Singaporean here. When I was in school in the 1960s, I learned English and Mandarin. I dreaded studying 2 languages because it was not easy. Fast forward to 2024. I am currently working in Changi Airport. I meet all kinds of travelers. I have no problem communicating with Americans, Australians, British, etc because I believe my English is as good as theirs and I am very confident when I speak to them. When I meet travelers who speak Mandarin, I have no problem conversing with them too. Now I understand why Mr. Lee Kuan Yew insisted that we learn 2 languages. He was light years ahead of his time - he was a visionary. Mr Lee did mention that English is the international working language - so it is of paramount importance that we can communicate in English.
It was well known that English was the international working language long ago. English had been taught in Chinese schools before Lee became the prime minister of Singapore! Learning a language is not easy for some people, due to lack of the ability, though easy for many people.
There is a big difference between Singlish and Singaporean English (ie English spoken with a Singaporean accent). Singlish is basically a form of pidgin English ie an ungrammatical mixture of English and local languages/dialects. Singlish is often used in casual settings like among friends, family, at hawker centres or wet markets. It fosters a sense of closeness among Singaporeans and it is unique to Singapore. Singaporean English however, is proper English with our own unique local accent. This kind of English is used in formal settings eg in education, government institutions, business, politics etc. Classic examples of speakers of Singaporean English are our former prime ministers, Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Hsien Loong, President Tharman, other political leaders and news readers. They do not speak Singlish on public occasions but Singaporean English. Many Singaporeans can code switch between Singlish and Singaporean English, depending on the context. What most foreigners have trouble understanding is Singlish, not Singaporean English.
我爸爸在我读小学的时候，就鼓励我哥哥跟我在家里讲英文，我三年级就开始读英文报章！ 所以到了中学和工艺学院的时候，我的英文基础是比较好的！ 今天我常常飞来飞去，跟很多不同国家的人交通，有好英文的基础真棒！ 新加坡要作为国际性的城市一定要有国际性的语言作为基础，所以李先生的决定是对的！ 起初，当我们华文南阳大学被转化英语的大学，有很多老一辈的华人很反对。 他们出钱出力见这间大学，很不想看到这间大学变成一间讲英语的大学。 但是为了新加坡的前途，没办法。 所以新加坡在亚洲里，有很多西方的公司建立他们的总部，因为我们大家都会读和讲英语！。 this decision to turn Singapore into a English-speaking country is very right! 我有一位朋友，他是飞机师，他说他飞去中国的时候就有很多问题，因为control tower人员英语讲的不清楚！ 如果中国要在更加发展，人民一定要学到怎样讲英语！ 这不是清晰方或不清晰方的问题，这是一个很重要的过程！😉
Hi James, 非常喜欢你的视频！能够客观分析讨论新加坡的大小事的中国人是极为少数的。我们于两个月前去了北京上海一趟，我刻意用中文和司机师傅们交谈，他们都吓一跳了！他们一知道我们是新加坡人，就已经断定我们只会讲英文，这就是stereotyping了。有好几个师傅还问我：“你的中文怎么这么好？”。我觉得还好而已，当然不可能和中国人的语言程度比。那我也好意提醒了一下，只讲英文是因为工作需要，而且讲得比较顺，是基于实用性，不是高傲，也并不代表我们不懂中文。师傅们知道我们会中文，也就放松了，更好交流了。其实我们的一部分马来同胞和印度同胞也会一点简单的沟通式中文。
I am a local Singaporean who used to work for a US company but later I was posted to China fortunately I am well versed in both English and Chinese that give me for advantages to manage the company and report back to my US HQ so I am really grateful to our late LKY for his great foresight. Thank you. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Yes, we can forgive Japan but we should not forget the history because it serves as a lesson for Singaporeans not to take peace for granted. About the word "anyway", we use it very often in Singapore too. It's in our day-to-day dictionary. LKY made the right move by making English our first language. It unites all the races, and facilitates learning, communication, and business.
I remembered LKY said we must learn English, because contracts, technical guides, international laws are all in English. Singapore will lose out if we need to wait for translations, then we will be behind others in business competitions. Interviewed on the importance of English, long time ago. A blink of an eye.😢
Totally agreed with you ... to have an open mind and open heart... WWII is history, ... we learn from it and move on.... We are able to forgive, but not.forget... That is also the rationale behind for having National Service in Singapore 🇸🇬
Yes, indeed we, Singaporeans, are more comfortable in expressing our thoughts in English. No doubt, English has catapulted Singapore in the International arena. We become a global citizen as English is an international language.
English, for most part of the last century, is spoken by the majority of the world. Teaching Singaporeans English is purely out of necessities and pragmatism, to unify our fledgling nation, in those days of chaos. Ultimately in the 90s, LKY did tell Singaporeans not to give up learning Chinese as China was on the awakening.
I speak and write better in Chinese but I can only type in English. Also my han yu pin yin is bad. I failed my English at school and O level so I studied for my degree in UK, forced myself to speak and write in English. Later I successfully completed my MBA from NTU. I am neither here or there (can’t speak impressive English or Chinese) - a failure under LKY plan. But at least I survived and have a normal life that need not worry about housing, food and education of my kids. Not a smooth journey but truly I have benefited from LKY policy although suffered a few failure along the way.
I'm Singaporean, and regrettably, I do wish my Chinese were much better. It's essentially a trade-off, at least for people like me who are not the best at picking up different languages. It's something I continuously work on (watching your channel to improve my Chinese, for example). English certainly has a very pragmatic use for me, but there's also an element of "heart" and "soul" I don't think I can personally experience through English. There's a connection to my inner self that I have only been able to feel through Chinese, even with my limited fluency. Because ultimately, 有缘 right, perhaps?
我从公务员职位退休之后，“ 有幸” 到新加坡一所私立学校任职，担任初级英文指导。当时恰逢中国学生到新加坡留学的热潮，我教导一批来自中国各地高考成绩特差上不了大学的学生，他们之中有些连26个英文字母都不能完整念出来，英文程度连本地小学一年级学生都不如。 他们对26个英文字母的发音千奇百怪，几乎每个字母都以第4声重音发出。比如 A 他们念 “ 诶矣”、B 念 “ bee" 、C 念 ”些矣“ 、F 念 " 诶府 ” 、L 念 “ 诶乐” 、M 念 “ an " 、 N 念 ” en " 、P 念 “屁” 、S 念 “ 诶死 ”、V 念 “ wee " 。尤其是 S 这个字母的发音，几乎每个中国学生都念 ” 诶死“ 。我告诉他们 S 的尾音s 只要轻声带过，不必“死”。但是我失败了，他们根深蒂固的 “死” 永远改不了。 我也听过不少中国大学生说英语，Thank you 说成 sang kyou、You are welcome 说成 You are wel kan。许多中国人不会发 M 这个闭口音韵母，把它念成 an，而把 N 念成 en。这也是页子视频里出现中国机长与机场塔台以英语对话时闹的笑话。塔台是说 MA, 可是中国机长不会念M 而是把它念成 N (an)A。 我认为用” The Blind Leading The Blind " 这句英文谚语来形容中国学校里的英文教学情况最为贴切。因为缺少专业的英文教师，在学校里教英文的大都是滥竽充数，结果英文教学是”一代不如一代“。
记得多年前，我有位同事，是来至英国的执行主管。大家都知道，他们英语有不同讲法， 属于他们各区的local slang。偏偏这为人兄啊，他的英语发音是潦草的不行，没人能听的懂。只有些基本的还可以。他说话又快又很自豪的样子，根本没考虑别人是否理解！难道发表还不如别人了解重要，更何况他是在别人的地方。最近也受到一位英国人的嘲骂，说我英语很烂。我很确定我是正确的，翻了字典我还是对的！所以呢？就说如果不是当初我们有学英语，现在这局面不是更糟吗？So James, what's your take on Canada vs Argentina match haha?
The pilots simply did not understand what the control tower instructions were! It is scary (safety of passengers) as it is funny (the patience of the control tower staff)!
On reflection, I would say our late PM Lee was right in making English the working language for Singapore. Majority of Chinese educated (Mandarin) at that time were against such decision. Now everyone is thankful that Singaporeans enjoy high standard of living. No Regrets.
@@Jamesyezi I hope so! But please don't tale it lightly, be prepared. The minimum is to "clean" your HP before your enter, or better, bring a "new" HP. a group of friends and I used to travel in and out of this country not less than 100 times, I also lived in SH for a few years. We met many friends and very nice peoples there, but we never trust the ZF there, they are not human. I was in HK/SZ last month. I was there to close my RMB account with ICBC and said a BIG BIG Good Bye to this country!
I am a Singaporean, 75 years old, we lived in the kampong and very poor, I thanks my parents sent me to English school, although I am not well educated😂🎉
I have a Chinese acquaintance who has been in Singapore for 5 years. Yet, her knowledge of English is basically non-existence. Just the other day, she said that we should change the International Language to Chinese. According to her, "英文太麻烦了". I was 😮😮😮....
Just tell her that we exist in a 2 parallel universe , the China ‘s Universe and the Rest Of the World ‘s universe . She can go back to the China ‘s universe if she not comfortable in the ROW’s universe
Can i ask you about the pronunciation of the word 因为。 I noted that mainland chinese including overseas chinese did not pronounce it according to the listed standard hanyupinying. The wei you pronounce it in the second tone. In my chinese education, i learned it as a fourth tone. By the way i wish you to have a good safe trip to China
Well... I don't think it's fake. But i don't have proof. Its just a video that to help me to explain English is important and Chinese people don't speak very good English.
@@ct9245 colonizer tongue school is to create Half baked britishers Chinese to look down on their own culture, Chinese in Malaysia didn't look down on their own culture.
The Japanese occupation of Singapore during World War II was a dark and tumultuous period marked by harsh military rule, suffering, and loss. From nineteen forty-two to nineteen forty-five, Singapore endured atrocities and severe hardships that left deep scars on its people. While the resilience and eventual recovery of Singapore highlight the strength and spirit of its citizens, the memories of those years are ingrained in the nation's history. Forgiveness may pave the way for peace and reconciliation, but the lessons learned and the experiences of that time must not be forgotten, serving as a poignant reminder of the resilience in the face of adversity and the importance of preserving peace.
@shadowj3311 I have watched one of your RU-vid that China people are trying to get revenge on Japanese citizens. A country can not forgive the past how to go forward. And give a better way for our new generation.
The pilot incompetent in English, not only cause mis-com with the control tower. It could lead to disasterous air traffic accident. I will not take China Air.
It is quite a joke if the contol tower use NATO phonetic alphabet in their conversation being sarcastic. Think only those who have military experience will understand what Mike and November means.
