http://www.asiaone.com/Motoring/Motorworld/Others/Story/A1Story20090402-132631.html
Thu, Apr 02, 2009
my paper
Bus captains don't know basic English
ON TUESDAY, my friend and I boarded bus service 100.
As we were not sure whether the bus would take us to our destination, we asked the bus captain whether the bus would pass by Shaw Towers.
We realised that he spoke only Mandarin, with a heavy accent.
We tried our best to accommodate him by repeating our question in Mandarin.
He curtly replied in Mandarin: "What tower... No! No!" He then promptly waved us off the bus.
However, when we alighted and checked the route directory, we noted that one of the stops was listed as "Opp Shaw Towers".
What is the stand of bus operators when it comes to situations like this?
In this case, the bus captain did not have an adequate command of English and also did not seem familiar with the landmarks along his route.
Not all passengers understand and speak Mandarin.
Bus operators should ensure that bus captains are welltrained when it comes to handling passengers and knowing their routes.
Bus captains should have at least a basic knowledge of English and be familiar with the stops on their route.
It is also important for them to know what landmarks along their route are called in English.
Mr Melvin Lin Junwei
Thu, Apr 02, 2009
my paper
Bus captains don't know basic English
ON TUESDAY, my friend and I boarded bus service 100.
As we were not sure whether the bus would take us to our destination, we asked the bus captain whether the bus would pass by Shaw Towers.
We realised that he spoke only Mandarin, with a heavy accent.
We tried our best to accommodate him by repeating our question in Mandarin.
He curtly replied in Mandarin: "What tower... No! No!" He then promptly waved us off the bus.
However, when we alighted and checked the route directory, we noted that one of the stops was listed as "Opp Shaw Towers".
What is the stand of bus operators when it comes to situations like this?
In this case, the bus captain did not have an adequate command of English and also did not seem familiar with the landmarks along his route.
Not all passengers understand and speak Mandarin.
Bus operators should ensure that bus captains are welltrained when it comes to handling passengers and knowing their routes.
Bus captains should have at least a basic knowledge of English and be familiar with the stops on their route.
It is also important for them to know what landmarks along their route are called in English.
Mr Melvin Lin Junwei