus, I feel that to make this "Speak Good English" campaign a success, it has to start from the ground up. Make lessons fun and interesting for students and also correct the misintepreted mindset that speaking standard english is to be pompous and "uncool". It will be even more "uncool" to look stupid in front of your colleagues and associates when one is not able to even string a grammatically correct sentence together without the use of any Singlish.
With the government initiating such movement, we can see that they really place a strong emphasis on the English Language.
However, currently, many people are having trouble coping with their mother tongue as well. So will those people be further swayed towards English and never have their mindsets to change that mother tomgue is important as well? I think that the government has introduced many initiatives to promote better use of languages but they failed to teach the people how to be bilingual.
Like what Joy said, on a global context, English is the main language tool for communication. Our National Day theme this year is "Our Global City, Our Home". Hence, the reason to as why the government want us to speak good English badly. At least know how to speak well.
Steph mentioned that the government is doing their best to instill good English among students. My aunt, who is a teacher, told me that our English standard for schools in Singapore is better than the standard in Indonesian schools. Some of the Indonesians only start to learn English when they reach secondary one. Fancy that. We are fortunate that we have to pick up English from young so that it is easier for us to be used to it.
Khairiyah brought up an important issue. To some, English is a burden. Well, not all people are inclined to language. The main key here is to cultivate interest for that language. We do not have to be so rigid as to just sticking to the dictionary to teach them words and meanings. Language can be associated to history as well. For example, how the English language comes about. Field trips or learning journeys will definitely be able to get more students to be interested in the language. Initially, they will look forward to going out of the classroom but when they are introduced to the beauty of English language, they will crave for more. Therefore, on the teachers' part, they would need to seek out interesting leurning journeys.
And not yawning journeys.
"Are we there yet?"
Yes! More people in Singapore are engaging in conversation through English, but I think it’s high time that we need this Speak good English movement because of the fall in the standards of our English proficiency.
Singlish has become more common in every part of Singapore today, I feel that it is just the widespread of indifference in speaking properly within everyone that is causing everyone to speak in ‘broken’ English.
I can vague recall that in the past, we have an English drama serial titled ‘Triple-Nine’ and I happened to chance upon the repeat last week. Well it is obvious to me that they used to speak in very proper English as such in ‘Under One Roof’. But today in the media, we have ‘PCK’, ‘Mdm Tan’, and ‘Police and Thief’ which broadcasts Singlish as if it is our 2nd language, how can we be more proficient as this rate? Plus the viewers who watch these shows are apparently young teenagers who are still learning the language in schools.
Recently we have expatriate language teachers allocated of minimum 1 teacher to each school but I don’t see how 1 teacher and make a difference in a school of more than 1000 students. Plus, if Singapore really wants to have speak-good English campaign; we should not merely target students but probably adults as well.
I think more measures should be innovated to bring in a better English-speaking environment for the young and the old. There was a Chinese show that teaches foreigners to speak Chinese and I find it entertaining. Show like that can be used to prompt the elderly to learn some practical English words, phrases or even sentences.
Nevertheless, I am glad that the government is doing something to lead Singaporeans back to speaking proper and normal English. I would have to admit Singlish is something to be proud of as it speaks of our Singaporean identity. But for us to be globalizing, we will have to speak appropriate English at the right time.
GO SINGAPORE.
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