Debate on Chinese education in Singapore rages on
Written by Our Correspondent
Following the admission of MM Lee Kuan Yew that he had made a “mistake” in Singapore’s bilingual language policy, the debate on the state and direction of Chinese education in Singapore has continued to rage on in cyberspace and even in a Malaysia-based Chinese forum.
During a speech made at the official opening of the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language, Lee said:
“We started the wrong way. We insisted on ting xie (listening), mo xie (dictation) – madness! We had teachers who were teaching in completely-Chinese schools. And they did not want to use any English to teach English-speaking children Chinese and that turned them off completely.”
The Straits Times Forum have since received a deluge of letters on the issue with six alone today.
While netizens are mostly critical of Lee’s mistake of closing down Nanyang University and to abolish the use of dialects in Singapore in the 1970s, the response from readers of Straits Times are more muted and restrained.
Liew Kai Khuin felt that “it is wrong to attribute personal inadequacies in learning Chinese entirely to Chinese language teachers who work diligently, particularly in predominantly English-speaking schools where Mandarin is regarded as uncool and parochial.”
He opined that Singapore has already established a relatively concrete education structure in teaching Chinese as a second language and while it should be constantly reviewed to reflect currents, the principles of hard work, committment and discipline should not be diluted.
Arthur Lim wrote that there is a need to prevent Chinese Language scores from forming a critical component of PSLE scores next year because the poor mark his son may score in Chinese has “no bearing on whether he has the aptitude to become a surgeon or accountant or any other key professional.”
Tan Ying Hong find it disturbing that many English-speaking families cite Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s remarks about mistakes in the bilingual policy to justify their inability or that of their children to cope with the Chinese language.
She is of the view that “lowering standards time and again is not the way to pique interest in the language as all Mandarin-speaking students experienced the madness of ting xie (spelling) and mo xie (dictation) during English lessons too because this is a necessary stage when learning a language; there is no short cut.”
As Malaysian Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily puts it succinctly:
“Singapore used to be a Chinese educational bastion for Southeast Asia with the most comprehensive Chinese-language educational system. But the deviation of its educational policy had changed everything in just two to three decades. Nanyang University, a leading Chinese university in Southeast Asia for 25 years, became part of the history in 1980. As nearly 100% of students were enrolled in English stream primary schools, English became the first language for all primary and secondary schools in Singapore. Since then, Chinese education had basically disappeared from Singapore, leaving only Chinese language teaching.”
Lee has to take responsibility for the decline in the standards of the Chinese language in Singapore today.
Being an English-educated Straits Chinese, Lee could not speak mandarin or hokkien in his younger days. He picked up the language only later due to a need to reach out to the Chinese-speaking electorate.
After he became Prime Minister of Singapore, Chinese language schools and newspapers were closed down on suspicions of being hotbeds of communist activism.
Singapore’s leading Chinese university Nantah was merged with University of Singapore to form NUS in 1980. English became the medium of education in all government schools and Chinese was relegated to become a second language.
When Lee finally realized his folly following the rise of China in the 1980s, it is too late – an entire generation of ethnic Chinese Singaporeans have lost their cultural roots.
Chinese education is more than just learning the language. It involves knowing and understanding Chinese culture, history and literacy as well.
With China poised to become an economic powerhouse in the next decade, it may be too late for Singapore to salvage its Chinese education and nurture another group of Chinese intellectuals and elite from the scratch.
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x12831 on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 1:42 pm
I have serious doubt about the sincerity of LKY’s admission of a “mistake”. It is political expediency. The least humiliating way to make himself looks human. Regardless, our kids dislike Mandarin/Chinese primarily a reaction to the heavy emphasis of the Chinese language in schools. I never regard Mandarin as a ‘mother tongue’, our spoken dialect is our mother tongue and culture.
j on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 2:42 pm
arthur lim is pretty ridiculous. as i posted on st forum,
a surgeon or an accountant or architect or banker or whatever key professional who can speak an extra language has an edge over one who cannot! (my friends who are going to be doctors have to have some knowledge of malay and other chinese dialects!!!)
even street hawkers, especially in tourist areas, who can speak an extra language probably get more business!
anyway even at o level, if you want to go to jc, you have to count the best six subjects – at least one language, one maths, one science and one humanities! even if you want to go into science stream and be doctor, still need to do well in languages and humanities!
csl on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 3:02 pm
I certainly do not feel that I have lost my cultural roots. I also happen to belong to that generation born in the 80s.
I would admit our cultural appreciation for Chinese literature, arts and various cultural activities is a tad lower than say our counterparts across the causeway. The main difference lies in the fact that the Chinese are in the minority there while we are in the majority here. If we try to champion our roots too hard, then it may or may not be taken as a message to our other fellow citizens that we are more “superior” than they are.
The schools also play a part in how they help foster interest in Chinese culture. CCAs that revolve around Chinese music, dance and other activities (chess, poetry appreciation etc) play an important part. Thing is clubs like the one I joined back then known as Chinese Language Debate, Drama Society was discontinued due to poor attendance and membership. Even the Chinese dance club in JSS which was very successful is now discontinued too. Luckily the Orchestra is still around. I worry for the future if the clubs are discontinued and students are not allowed to join up to foster their interests in cultural activities. Of course, the lack of points also play a part. Given how performance oriented our students and parent are, it would mean that slowly and surly clubs will die out.
Living in a society like ours does mean that our traditional activities and religious activities will become sidelined. As more and more ethnic Chinese take up lifestyles and religious beliefs that originate from the Western world, things like Ge Tai (found in Malaysia and SG only China dun even have), tradition Chinese performing arts will become increasingly foreign. Having Chinese schools may help, but the students then have the danger where they will have difficulty conducting business with the other side of the world.
I sometimes feel that we the chinese like feel a little victimised. I have not seen Malays complaining that Bahasa Melayu is hard to learn or master. Indian students have the option of Hindi and Tamil (correct me if I am wrong) and yet no one mentions much about how their language is so hard. Mind you Tamil and Hindi are written in script.
Finally, have anyone considered how much the Cultural Revolution has destroyed in China? Various pratices were discontinued during that time and have been preserved by overseas Chinese like us and in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
rc on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 3:04 pm
i don’t think that it is too late. schools like Dunman High, Hwachong Institution (when it was still The Chinese High School) and Nanyang Girls’ High continued to nurture individuals who are bicultural (i.e. able to grasp both English and Chinese and have intimate knowledge of the Chinese Culture), many of whom studied in the best universities in China (Beida, Qinghua and Shanghai Fudan). now these schools are pushing even harder to develop students to be bicultural. systemically, the education system has done quite a fair bit.
the question is whether society (i.e. parents) will help to encourage children to master Chinese and learn more about Chinese culture, history and traditions. in the past, it was deemed cool to be more ‘ang-moh’ and uncool to be ‘cheena’. will this societal view change?
Terence Goh on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 3:56 pm
Chinese is a difficult language to learn. Moreover the image of China is poor. So Chinese learners will learn it because of their roots or for practical reasons like doing business. Average Singaporeans are not businessmen, and more likely to learn because of their Chinese roots.
However the government has been trying to kill dialects, in the process killing off our cultural roots instead. and with that our motivation for learning Chinese.
ayama on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 5:41 pm
This old fart is just an opportunist,now that China is getting rich and powerful,he wants you to master the chinese language,so that you can have good “Quansi” when doing business.
Not because he sees cultural value,but rather the $$$$ value.
See if he would promote the language had China remain poor and backward like it did years ago.
Had he been able to see that over 30 years ago he would not have shut down Nanyang University.
Tony Pang on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 8:43 pm
The establishment of English as Singapore’s national language is logical and sound – maybe not so from linguistic point of view – but it sure as hell makes sense from a Political+Cultural viewpoint.
Singapore in its early history – is a hotbed of ethinic riots and unrest. Enclaves of enthic communitites are a common sight – misunderstanding+lack of interaction+mutual distrusts spark many conflicts on this tiny island.
English was the perfect tool – to wipe the slake clean; no group (Chinese, Malays, Indians..etc) is superior than the other – all are equal under this ruling.
Granted with the adoption of English, we have lost some of our cultural heritage – but as all of us have known – nothing in life is free – everything comes at a cost.
We have traded national unity, peace and prosperity for a little cultural heritage – Without which, we could have never be able to stand tall in the global stage. *don’t believe me – just look across the causeway – see what they have done when they “favoured” Malay and alienated a sizeable portion of the populace*
Kudos that the old fag – LKY – the realization that the age of “Westernization – English” is outdated (like the MM himself) – a replic of another time.
Modern Singapore no longer requires a reliance on English anymore. (1) Singaporeans no longer classify themselves based on their ethics – just simply as “Singaporeans” (2) The shift of global power is moving away from the Western pro-english sphere over to Asia (India + China) (3) The improvement of our regional neighbours, no longer renders our command in the English language as a strategic bonus.
In short – the knowledge of English has lost its niche and has been relegated as a tactical skill, rather than a strategic skill.
The resurgence of China and India – has affirmed the knowledge of Indian(Hindi/Tamil) and Mandarin – as strategic skills much, needed for the success into this new Asia Golden era.
Only the fool will hold on to beliefs/items of the past – the wise will always look ahead, change and adapt for the future.
Eventually the wise will triumph and survive – whereas the fools will perish and join the ranks of “extinction”
cy on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 9:30 pm
to rc,
as far as i know,the sap schools you named are now also speaking more in english than chinese.
Grateful for Chinese on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 10:30 pm
Learning Chinese was awful when I was doing it, but I’m so grateful I speak it as a second language.
I have made a great life for myself in Singapore, and I’ve been through the Singapore education system all my life, with exchange programmes in France and a post graduate degree in Australia. So I’m not blinded by the PAP or anything…… My parents came from very humble backgrounds and made something out of their lives and didn’t whine and bitch.
Now they are very upper middle class, and I am by no means earning a crap salary even when compared to someone of my level in Australia (which for some reason some Singaporeans think is heaven on earth) or the UK.
I hated learning Chinese from Primary school to JC, but can now do consultancy work for Chinese clients without much problems. In fact, I am VERY grateful I went through those painful Chinese lessons, because it is such an invaluable skill today. To all you parents who migrated because your children couldn’t cope with Chinese, I really cannot understand why. Did you seriously want to deprive your children from learning such a useful language? If your kids were crap at science would you have migrated too?
People – stop bitching about how the PAP has made your life awful. We all have choices and we all can choose to work with the system we have. I know people who went to poly and are earning $100k a year before they turn 27. Unfortunately I’m not one of them, but if your life sucks, don’t blame the government yeah….
Schön Mitchelle on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 10:51 pm
There was a time when many in singapore believed English is King forever.
knnbccb on Fri, 27th Nov 2009 12:07 am
It is useless. The whole education system of Singapore is geared towards churning out obedient yes-men and corporate slaves. Every subject offered in schools and universities is geared towards how much GDP it can potentially generate for Singapore. Remember the life sciences hype some years back? Everything is too pragmatic and uninspiring. That’s why Singapore will never have a distinct inspirational culture or Nobel prize winners.
Naturally, learning Chinese, or any language, is no exception. LKY cheerleads China and the Chinese language because of the potential economic benefits (key word: ‘useful’) it’ll bring to Singapore. Hey, how about letting the kids learn the language simply because of interest, without coercion, and without giving a rat’s ass to any macro socio-economic objectives?
Keep in mind this is the same LKY who, not too long ago, suspected Chinese-speaking folks were closet commies. Refer to the Nanyang University incident. Or for a more recent example, Tang Liang Hong the evil Chinese chauvinist. LKY sings a different tune and does his usual politically expedient thing. Small wonder he’s in this business for so long.
nocolour on Fri, 27th Nov 2009 12:09 am
all the sound and fury, politicising Chinese language education.
Meanwhile, the real mother tongues of Peranakans, Portuguese Eurasians and Chitty Indians are quietly facing extinction. We should be considered semi-indigenous as our culture is unique to this part of the world.
Once they are gone, there’s no going back.
Greatest Asia on Fri, 27th Nov 2009 12:09 am
Ha ha ha!
Freedom of speech?
Democracy?
Why is my comment?
How come being removed?
State Media also never do that to me.
Ha ha ha!
Why?
Got go ask SDP bo?
Or they are only capable to handle wet market?
You beloved Dr Chee can speak Mandarin bo?
Ha ha ha!
Wet market aunties!!!
benwani humania on Fri, 27th Nov 2009 2:37 pm
LKY and Language Learning
When the Japanese occupied Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew reportedly said he began realising the importance of learning Chinese characters through the numerous Kanji used by the ruling Japanese colonisers. Apparently, the few years of Chinese education he had undergone in his earlier childhood hardly inculcated any cultural affinity for Chinese characters at all other than perhaps what he has called the madness of “tingxie” and “moxie”. Still he sent his three children to go through just that from primary one all the way to secondary four.
Given the historical circumstances of colonial subjugation during his formative years from childhood to early adulthood, there is nothing usual about Lee’s disdain or even contempt for the Chinese language and culture. Many in his generation who called themselves “King’s Chinese” often adopted their British colonial masters’ attitude of regarding all local Asian languages and cultures such as Malay, Chinese and Tamil as inferior to English. In fact, these handful of people among the general Chinese community in British Malaya tend to look down on the vast majority of their fellow Chinese descendants who are newly-arrived immigrants from China. They consider speaking English with a British accent to be a hallmark of cultural and intellectual sophistication.
Many “King’s Chinese” even called England their “zhujia” (ancestral home in Mandarin Chinese) and sang “God Save the King” no less fervently than the British “Angmo”. They identified themselves as British rather Asian and look up to the “Angmo” they see in the newspaper, magazines and movies as role models to emulate. The British colonial rulers were very successful in inculcating their “Angmo” superiority mindset among those who consider themselves to be “King’s Chinese”.
However, Dai Nippon Teikoku (Great Imperialist Japan) delivered a devastating blow to such colonial mindset when it’s lightly armed imperial army came sweeping through the Malay peninsula without much resistance from the more heavily armed British armed forces. Many young “King’s Chinese” from Lee’s generation were given a shocking lesson from the historical reality of such a humiliating defeat for their beloved British empire. Many young “King’s Chinese” began learning Japanese and Kanji to begin serving their new colonial masters; Lee became an interpreter for the Japanese rulers while thousands of other Chinese youths voluntarily risk their lives and limbs fighting against the Japanese invaders in the Malayan jungle.
When Pax Britannica ruled supreme, people such as Lee sang “God Save the King” and mastered the English Language; when Pax Nipponica ruled supreme, they sang “Kimi Ga Yo” and learned Japanese and even to write the Kanji they had earlier learned to dislike at home or in school. For people such as Lee, languages are a means to wield political and economic power. Any language will do so long as it can help people like him stay in power and in control. It’s the same old pragmatic mindset characterized by a famous modern Chinese saying “black cat or white cat … a good cat is one that can catch mice …”, isn’t it?
Elementary My Dear Watson on Fri, 27th Nov 2009 4:00 pm
benwani
LKY had to learn Mandarin to get through with his learning of Japanese during the occupation years. The reason was very simple – he acted as an “interpreter” for the Japanese Army administration. In our present days interpreter = informer. Our President Nathan was also in the employ of the Japanese during that period – he was a Imperial Japanese police officer (you can see a clear picture of him in Kempetai uniform at http://www.yeocheowtong.com).
Elementary My Dear Watson on Fri, 27th Nov 2009 4:08 pm
Singaporeans better wake up from their slumber. LKY has always been afraid of those from his generation because they knew of his treacherous past (including Operation Cold Store – that very name of the operation already suggested at the outset that those who got caught in the dragnet would be detained indefinitely). Well most of those in his generation have come to pass, so he can now be more relaxed, that’s why we have a few freebies thrown our way here and there.
The younger Singaporeans should not be misled by these wolves in sheep’s skin. Before you adolate with all the praises about the achievement Singapore has acquired during his tenure of office, weigh these against other aspects and unsavoury alternative news which have not been reported by his state controlled media.
sne on Sat, 28th Nov 2009 5:44 pm
He’s just trying to por China’s lp, now that we’re getting 2 pandas from them. And he’s afraid that no one will invest in china without being proficient in the chinese language.
Jenny on Fri, 4th Dec 2009 10:30 am
I am a Singaporean currently residing in China. I don’t speak much Chinese while in Singapore but it is here in China that I finally realise the importance of Chinese and I am thankful that I was taught Chinese in school. My Chinese was poor in school but now I can speak pretty good Chinese and read newspaper articles in Chinese. My husband has been posted here by his company (an American MNC) and one of the reasons for his posting is because he is bilingual. I think it is one of our biggest advantage at least for now. Thus, the insistence on bilingualism is good. Many people I know here, some Indians and a growing number of westerners, can speak Chinese or are picking up the language.
Let me share how the people learn Chinese here in China.
My 2 young children attend international school here but they are learning Chinese lessons taught by the local Chinese teachers . Here in China, the children learn through spelling and dictation as well. (Their local schools are worse. Their learning is even more rigorous. In local schools, all other subjects other than English, are taught in Chinese.) Also their textbooks are filled with words which have very small prints as they have many chapters to cover and would be extremely thick if they choose to adopt the font size we use in Singapore textbook. Initially when I was here teaching my children, I really find it difficult to read as we are so use to big prints. The words introduced were also difficult. (Somehow the system here is they will throw you to the deep end of the pool and you either sink or swim.) I was worried it will kill my children’s interest in learning the language. However, my worry was unfounded as it is a matter of getting accustom to it. Somehow young children can adapt themselves better than we think. Some of my children’s Caucasian and Indian classmates can even speak Chinese and write Chinese as well as the Taiwanese. They do not use English to teach Chinese but somehow these young children naturely immerse themselves in the Chinese language. The Chinese teachers will not speak to the child in English otherwise why would the English speaking child want to take the hard way of expressing himself in Chinese ?
Many of these children have parents who do not speak Chinese or speak the language sparingly. However they have Chinese maids who speak to them in only Chinese at home and they play with classmates from Chinese speaking countries. Also the local Chinese here speak mostly Chinese and inorder to get around, food, transport, etc. it is necessary to know the language.
In Singapore it is different. English is our working language. Most people feel English is THE language to master.(It is only until recently that we find the strong need to improve our Chinese standard with the growing strength of China.) Thus many parents speak to their children in English and they learn the language naturally. When we use the language daily, it becomes easy. If we are not speaking Chinese as much, we are not providing our children with good enough environment to practise using the language. Expecting the children to master Chinese merely from the couple of hours of learning in school and tuition and more tuition each week will only make the poor child hate the language. Thus, I feel we should aim at creating an environment for children to start using this language more and not just blaming on the teaching method at schools.
Parents who feel Chinese is important should start speaking more Chinese to their children at home etc. Parents should set good examples by picking up Chinese and speaking this language at home. If they feel Chinese is important then they should be speaking it themselves.