[lg policy] Singapore: Mr Lee said no one can master two languages at the same level

[Tze Wei Sim]

Mandarin is important but remains a second language in S’pore: MM Lee

Mandarin is important but remains a second language in S’pore: MM Lee

[image: Mandarin is important but remains a second language in S’pore: MM
Lee]

SINGAPORE: Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said Mandarin is important but it
remains a second language in Singapore. So parents must be realistic in
their expectations.

Mr Lee was alluding to the furore which erupted after media reports that the
Education Ministry was looking at whether to reduce the weighting of the
Mother Tongue Language, reports that have since been debunked.

Speaking at a dialogue following a Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes
in East and Southeast Asia, Mr Lee said no one can master two languages at
the same level.

So if parents want their kids to have a good grasp of Mandarin, a lot of
time and effort is needed.

Mr Lee also spoke about his struggles in learning the language.

He said his motivation for learning Mandarin is a matter of pride and not
economic reasons.

And because he learnt it as an adult, there were several hurdles to
overcome, such as nailing the different intonations.

Though he can now speak it fluently, he remains modest about his command of
the language.

MM Lee said: "If my English gets an A, then my Mandarin gets a C, it can’t
be helped. No two languages are the same. No one, including translators, can
say their command of two languages is the same." — CNA/vm

http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4178647
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