Having read the recent spate of articles on the importance of the Chinese language and culture, I feel compelled to share my views and experiences.
The education system of learning English as the first language and Chinese （or other mother tongues） as the second language started in my generation.
As I grew up in a Mandarin-speaking family, my grades for English were dismal throughout my primary and secondary school years. But I never failed to score distinction in the Chinese language.
My parents and even I myself became worried about my poor command of the English language. Still, as far as the Chinese language is concerned, I've always taken pride in my excellent results.
Needless to say, I had problems communicating effectively with my colleagues in English when I began working. Fortunately, as my job often took me to Asian countries and required me to deal a lot with Americans, my English soon improved by leaps and bounds. However, that has not stopped me from continuing to speak Mandarin whenever possible and writing in Chinese to my family members and friends.
My view is that Singaporeans should be proficient both in the English language and their mother tongue, whether it is Chinese, Malay or Tamil. English is our working language, while Chinese, Malay, or Tamil each plays an important role of preserving the cultural heritage of the different races. And after all, we are a multi-lingual society.
I'm now studying for a bachelor's degree in Sydney. Many Westerners whom I've met are surprised that I can speak both English and Mandarin fluently. Some Australians thought I must have lived there for at least a few years when I have in fact been there for only six months！
On the other hand, people from China and Taiwan are amazed that I speak Mandarin as well as they can.
Whenever I'm asked the question why I am able to master two languages, I'm always proud to say： “Because I'm a Singaporean！”
Singapore is a multi-racial country and Singaporeans are encouraged to be bilingual or even multi-lingual. This actually prepares us well for the challenges that we face. English has served us well for years as the language of commerce and will continue to do so. But as China looks set to become an economic powerhouse, the Chinese language will now help us ride the dragon.
（The writer is a Singaporean undergraduate studying in Sydney.）
閱讀了報章最近許多有關(guān)華文華語和華族文化的討論,很想和大家分享我的經(jīng)驗和看法。
以英文為第一語文,華文和其他母語為第二語文的政府教育政策,由我這一代開始。
我生長在一個用華語溝通的家庭,所以,從小學(xué)到中學(xué),我的英文水平總是差強人意。但是,我的華文成績卻一直是頂呱呱的。
我的父母,甚至是我自己,都對我掌握英文的能力感到擔(dān)憂。盡管如此,我卻一直為自己在華文的優(yōu)異表現(xiàn)引以為榮。
剛踏入社會工作時,因為英語不靈光,我時常不能有效地和同事交換意見。幸好因為工作需要,我經(jīng)常出差到東南亞國家,也不時必須和美國人交談,我的英語因此進步神速。不過,我依然不放棄任何講華語的機會,也繼續(xù)以華文同家人和朋友作書面溝通。
我認為新加坡人應(yīng)該通曉英文和母語——不論是華文、馬來文或淡米爾文。英語長久以來是我們的工作語言,母語卻在個別種族保持和延續(xù)各自文化的工作上,扮演了重要的角色。另外,新加坡畢竟是一個多元語文的國家。
我目前在悉尼修讀學(xué)士學(xué)位。很多我剛認識的洋人,都因為我能夠講英語和華語而感到訝異。我流利的英語,甚至讓一些澳洲人以為我一定已經(jīng)在那住上好幾年了。事實上,我在悉尼才不過六個月！
另一方面,一些來自中國大陸和臺灣的華人,卻因為我和他們一樣說得一口漂亮的華語感到驚奇。
每當(dāng)人們問我為什么能夠同時掌握兩種語文時,我總是回答說：“因為我是新加坡人！”
新加坡是一個多元種族社會,政府的雙語政策鼓勵人們通曉兩種語文,甚至更多種語文。這其實有助于我們?yōu)閷硭鎸Φ奶魬?zhàn)作好準(zhǔn)備。
做為商業(yè)用語的英文,使我們能夠和西方國家溝通,多年來為我們的經(jīng)濟發(fā)展作出了巨大的貢獻,將來仍然會繼續(xù)扮演著重要的角色。
另外,中國崛起成為世界經(jīng)濟強國勢不可擋,將大大加強華文華語的經(jīng)濟效益,掌握好華文華語將幫助我們搭上中國的經(jīng)濟快車。
The education system of learning English as the first language and Chinese （or other mother tongues） as the second language started in my generation.
As I grew up in a Mandarin-speaking family, my grades for English were dismal throughout my primary and secondary school years. But I never failed to score distinction in the Chinese language.
My parents and even I myself became worried about my poor command of the English language. Still, as far as the Chinese language is concerned, I've always taken pride in my excellent results.
Needless to say, I had problems communicating effectively with my colleagues in English when I began working. Fortunately, as my job often took me to Asian countries and required me to deal a lot with Americans, my English soon improved by leaps and bounds. However, that has not stopped me from continuing to speak Mandarin whenever possible and writing in Chinese to my family members and friends.
My view is that Singaporeans should be proficient both in the English language and their mother tongue, whether it is Chinese, Malay or Tamil. English is our working language, while Chinese, Malay, or Tamil each plays an important role of preserving the cultural heritage of the different races. And after all, we are a multi-lingual society.
I'm now studying for a bachelor's degree in Sydney. Many Westerners whom I've met are surprised that I can speak both English and Mandarin fluently. Some Australians thought I must have lived there for at least a few years when I have in fact been there for only six months！
On the other hand, people from China and Taiwan are amazed that I speak Mandarin as well as they can.
Whenever I'm asked the question why I am able to master two languages, I'm always proud to say： “Because I'm a Singaporean！”
Singapore is a multi-racial country and Singaporeans are encouraged to be bilingual or even multi-lingual. This actually prepares us well for the challenges that we face. English has served us well for years as the language of commerce and will continue to do so. But as China looks set to become an economic powerhouse, the Chinese language will now help us ride the dragon.
（The writer is a Singaporean undergraduate studying in Sydney.）
閱讀了報章最近許多有關(guān)華文華語和華族文化的討論,很想和大家分享我的經(jīng)驗和看法。
以英文為第一語文,華文和其他母語為第二語文的政府教育政策,由我這一代開始。
我生長在一個用華語溝通的家庭,所以,從小學(xué)到中學(xué),我的英文水平總是差強人意。但是,我的華文成績卻一直是頂呱呱的。
我的父母,甚至是我自己,都對我掌握英文的能力感到擔(dān)憂。盡管如此,我卻一直為自己在華文的優(yōu)異表現(xiàn)引以為榮。
剛踏入社會工作時,因為英語不靈光,我時常不能有效地和同事交換意見。幸好因為工作需要,我經(jīng)常出差到東南亞國家,也不時必須和美國人交談,我的英語因此進步神速。不過,我依然不放棄任何講華語的機會,也繼續(xù)以華文同家人和朋友作書面溝通。
我認為新加坡人應(yīng)該通曉英文和母語——不論是華文、馬來文或淡米爾文。英語長久以來是我們的工作語言,母語卻在個別種族保持和延續(xù)各自文化的工作上,扮演了重要的角色。另外,新加坡畢竟是一個多元語文的國家。
我目前在悉尼修讀學(xué)士學(xué)位。很多我剛認識的洋人,都因為我能夠講英語和華語而感到訝異。我流利的英語,甚至讓一些澳洲人以為我一定已經(jīng)在那住上好幾年了。事實上,我在悉尼才不過六個月！
另一方面,一些來自中國大陸和臺灣的華人,卻因為我和他們一樣說得一口漂亮的華語感到驚奇。
每當(dāng)人們問我為什么能夠同時掌握兩種語文時,我總是回答說：“因為我是新加坡人！”
新加坡是一個多元種族社會,政府的雙語政策鼓勵人們通曉兩種語文,甚至更多種語文。這其實有助于我們?yōu)閷硭鎸Φ奶魬?zhàn)作好準(zhǔn)備。
做為商業(yè)用語的英文,使我們能夠和西方國家溝通,多年來為我們的經(jīng)濟發(fā)展作出了巨大的貢獻,將來仍然會繼續(xù)扮演著重要的角色。
另外,中國崛起成為世界經(jīng)濟強國勢不可擋,將大大加強華文華語的經(jīng)濟效益,掌握好華文華語將幫助我們搭上中國的經(jīng)濟快車。