<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Get locals, China-born citizens to interact for two-way language learning
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->TWO reports encouraging the use of Chinese ('Brush up on your Chinese at new portal', July 19) and English ('Mah urges new citizens to adapt to local ways', Sunday) offer an intriguing option.
The first report stresses the importance of Chinese, while the second encourages new citizens to blend in with native-born Singaporeans by proactively learning English.
The Government should find ways to marry the two objectives mentioned in the two reports.
Encouraging tech-savvy young Singaporeans to use the new Chinese portal does not necessarily mean they will be able to master Chinese with ease, though it is a step in the right direction.
Since Singapore is taking in more China-born people as permanent residents and eventually citizens, this trend presents the ideal environment for native-born Singaporeans to practise Chinese. We should make use of their increasing presence in Singapore to our advantage.
As most of these Chinese nationals come here as students, set up opportunities for them to interact with students from our schools. If they are already in our schools, encourage our students to learn from them, in terms of culture and language.
Instead of worrying about the threat of them taking away our jobs, we should welcome them as the key to opening the gateway to China.
Let us take every opportunity to turn something seemingly negative into something positive.
Harry Ng
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->TWO reports encouraging the use of Chinese ('Brush up on your Chinese at new portal', July 19) and English ('Mah urges new citizens to adapt to local ways', Sunday) offer an intriguing option.
The first report stresses the importance of Chinese, while the second encourages new citizens to blend in with native-born Singaporeans by proactively learning English.
The Government should find ways to marry the two objectives mentioned in the two reports.
Encouraging tech-savvy young Singaporeans to use the new Chinese portal does not necessarily mean they will be able to master Chinese with ease, though it is a step in the right direction.
Since Singapore is taking in more China-born people as permanent residents and eventually citizens, this trend presents the ideal environment for native-born Singaporeans to practise Chinese. We should make use of their increasing presence in Singapore to our advantage.
As most of these Chinese nationals come here as students, set up opportunities for them to interact with students from our schools. If they are already in our schools, encourage our students to learn from them, in terms of culture and language.
Instead of worrying about the threat of them taking away our jobs, we should welcome them as the key to opening the gateway to China.
Let us take every opportunity to turn something seemingly negative into something positive.
Harry Ng
