I read a lot voices concerned by Singaporean with related to suggestion of switching to American English from current native English. During recent forum held in NTU, Singapore's former minister mentor LKY hinted to adapt US English due to US's accelerating dominance of internet and social media websites. City state is trying to set up the English hub for those people from the region. As MM Lee's idea is always taken into consideration, MOE seem tend to change its curriculum from current British English to US English. Some insists why need to change while their own Singlish is still can be used to communicate among people. One reason we cannot argue with MM Lee's comment on improving English language skill is to maintain Singapore's competitive edge. He also stressed that Singaporean's effective English performed integral part of City state's long term success. Because of this, more and more MNCs chose this tiny state as an ideal place to set up their new regional head quarter. Let them argue as it's their business.
What concern us is what English are we using in our mother land? Probably it's likely to be English version as most of our curriculum were heritages from English's colony time one. Myanmar was once famous for its English language skill and deemed an ideal place to learn English language in the region. I once heard that in the old days, regional meetings usually selected Myanmar official to chair due to their English proficiency. This can be truth as we have seen our fellow citizen the world's most important post, UN general secretary in the past. Another good example would be our national hero General Aung San who is well known for his English skill, even British official appreciated his ability with handling English speeches. Let it be because it was in past and gone.
Then how is current's situation with us? Frankly, we, Burmese workers, are known for poor in English language skill in abroad. It's hurt to see such news cruelly even published in some media here. Generally, those who come out of country are well educated people and able to speak English better than their fellow citizens who remain works domestically. After they land in foreign land, we find ourselves our English language skill is not enough to compete in the working world. We may be succeed in term of technical. But we have to accept that we cannot expect a top post without mastering English. By this reason alone, we all should try to improve ourselves by taking every chance in polishing our existing language skill.
As we all known, most of Singaporean can speak bilingual which mean a person can speak two languages effectively. Some even trilingual and it make Singaporean stand ahead of their counterparts from other countries. Our education is declining in standard and quality. It become worse and critical when no one seem take care of changing/improving our education system. As a result, our younger generation are more likely to be poorer in English skill and it's absolutely concern that how can they compete with their peers from other country when the time see them as our leaders? I would like to request to our authority to look into it properly and amend accordingly. Please do not hide from truth if you want to really improve the things in country. It'll tell the people how much you are loyal to your country. We'll try to gather working knowledge and language skill here and happily return to mother land once the time is deemed right.
May all my fellow citizens including me speak English effectively by the help of themselves.
What concern us is what English are we using in our mother land? Probably it's likely to be English version as most of our curriculum were heritages from English's colony time one. Myanmar was once famous for its English language skill and deemed an ideal place to learn English language in the region. I once heard that in the old days, regional meetings usually selected Myanmar official to chair due to their English proficiency. This can be truth as we have seen our fellow citizen the world's most important post, UN general secretary in the past. Another good example would be our national hero General Aung San who is well known for his English skill, even British official appreciated his ability with handling English speeches. Let it be because it was in past and gone.
Then how is current's situation with us? Frankly, we, Burmese workers, are known for poor in English language skill in abroad. It's hurt to see such news cruelly even published in some media here. Generally, those who come out of country are well educated people and able to speak English better than their fellow citizens who remain works domestically. After they land in foreign land, we find ourselves our English language skill is not enough to compete in the working world. We may be succeed in term of technical. But we have to accept that we cannot expect a top post without mastering English. By this reason alone, we all should try to improve ourselves by taking every chance in polishing our existing language skill.
As we all known, most of Singaporean can speak bilingual which mean a person can speak two languages effectively. Some even trilingual and it make Singaporean stand ahead of their counterparts from other countries. Our education is declining in standard and quality. It become worse and critical when no one seem take care of changing/improving our education system. As a result, our younger generation are more likely to be poorer in English skill and it's absolutely concern that how can they compete with their peers from other country when the time see them as our leaders? I would like to request to our authority to look into it properly and amend accordingly. Please do not hide from truth if you want to really improve the things in country. It'll tell the people how much you are loyal to your country. We'll try to gather working knowledge and language skill here and happily return to mother land once the time is deemed right.
May all my fellow citizens including me speak English effectively by the help of themselves.
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