Comments on: MM Lee’s admission – a good time for govt to reflect on policy http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/ a community of Singaporeans Sun, 21 Mar 2010 09:34:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: isupportu http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-118699 isupportu Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:58:24 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-118699 I did well in both languages! Thanks to MM's vision and direction. What a leader! We love and respect his leadership! I did well in both languages! Thanks to MM’s vision and direction. What a leader!

We love and respect his leadership!

]]> By: contrarian http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-117643 contrarian Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:32:06 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-117643 *But I do not see how people can deny that SOME compulsory education in the language CANNOT be abandoned. oops. Looks like my grounding in the English Language hasn't been stellar either. lol. *But I do not see how people can deny that SOME compulsory education in the language CANNOT be abandoned.

oops. Looks like my grounding in the English Language hasn’t been stellar either. lol.

]]> By: contrarian http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-117641 contrarian Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:27:41 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-117641 My experience with Chinese mirrors yourself, even though i got enough tuition to do HCL. However, I can't understand all this self-righteous anger at the policy. Speaking from experience, even though I HATED HCL lesson, I'm forever thankful of the basic proficiency of the language that the Singaporean education system gave me. And can anyone here deny the importance of bilingualism? A command in Mandarin is not just essential for pragmatic business reasons, it is also essential for communicating with fellow Singaporeans, especially those in different stratas of society. Unless you plan to spend your whole life in your ivory tower communicating with people from similar backgrounds, a second language is nigh-essential. And just like English, Math and Science, a government is justified in compelling the populace to study something if its importance is so self-evident. I was horrible at Science, but the basic Scientific education i received is was indispensable. I agree that the MOE has made huge mistakes in the application of the policy. Teaching Chinese through rote-learning has been manifestly unsuccessful, and students should not be denied entry to a local university for failing Chinese. But I do not see how poeeople can deny that SOME compulsory education in the language can be abandoned. My experience with Chinese mirrors yourself, even though i got enough tuition to do HCL. However, I can’t understand all this self-righteous anger at the policy. Speaking from experience, even though I HATED HCL lesson, I’m forever thankful of the basic proficiency of the language that the Singaporean education system gave me.

And can anyone here deny the importance of bilingualism? A command in Mandarin is not just essential for pragmatic business reasons, it is also essential for communicating with fellow Singaporeans, especially those in different stratas of society. Unless you plan to spend your whole life in your ivory tower communicating with people from similar backgrounds, a second language is nigh-essential.

And just like English, Math and Science, a government is justified in compelling the populace to study something if its importance is so self-evident. I was horrible at Science, but the basic Scientific education i received is was indispensable. I agree that the MOE has made huge mistakes in the application of the policy. Teaching Chinese through rote-learning has been manifestly unsuccessful, and students should not be denied entry to a local university for failing Chinese. But I do not see how poeeople can deny that SOME compulsory education in the language can be abandoned.

]]> By: Pedagogy : Who's right, who's wrong http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-117108 Pedagogy : Who's right, who's wrong Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:09:18 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-117108 MM Lee admits he's wrong : does that mean he's REALLY wrong ? With MM Lee's about turn, the table's now turned into the blame game. Everyone who's ever flunked their Chinese lessons crawl out of the woodwork to blame their chinese teachers, blame boring lessons, blame everything and everyone except themselves for their inability to master Chinese. Pedagogy trends in language come and go, teachers can use English to teach chinese in school, use I.T, use other creative and interesting methods but at the end of the day, the question teachers will ask themselves is : My innovative methods may interest my students, but can these methods make him DO WELL in the EXAM ? Is teaching Chinese interestingly and doing well in exam mutually exclusive ? The bottom line is Singapore's exam based system makes it difficult to really teach for learning, not just teach for passing exams. MM Lee admits he’s wrong : does that mean he’s REALLY wrong ?

With MM Lee’s about turn, the table’s now turned into the blame game. Everyone who’s ever flunked their Chinese lessons crawl out of the woodwork to blame their chinese teachers, blame boring lessons, blame everything and everyone except themselves for their inability to master Chinese.

Pedagogy trends in language come and go, teachers can use English to teach chinese in school, use I.T, use other creative and interesting methods but at the end of the day, the question teachers will ask themselves is : My innovative methods may interest my students, but can these methods make him DO WELL in the EXAM ?

Is teaching Chinese interestingly and doing well in exam mutually exclusive ?

The bottom line is Singapore’s exam based system makes it difficult to really teach for learning, not just teach for passing exams.

]]> By: patriot http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-117070 patriot Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:01:19 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-117070 Language usage as seen in the pragmatic manner of the Leadership is(was) that it must have the greatest commercial value, in short; a business language. And this is how it is explained, the political developments and connotations that lead the Vernaculars to their impotence today, have little or no relevance to the younger generations; may i subjectively put it as after Year 1965. The Over Fifties in Singapore are likely to have better understandings of the Language Situation and would also have their pro and anti reasons for the Langauage Policy as implemented by Lee Kuan Yew. One aspect is very clear, majority of the pro vernaculars(Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and Arabic etc) were(are) the view that the English Language was used as a significant weapon to rid or reduced the Political Opponents to PAP. The Pro English Language Segment was bought over by the belief that English was the more practical language medium, seasoned and convinced by the century old British Rule; this belief was reasonable. The Anti English Language Policy Communities then were the more conservative and culturally fidel lots who take their cultural roots and values as the main ethos in their livings. It was also true that they were less acceptable of the PAP Leadership then which resulted in the need for the Vernaculars to be relegated for resistances to the PAP to be reduced or crippled. In any case, i opine that MM Lee is innately in love with the English Language as seen in the fact that whenever and wherever he had the opportunity to talk about langauge, he will exhort people to learn English, be it in China, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and everwhere else. Maybe he is genuinely Anglicized while he was studying in England or that that he truly feels that English is the Superior Language. Whichever way he thinks; i think he should respect the choice of the others in this very personal issue. patriot Language usage as seen in the pragmatic manner of the Leadership is(was) that it must have the greatest commercial value, in short; a business language. And this is how it is explained, the political developments and connotations that lead the Vernaculars to their impotence today, have little or no relevance to the younger generations; may i subjectively put it as after Year 1965.

The Over Fifties in Singapore are likely to have better understandings of the Language Situation and would also have their pro and anti reasons for the Langauage Policy as implemented by Lee Kuan Yew. One aspect is very clear, majority of the pro vernaculars(Mandarin, Malay, Tamil and Arabic etc) were(are) the view that the English Language was used as a significant weapon to rid or reduced the Political Opponents to PAP.

The Pro English Language Segment was bought over by the belief that English was the more practical language medium, seasoned and convinced by the century old British Rule; this belief was reasonable.
The Anti English Language Policy Communities then were the more conservative and culturally fidel lots who take their cultural roots and values as the main ethos in their livings. It was also true that they were less acceptable of the PAP Leadership then which resulted in the need for the Vernaculars to be relegated for resistances to the PAP to be reduced or crippled.

In any case, i opine that MM Lee is innately in love with the English Language as seen in the fact that whenever and wherever he had the opportunity to talk about langauge, he will exhort people to learn English, be it in China, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and everwhere else. Maybe he is genuinely Anglicized while he was studying in England or that that he truly feels that English is the Superior Language. Whichever way he thinks; i think he should respect the choice of the others in this very personal issue.

patriot

]]> By: Permanent Resident http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-117057 Permanent Resident Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:13:01 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-117057 A disproportinate amount of time was spent on Chinese which resulted in chinese tutors coffers being filled to the brim and the childrens attempt to live and enjoy a child's life completely drained and dehyrated. Who will give them back their childhood?? All this because of the stubborn policy stuffed down our throats by numerous ministers of education who did what was expected of them. Our education policy changed with the seasons-a few made it and have become robotic in their thinking and will in all likelihood 'pontificate' in a few years time when they become ministers etc. This cycle will go on ad nauseum for years to come. A disproportinate amount of time was spent on Chinese which resulted in chinese tutors coffers being filled to the brim and the childrens attempt to live and enjoy a child’s life completely drained and dehyrated.
Who will give them back their childhood?? All this because of the stubborn policy stuffed down our throats by numerous ministers of education who did what was expected of them. Our education policy changed with the seasons-a few made it and have become robotic in their thinking and will in all likelihood ‘pontificate’ in a few years time when they become ministers etc. This cycle will go on ad nauseum for years to come.

]]> By: ahtong http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-117026 ahtong Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:48:43 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-117026 The articles and responses here fail to appreciate how deeply political language policies are in any country. Missing also is an understanding of Singapore's educational history. The PAP's language policy has always been bilingual policy. This was the legacy of the report of the All Party Report on Chinese Education (1956), where Mr Lee Kuan Yew was a member. This report formed the blueprint of PAP's educational policy when they came to power in 1959. What changed over the years was that in the early years of independence, the focus was on an "English knowing bilingualism". Besides the English Language, Mathematics, Science and technical were emphasized as they were deemed useful for Singapore's industralization. The Chinese community decried the drop in standard of mandarin (yes, mandarin was the medium of instruction in Chinese schools) from the 1960s and 1970s. Today, English is the medium of instruction for all schools in Singapore. However, before 1987, there were Chinese, Malay and Tamil medium schools. Besides the trade unions, the Chinese school students were instrumental in PAP's rise to power in 1959. The split within the PAP in 1961, resulting in the formation of the Barisan Socialis, crippled the party. The Barisan Socialis (BS) had great appeal amongst the Chinese educated, but they (BS) were deeemed as pro-Communists. The PAP had to rebuilt the party from stratch, and they found an ally amongst English educated populance. An example would be the attitude of the Straits Times, which was anti-PAP before it came to power. In the 'battle for merger' with Malaysia, the Straits Times became increasing pro-PAP. We all know that the PAP emerged victorious in the fight. A number of the Barisan Socialis MPs and supporters who were detained for suspected Communist and/or pro-Communist links were Chinese educated. This cast an unfortunate shadow on Chinese schools in Singapore, as they were deemed to be too political and pro-Communist. The English educated and Chinese educated viewed the bilingual policy differently. I shall not elaborate on the problems that bilingualism had on the English educated as most of the people who read theonlinecitizen are very familar with the impact of this policy. To the Chinese educated, the way bilingualism was implemented led to the decline in the standard of Chinese in Singapore. A lot has been written on this in the chinese newspapers, as well in academia. For instance, Dr. Lee Guan Kin of NTU has written some articles in English on this issue (she publishes mostly in chinese). Dr Huang Jianli, historian in NUS has written on the activism of the Chinese school students in the 1950s and 1960s. The speak mandarin campaign (1979) and the introduction of SAP schools (1978) represent a swing in the PAP's emphasis from an English knowing bilingualism, to one that emphasizes the learning of mandarin as the mother tongue for all Chinese. We are feeling the effects of these initiatives today. MM Lee's apology has to be understood in the context of Singapore's educational and and recent political history. We need to know this historical context in order to better understand the bilingual policy today. The articles and responses here fail to appreciate how deeply political language policies are in any country. Missing also is an understanding of Singapore’s educational history.
The PAP’s language policy has always been bilingual policy. This was the legacy of the report of the All Party Report on Chinese Education (1956), where Mr Lee Kuan Yew was a member. This report formed the blueprint of PAP’s educational policy when they came to power in 1959. What changed over the years was that in the early years of independence, the focus was on an “English knowing bilingualism”. Besides the English Language, Mathematics, Science and technical were emphasized as they were deemed useful for Singapore’s industralization. The Chinese community decried the drop in standard of mandarin (yes, mandarin was the medium of instruction in Chinese schools) from the 1960s and 1970s.
Today, English is the medium of instruction for all schools in Singapore. However, before 1987, there were Chinese, Malay and Tamil medium schools. Besides the trade unions, the Chinese school students were instrumental in PAP’s rise to power in 1959. The split within the PAP in 1961, resulting in the formation of the Barisan Socialis, crippled the party. The Barisan Socialis (BS) had great appeal amongst the Chinese educated, but they (BS) were deeemed as pro-Communists. The PAP had to rebuilt the party from stratch, and they found an ally amongst English educated populance. An example would be the attitude of the Straits Times, which was anti-PAP before it came to power. In the ‘battle for merger’ with Malaysia, the Straits Times became increasing pro-PAP. We all know that the PAP emerged victorious in the fight. A number of the Barisan Socialis MPs and supporters who were detained for suspected Communist and/or pro-Communist links were Chinese educated. This cast an unfortunate shadow on Chinese schools in Singapore, as they were deemed to be too political and pro-Communist.
The English educated and Chinese educated viewed the bilingual policy differently. I shall not elaborate on the problems that bilingualism had on the English educated as most of the people who read theonlinecitizen are very familar with the impact of this policy. To the Chinese educated, the way bilingualism was implemented led to the decline in the standard of Chinese in Singapore. A lot has been written on this in the chinese newspapers, as well in academia. For instance, Dr. Lee Guan Kin of NTU has written some articles in English on this issue (she publishes mostly in chinese). Dr Huang Jianli, historian in NUS has written on the activism of the Chinese school students in the 1950s and 1960s.
The speak mandarin campaign (1979) and the introduction of SAP schools (1978) represent a swing in the PAP’s emphasis from an English knowing bilingualism, to one that emphasizes the learning of mandarin as the mother tongue for all Chinese. We are feeling the effects of these initiatives today.
MM Lee’s apology has to be understood in the context of Singapore’s educational and and recent political history. We need to know this historical context in order to better understand the bilingual policy today.

]]> By: F http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-116893 F Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:41:55 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-116893 If all you are looking for is an apology, then perhaps you are letting your emotions run too wild. If all you are looking for is an apology, then perhaps you are letting your emotions run too wild.

]]> By: haunted library http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-116826 haunted library Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:40:44 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-116826 hello 52) lobo76 on November 20th, 2009 3.59 pm oops, thanks for pointing out (my mistake in ti3/bi3)! hello 52) lobo76 on November 20th, 2009 3.59 pm

oops, thanks for pointing out (my mistake in ti3/bi3)!

]]> By: The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 47 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-116804 The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Weekly Roundup: Week 47 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:57:02 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-116804 [...] education: To Bi or not to Bi - TOC: MM Lee’s admission – a good time for govt to reflect on policy - Die neue Welle: I am Singaporean II: Bilingualism is Bad(?) [Recommended] - Urbanrant: Why I [...] [...] education: To Bi or not to Bi – TOC: MM Lee’s admission – a good time for govt to reflect on policy – Die neue Welle: I am Singaporean II: Bilingualism is Bad(?) [Recommended] – Urbanrant: Why I [...]

]]> By: Heavenknow http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-116730 Heavenknow Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:06:38 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-116730 Look at our inter-schools mandarin speaking debate, our top students cannot hold well in their fort without one PRC speaking in reference of the chinese thousands years history, cultures, wisdoms, idioms etc. Not even our Media Corp local comperes can be up the mark, till date except only guo liang or quan yifeng to host the other shows........ real sad....... can our $million education minister care to comment.....why ...... looking back at the education policies implemented......and so call every speak mandarin campaigns.......why last but not least, how many of our $million cabinet ministers are able to...... so to speak.......real sad. Look at our inter-schools mandarin speaking debate, our top students cannot hold well in their fort without one PRC speaking in reference of the chinese thousands years history, cultures, wisdoms, idioms etc.

Not even our Media Corp local comperes can be up the mark, till date except only guo liang or quan yifeng to host the other shows…….. real sad……. can our $million education minister care to comment…..why …… looking back at the education policies implemented……and so call every speak mandarin campaigns…….why

last but not least, how many of our $million cabinet ministers are able to…… so to speak…….real sad.

]]> By: Budamaxx1952 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-116729 Budamaxx1952 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:42:09 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-116729 Pardon, i forget to also include Hindi in my speaking ability. Cheers. Pardon, i forget to also include Hindi in my speaking ability. Cheers.

]]> By: Budamaxx1952 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-116728 Budamaxx1952 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:30:26 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-116728 And by the way, i hope i dont sound boastful, i am tri- lingual; i can read and write in English, Bahasa Melayu and Punjabi (Gurmukhi) and i can speak good Hokkien and Cantonese and a smattering of Teochew and Tamil. The point i am making is that as long as you dont force it down people's throat, people can pick up any language and excell in it, like they do in the free western countries. And by the way, i hope i dont sound boastful, i am tri- lingual; i can read and write in English, Bahasa Melayu and Punjabi (Gurmukhi) and i can speak good Hokkien and Cantonese and a smattering of Teochew and Tamil.

The point i am making is that as long as you dont force it down people’s throat, people can pick up any language and excell in it, like they do in the free western countries.

]]> By: Budamaxx1952 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-116725 Budamaxx1952 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:29:30 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-116725 I am a Punjabi Sikh. My younger brother an ex-army major speaks and write good mandarin, which he picked up during his army days. He was under no pressure to pick-up mandarin, but he was able to do it because he wanted to converse with his man in mandarin. What LKY did, fool that he is,was to force it down the throat of the Chinese, who gave in barely without a whimper. I agree with Andrew that if people are free to choose whatever language they want to learn, who knows we might have produced great Chinese scholars to rival those from China and Taiwan I am a Punjabi Sikh. My younger brother an ex-army major speaks and write good mandarin, which he picked up during his army days. He was under no pressure to pick-up mandarin, but he was able to do it because he wanted to converse with his man in mandarin.

What LKY did, fool that he is,was to force it down the throat of the Chinese, who gave in barely without a whimper.

I agree with Andrew that if people are free to choose whatever language they want to learn, who knows we might have produced great Chinese scholars to rival those from China and Taiwan

]]> By: QQY http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-116678 QQY Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:09:04 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-116678 The question now is - what is wrong with our educational methods through which chinese is being taught that makes it so tedious to learn? Why is it only Singaporeans that are facing such a problem, whereas our neighbours in Malaysia do not and some can speak better mandarin than some of us? People in other countries like Russia, Germany can speak 2 or more languages beside English. The govt should review its teaching methods but w/o sacrificing the language and killing it that our younger generation end up being even more half past six with our languages as we already are currently. Being able to speak and read it at working level is not enough if the next generation of Singaporeans is to remain competitive in the face of these new citizens coming from China. Being able to write it is just as essential. The question now is – what is wrong with our educational methods through which chinese is being taught that makes it so tedious to learn?

Why is it only Singaporeans that are facing such a problem, whereas our neighbours in Malaysia do not and some can speak better mandarin than some of us?

People in other countries like Russia, Germany can speak 2 or more languages beside English.

The govt should review its teaching methods but w/o sacrificing the language and killing it that our younger generation end up being even more half past six with our languages as we already are currently.

Being able to speak and read it at working level is not enough if the next generation of Singaporeans is to remain competitive in the face of these new citizens coming from China. Being able to write it is just as essential.

]]> By: lobo76 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-116677 lobo76 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 07:59:09 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-116677 42) haunted library on November 19th, 2009 8.24 pm two quick points: 1. ‘jian PI zi’? did u mean to say ‘jian BI zi’? 2. ’short-form’ sounds strange. i think u meant ’simplified’. 1. ermm... You are also wrong. it's jian TI zi. “简体字“ 2. Yep. "simplified" chinese is the correct term. It would then become the direct translation of the chinese characters I typed, "simplified form" 42) haunted library on November 19th, 2009 8.24 pm
two quick points:
1. ‘jian PI zi’? did u mean to say ‘jian BI zi’?
2. ’short-form’ sounds strange. i think u meant ’simplified’.

1. ermm… You are also wrong. it’s jian TI zi. “简体字“
2. Yep. “simplified” chinese is the correct term. It would then become the direct translation of the chinese characters I typed, “simplified form”

]]> By: klingon-69 http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-2/#comment-116640 klingon-69 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:10:27 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-116640 IF the policy is FLAWED, would not the 80 + People's Representatives have spoken up about its FLAWS? Why now only? Hey, these 80+ PR's are not for show you know? They are excellent leaders you know? Though paid well and some handsomely, they very busy also you know? IF the policy is FLAWED,
would not the 80 + People’s Representatives have spoken up about its FLAWS?
Why now only?

Hey, these 80+ PR’s are not for show you know? They are excellent leaders you know? Though paid well and some handsomely, they very busy also you know?

]]> By: Wynx http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-116637 Wynx Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:46:04 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-116637 Ajax on November 19th, 2009 2.28 am MM Lee should do a Kevin Rudd and make a public apology to the people for the all the misery we all suffered. Haha..If that happens..I will consider not peeing on his grave when he die..Seriously, he doesn't have that courage. Want to bet? Ajax on November 19th, 2009 2.28 am

MM Lee should do a Kevin Rudd and make a public apology to the people for the all the misery we all suffered.

Haha..If that happens..I will consider not peeing on his grave when he die..Seriously, he doesn’t have that courage. Want to bet?

]]> By: No Substance http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-116632 No Substance Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:24:27 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-116632 This article has no substance. It attacks the policy. Singaporeans who took and passed A-Level Chinese have proven they can learn Both Languages. The policy is effective. But i not sure why many times those who passed A-Level Chinese could not respond in chinese but english when i talk to them in chinese. I am sure A-Level chinese was high standard right? This article has no substance.
It attacks the policy.
Singaporeans who took and passed A-Level Chinese have proven they can learn Both Languages.

The policy is effective.

But i not sure why many times those who passed A-Level Chinese could not respond in chinese but english when i talk to them in chinese.

I am sure A-Level chinese was high standard right?

]]> By: RW http://theonlinecitizen.com/2009/11/mm-lee%e2%80%99s-admission-%e2%80%93-a-good-time-for-govt-to-reflect-on-policy/comment-page-1/#comment-116593 RW Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:52:02 +0000 http://theonlinecitizen.com/?p=16580#comment-116593 I actually don’t understand what is WRONG with learning two languages. The more languages you learn, the more people you can connect with. I like the fact that I can speak English, Mandarin and a little Malay, Hokkien. Ironic and complicated as it sounds, I think LKY is wrong when he said he was ‘wrong’. Notwithstanding the jubilation over the fact that he admitted to a wrong, i think most people agree that being bilingual is a good thing. I actually don’t understand what is WRONG with learning two languages.

The more languages you learn, the more people you can connect with.
I like the fact that I can speak English, Mandarin and a little Malay, Hokkien.

Ironic and complicated as it sounds, I think LKY is wrong when he said he was ‘wrong’.

Notwithstanding the jubilation over the fact that he admitted to a wrong,
i think most people agree that being bilingual is a good thing.

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