獨立後，新加坡政府極力提倡英語教育。由小學開始便使用英語授課，經過一代的努力，成績有目共睹。
由於英文程度普遍提升了，新加坡在各方面都比它的鄰國佔有優勢。英語的普及有助於推廣旅遊業和對外貿易，引進國際投資，便利金融市場的運作。新加坡國民使用英語能力之強，傲視同儕，是無往不利的條件。它能晉陞為亞洲四小龍之一，是拜英語普及之賜。
提倡英語教育却產生了正面和負面的效果，新加坡正為此尋找對策。一個原以中華文化為核心和使用中文為主要語言的社會，突然變成一個以英文取代一切的國家。這個轉變不是每個國民都可適應過來，其衝擊之巨難以估計。
華裔在北美洲和很多英語國家是屬於少數民族，為了融入主流社會必需學會和熟習英語。他們土生土長的兒女很多只能用英語交流，這是合情合理的。但佔人口比例過半之華人根本就是新加坡的主流，要逼使他們拋棄原來的文化和慣用之語言，全盤去接受外來之文化，有這個必要嗎？如果只是為了促進經濟發展和它所帶來之利益，輕中重英是功利主義和短視的政策，忽視了傳統文化之價值。和新加坡並駕齊驅之亞洲其他三小龍，香港台灣和南韓便從未忽略傳統文化之傳承，而他們在經濟上之成就一點也不遜色於新加坡。這三個國家的國民英語水平或許落後於新加坡，但在傳統文化之拓展方面却有驕人的成積，可引以自豪。反觀新加坡之舊有文化變得破碎凋零，是遭受無情冷待之結果，值得嗎？為政之道是要眼光遠大，才不至於開倒車。
中國的崛起影響了新加坡對語言教育之取向。由於要和中國打交道，華語開始被提倡，馬來語却被冷落了。雖然新加坡國歌以馬來文譜成，馬來語的官方地位及其普及性則大不如前。政府低調處理這個轉變，盡力穩定馬來族裔的情緒。中文再受到重視是明智的選擇，中華文化的前途可望一片光明。
黃啟樟 2011/12/13
http://www.davidkcwong.blogspot.com/
刊於2011/12/29日 加拿大商報
由於英文程度普遍提升了，新加坡在各方面都比它的鄰國佔有優勢。英語的普及有助於推廣旅遊業和對外貿易，引進國際投資，便利金融市場的運作。新加坡國民使用英語能力之強，傲視同儕，是無往不利的條件。它能晉陞為亞洲四小龍之一，是拜英語普及之賜。
提倡英語教育却產生了正面和負面的效果，新加坡正為此尋找對策。一個原以中華文化為核心和使用中文為主要語言的社會，突然變成一個以英文取代一切的國家。這個轉變不是每個國民都可適應過來，其衝擊之巨難以估計。
華裔在北美洲和很多英語國家是屬於少數民族，為了融入主流社會必需學會和熟習英語。他們土生土長的兒女很多只能用英語交流，這是合情合理的。但佔人口比例過半之華人根本就是新加坡的主流，要逼使他們拋棄原來的文化和慣用之語言，全盤去接受外來之文化，有這個必要嗎？如果只是為了促進經濟發展和它所帶來之利益，輕中重英是功利主義和短視的政策，忽視了傳統文化之價值。和新加坡並駕齊驅之亞洲其他三小龍，香港台灣和南韓便從未忽略傳統文化之傳承，而他們在經濟上之成就一點也不遜色於新加坡。這三個國家的國民英語水平或許落後於新加坡，但在傳統文化之拓展方面却有驕人的成積，可引以自豪。反觀新加坡之舊有文化變得破碎凋零，是遭受無情冷待之結果，值得嗎？為政之道是要眼光遠大，才不至於開倒車。
中國的崛起影響了新加坡對語言教育之取向。由於要和中國打交道，華語開始被提倡，馬來語却被冷落了。雖然新加坡國歌以馬來文譜成，馬來語的官方地位及其普及性則大不如前。政府低調處理這個轉變，盡力穩定馬來族裔的情緒。中文再受到重視是明智的選擇，中華文化的前途可望一片光明。
黃啟樟 2011/12/13
http://www.davidkcwong.blogspot.com/
刊於2011/12/29日 加拿大商報
Hello Uncle David,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this article. Here are my thoughts. You are correct in observin that the teaching if English as a first language in the national curriculum has helped Singapore compete in the economy which was largely driven by western economies in the last 50 years or so. Besides this point, singapore has 4 major racial groups whose needs have to be addressed and english was the common language that was able to provide a bridge of communication. Most of the first generation immigrants from india and china still did not speak any english and still do not really need to. Families with grandparents are more likely to be the ones to benefit from a passing down of traditions. With different races and religions, having a common language certainly helps. My neighbour was Malay Muslim, because that is how the government ensures that the racial groups are well dispersed within the public housing system. With the increasing privatization of real estate and influx if immigrants from China, this might change.
Language for utility is one point. The govt has been blatant about its education system being quite one-minded towards the direction it wants its population to pursue. In the 80s manufacturing was a booming industry. By the 90s it was the sciences and engineering. In the last decade, biotech and computing. The state is small, so there is no space for curriculum such as asthetics or cultural or historical placement. Everyone has to be worked hard to produce fine lawyers trained in technical detail, doctors, engineers etc. i don't think there was a consideration for including any cultural studies, much less chinese culture. The only place i first heard of confucius or any part of chinese history was in university here. I felt strongly the lack of depth in any knowledge i had acquired when i faced classmates who are caucasian but who have a deeper understanding of the politics and goings on around the world. Sure my education in sg allowed me to skip a grade in canada but only because i was technically adept at working out math solutions by rote, not because i understood the logic behind pythagora's theorem.
The cultural dialogue has only recently started in sg. Graduates from australia, europe etc have all gone back and realised that there is a gap. However my generation is still raised emulating western culture, the ideals of free speech, we all read shakespeare and to kill a mockingbird, not any of the chinese classics. It will take another generation after us to see the change to a more chinese centric view. I am not sure what the govt is doing in terms of language strategy but we will see.
Ps: you know patrick is in beijing now and hates it there, but that is another discussion. I saw a starbucks being placed right in a chinese palace. It is apparently ok to chinese officials, but my western ideals fir preservation of culture caused me to be alarmed.
Best regards,
Vincie
David
ReplyDeleteEconomically speaking by way of international trades, Singapore is going downhill among the Dragons.
Korea takes the lead with its world-class brands such as Hyundai, Kia, Samsung and LG in the vehicles, home appliances and electronics industries. Next comes Taiwan that occupies significant shares in the computer and computer-peripheral markets in the world under the labels of Asus, Acer, Gigabyte and MSI.
Singapore even cannot compete with Hong Kong for the third place, since the latter has the support of the Mainland China.
Malaysia is coming up strong economically and financially, becoming a fierce competitor to Singapore. Geopolitics too poses potential threats to Singapore as its relationship with Indonesia and Malaysia is not all that sweet.
Back to your article. The Chinese-Singaporeans will lose their ethnic identity if they allow the Chinese culture to lapse. But this is unlikely to happen since Chinese (Simplified Chinese in written form and Mandarin in spoken form) has been one of the official languages of Singapore. I may not be up-to-date, but I am not aware that Chinese had been abandoned in favour of English at one time. While I concur with what you said in general, I am a bit confused when you alleged that "但佔人口比例過半之華人根本就是新加坡的主流，要逼使他們拋棄原來的文化和慣用之語言，全盤去接受外來之文化.........反觀新加坡之舊有文化變得破碎凋零". Do you mean the Chinese-Singaporeans no longer observe the Chinese traditions, such as the Chinese festivals, by government mandate? Could you please shed more light on this aspect?
PF
This minute is right next minute could be wrong.
ReplyDelete