Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
新加坡华文教学名存实亡
original from: www.theonlinecitizen.com
新加坡华文教学名存实亡
新加坡华文教学名存实亡
November 28, 2009 by Lee Chong
Filed under Chinese section
作者：杨邦尼
自新加坡内阁资深李光耀反思双语教育的误区以来，关于新加坡华文教育改革的说法就层出不穷，而这种频繁关注也从侧面反映出一些问题。马来西亚《星洲 日报》 26日刊发评论说，新加坡的华文教学已名存实亡，提早进入“对外汉语教学”的世界大潮，就像欧美人士学汉语，教语法，分辨主谓宾语，如何卷舌发音等。
文章摘录如下：
自上周，新加坡内阁资政李光耀在华文教研中心会上对当前华文教学撂下重话，旋即教育部长黄永宏提出让华文老师用英语在课堂上讲解”的重要宣示，一周 以来，《联合早报》有多篇文章回应。长期关注狮城华语，来自中国暨南大学华文学院院长郭熙教授24日撰文倡议“不能用教母语的方式来教英语家庭长大的新加 坡华人，而应该用对外汉语教学的方法，也就是教洋人的那一套来教他们。”
从李资政、教育部长到海外学人一语中的，不谋而合的认为用英语教华文之必要。至此，我们看见狮城华文教学已名存实亡，提早进入“对外汉语教学”的世 界大 潮，就像欧美人士学汉语，教语法，分辨主谓宾语，如何卷舌发音等，因为狮城华人的第一语言是英语，华语是外语的时代正式来临。
可是，问题来了。狮城华文教师同样面对断层的危险，年轻一代有志当华文教师的本土新加坡华人几希。华文教师的主干来自：要么年届退休的老华文教师，更多是来自中国大陆和大马的华文教师。
新加坡引进大批中国华文教师的同时，形成另一种语言的区隔。说华语的中国教师和说英语的教师其实是壁垒分明的，虽然他们同在一所校园，一个办公室。 要华 文老师用英语讲解，表面上是解决60%来自讲英语华族学生对上华文课的畏惧或憎恶的心理，而实际上要提升华文教师的英语水平，提升到能用英语讲解华文课文 的地步，无疑是艰巨工程。
其实，新加坡的华文已用英语讲解华文，看看《华文词语手册》，不就是中英对照的解释生字吗？又或者是《我报》或《逗号》的中学生版的报纸，不也是在 华文词句中夹杂英文，推广华文的标语诸如“华文cool”或“华文fun”，一方面掏空心思让华语文变得像英文那样的fashion时髦的玩意，一方面以 港台的流行文化为诱因吸引年经人讲华语，读华文资讯等，或把华文变成像“百万大赢家”的电视游戏节目。总之，学华语文，要好玩，轻松，酷，成了狮城华文教 学和华文老师的挑战和功课，以及更重要的华语力量背后的中国崛起的商机和战略。
这样，我们看到新加坡的华文教学成了难以承受之重，老师和学生都受不了啊。
狮城华文偏离了它原来的轨道，和精英执政团队中将语文工具利益化脱不了关系，花了40年的双语政策，停办20年的华文教育早已是“覆水难收”，它回不了头，就只能往“对外汉语教学”的路子走。幸也乎，不幸也乎？
来源： 中新网 http://www.chinanews.com.cn
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thanks, honest cabby
Nov 24, 2009
Thanks, honest cabby
I AM writing to thank the driver of Comfort taxi SHA 7519A, Mr Eng, who returned the wallet I had left in his taxi with my identity card, credit and ATM cards, as well many important contacts.
I took the cab with my family around 1.30pm on Sunday and realised I has lost my wallet only at 6pm after a gathering at Braddell Muis Auditorium.
As I had some cash in my shirt pocket, I did not check my wallet and took a cab home. When I reached home I realised it was missing. I called the organisers of the gathering if they had found it. I was upset as I needed to use many items in the wallet the next day.
Then, around 7pm, Mr Eng called me and asked if I had lost anything.
He took the trouble to drive to my home to return the wallet and I am really grateful to him.
Abuayubul Ansari
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Latest comments
Good comment from EternalxEternity, the fact that the cabbie did in fact return the lost item needs to be recognised as a gracious act....not the fact that he did it hours later either...the fact that he did return it needs recognition. Dare I say at the risk of being labelled in need of counselling, I was returning to Jakarta airport in the afternoon in a taxi sveral months ago. because of a delayed arrival flight it meant I had 3 hours slept before meetings and a return to the airport.....during the trip back in the warm taxi I feel alseep and my phone slipped on the floor. Arriving and the arirport in a daze I leaped out to check in not realising the abscense of my phone....too late its gone. Even though I had a business card in the phone holder I never saw that phone again.
Why is it so difficult to acknowledge kind acts here? Posted by: Feedback101 at Tue Nov 24 16:29:05 SGT 2009
Dear writer,
How come the taxi driver has your phone number and called you up? And why he took so many hours to do so? Posted by: Singaporexyz at Tue Nov 24 12:46:06 SGT 2009
@ ganesharmak ;
-_- , What's with the fuss? At the very least, he REMEMBERS his manners UNLIKE some people. So what if he's careless at that time? What's with the condemnings that you gave him? First of all, he's grateful which is already good enough, secondly, he EVEN posted it in straitstime to show the good deeds that the fellow man had done fer him. Thirdly, Im sure he'll learn his lessons. Fourthly, he's not perfect. Everybody FORGETS. Fifthly, do you even know his age? Maybe he's already 50+ that his memory isn't good? So, bloody hell, just stop it already. Sheesh, you disgust me. Posted by: EternalxEternity at Tue Nov 24 11:45:16 SGT 2009
I believe you are a grown up fellow. How can you be so stupid and forgetful? You have lost your wallet containing NRIC, credit card, ATM card, etc. How much of a burden you are to the society by your carelessness. Let your concentration be on your belongings while travelling in cab. Or else go for counselling. Posted by: ganesharmak at Tue Nov 24 08:35:13 SGT 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Kindness movement embraces empathy and compassion too
Nov 18, 2009
Kindness movement embraces empathy and compassion too
Giving away gerbera daisies on Kindness Day is only one of the many events staged by the Singapore Kindness Movement to create awareness. -- ST PHOTO: AIDAH RAUF
I THANK Dr Lee Wei Ling for her letter last Friday, 'Better to aim for empathy and compassion', and appreciate her interest, views and feedback.
We fully agree with her views and, indeed, our own understanding and promotion of 'kindness' embraces such values as empathy and compassion. Both go hand in hand.
Promoting the idea of kindness through the distribution of gerbera daisies is only one of the many events staged by the Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) during the year to generate awareness and publicity.
It is no more than a gentle reminder, very much like the Yellow Ribbon campaign for ex-inmates and Pink Ribbon campaign for breast cancer awareness. We hope it will persuade people to at least pause and reflect on the values embodied in 'acts of kindness' towards others.
It is human to err, and to forget as well.
As I write this letter, Canada, Britain and other Commonwealth countries have just commemorated war veterans who gave their lives for freedom on Nov11. On that day, and a few days before the event, citizens of those countries were proud to wear red poppies on the lapels of their coats. One should not underestimate the power of mementoes for they are useful 'hallmarks' that stir the human spirit, imagination and heart. After all, as the late Dr Louis Pascal said: 'The heart has a reason that the mind does not know.' I assure Dr Lee that we are mindful always to ensure that costs are kept to a minimum through sponsorship and by mobilising our many volunteers and friends.
We also work with a range of agencies - charities, non-profit organisations and foundations - and are involved in fund-raising events to support important causes, and offer help and support to those who need it most. As the Greek tragedian Sophocles would have it, 'Kindness gives birth to kindness'.
Koh Poh Tiong
Chairman
Singapore Kindness Movement
Dr Lee Wei Ling - Better to aim for empathy and compassion
Nov 13, 2009
KINDNESS DAY
Better to aim for empathy and compassion
MONDAY'S report ('Kindness can blossom, even in Singapore') about the Singapore Kindness Movement suggests Singaporeans are cynical about kindness. I cannot tell whether that is a factual statement or an inaccurate conjecture, as many people know me as Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's daughter and do not behave as they would naturally behave to 'ordinary people'.
To me, more important than social graces, which seem to be the target of the Singapore Kindness Movement, are empathy and compassion. A little brusqueness or inconsiderate behaviour that is a nuisance but causes no serious harm, such as not clearing the tray after you finish eating at a foodcourt, is bad but not terrible.
I do think giving yellow gerbera daisies for acts of 'kindness' is a little hare-brained, though harmless as long as the financial cost is minimal. I think empathy and compassion, where we go out of our way to help the less fortunate, are far more important than being gracious.
I sometimes forget to be gracious, especially if I am in a rush. I am not proud of it, but what I would never condone nor knowingly do is to neglect to help someone who needs help and whom I am able to help. More important than a Kindness Week is to inculcate a life-long principle of compassion and encourage proactive help for those who need it.
No yellow gerbera daisies are needed to reward such acts. The knowledge that we have helped someone is reward enough.
Dr Lee Wei Ling
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
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