I don't understand Mandarin

[Ender]

  On 9/24/2022 at 2:15 AM, Windwaver said:

I can forgive if it was an impromptu situation but this AWWA spokesman had plenty of time to prepare for the live broadcast.

I expect a much better job if there's time to prepare, tells you a lot about work ethics of that person.

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Need your forgiveness?? Don't have to listen to him..

[13177]

  On 9/23/2022 at 4:31 AM, Kopites said:

Your benchmark pretty high! That speaker Mandarin articulate and good enunciation imo. 👍 Way much better than me at least. 

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You also ang mo chinese? 😅

[mersaylee]

  On 9/24/2022 at 3:03 AM, Jman888 said:

when they do higher chinese in sec sch, one of the exam is to do media presentation. Can also become reporter but I think 网红 earn more nowadays

 

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Oh yes...she has a pleasant look...

[Windwaver]

  On 9/24/2022 at 2:37 AM, mersaylee said:

One of my daughter's bffs speaks more than perfect mandarin...i was in awe when I first heard her spoke on stage as a MC in skool event...i encouraged her to be a radio DJ or TV presenter...she's doing Chinese studies in uni now 

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Good to know some of our younger folks still take it seriously.

  On 9/24/2022 at 2:49 AM, Lala81 said:

can intern at 100.3.

 

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You tune in to 100.3? 

  On 9/24/2022 at 3:03 AM, Jman888 said:

when they do higher chinese in sec sch, one of the exam is to do media presentation. Can also become reporter but I think 网红 earn more nowadays

 

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Yup and I think TV stations should vet the language quality of their guests before allowing them on national TV.

  On 9/24/2022 at 3:17 AM, mersaylee said:

Oh yes...she has a pleasant look...

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That's a bonus 

[mersaylee]

  On 9/24/2022 at 10:29 AM, Windwaver said:

Good to know some of our younger folks still take it seriously.

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Apparently, though locally borned and bred...the parents were either from China or Taiwan...😂

[Windwaver]

  On 9/24/2022 at 10:44 AM, mersaylee said:

Apparently, though locally borned and bred...the parents were either from China or Taiwan...😂

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At least it's presentable on national TV .

I'm pretty sure you know a couple of foreigners looking down on Chinese in Singapore that doesn't speak Mandarin properly citing us as a bilingual society.

The most ironic experience was actually from a US ex-colleague that speaks Mandarin like a local DJ (he worked in China for some years). He wasn't shy to bring that up during a Friday evening after work in front of a group of us.

[Mahjong74]

  On 9/24/2022 at 11:00 AM, Windwaver said:

At least it's presentable on national TV .

I'm pretty sure you know a couple of foreigners looking down on Chinese in Singapore that doesn't speak Mandarin properly citing us as a bilingual society.

The most ironic experience was actually from a US ex-colleague that speaks Mandarin like a local DJ (he worked in China for some years). He wasn't shy to bring that up during a Friday evening after work in front of a group of us.

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@Windwaver 

Totally agree on the portion on the foreigners looking down on Chinese in Singapore that doesn't speak Mandarin properly citing us as a bilingual society. 

Few years ago, I was employed into a US MNC who was looking for VP / Program Manager who need to oversee a new program for APAC region, especially China. Also to deal with many Chinese legal documents (With the help of professional translator in Hong Kong / China)

This new program / project budget is USD200 mil globally per year, and USD 50mil per year for APAC. 

1st candidate (China) worked 3 months into the job and was transferred due to english language issue. Not many people understand his communicationin in english. 

2nd candidate (India) worked 3 months into the job and was transferred due to english language issue. Not many people understand his communication in in english.

3rd candiate (US) worked 6 months into the job and was transferred due to cultural differences with China counterpart. 

Then they decide to select a SG candidate who is efficient enough in both English and Chinese (spoken and written). After few round of interviews in English and 1 round in chinese, I was lucky enough to be selected for this role with a 50% pay increment.  

Worked 3 years in the position and really further improve my chinese by a lot. Especially when commucating with China colleagues in chinese via meetings, emails, wechat and others....................

Glad that I learn and practise my chinese good enough, landed with this job which is a boost to my carreer. Anyway my mandarain / chinese is much better than my english as my parents are chinese educated from chinese school long ago. 

 

Edited September 24, 2022 by Mahjong74

[Lala81]

  On 9/24/2022 at 11:36 AM, Mahjong74 said:

@Windwaver 

Totally agree on the portion on the foreigners looking down on Chinese in Singapore that doesn't speak Mandarin properly citing us as a bilingual society. 

Few years ago, I was employed into a US MNC who was looking for VP / Program Manager who need to oversee a new program for APAC region, especially China. Also to deal with many Chinese legal documents (With the help of professional translator in Hong Kong / China)

This new program / project budget is USD200 mil globally per year, and USD 50mil per year for APAC. 

1st candidate (China) worked 3 months into the job and was transferred due to english language issue. Not many people understand his communicationin in english. 

2nd candidate (India) worked 3 months into the job and was transferred due to english language issue. Not many people understand his communication in in english.

3rd candiate (US) worked 6 months into the job and was transferred due to cultural differences with China counterpart. 

Then they decide to select a SG candidate who is efficient enough in both English and Chinese (spoken and written). After few round of interviews in English and 1 round in chinese, I was lucky enough to be selected for this role with a 50% pay increment.  

Worked 3 years in the position and really further improve my chinese by a lot. Especially when commucating with China colleagues in chinese via meetings, emails, wechat and others....................

Glad that I learn and practise my chinese good enough, landed with this job which is a boost to my carreer. Anyway my mandarain / chinese is much better than my english as my parents are chinese educated from chinese school long ago. 

 

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Definitely got difference if parents are Chinese ed. Or from Taiwan or China. 

Anyway it's more about whether u can think in Chinese without translation. If u think then translate, then your language ability will be reduced. The more bilingual you are, the less you think in a certain language. 

My mother is mandarin speaking only. So while I don't have much depth in Chinese, my everyday conversational Chinese has always been better than average for kantang schools. 

My wife's Chinese language is much deeper than mine, that's cos her parents are both Chinese Ed. She didn't even have English newspapers in the house while I never read the 早报 unless it's required for some school work. 

For the younger generation, feel that the English medium is even more pervasive. My girl has some interest in Chinese but even then her conversational Chinese tends to be a bit stilted. 

[Sosaria]

  On 9/24/2022 at 1:36 PM, Lala81 said:

Definitely got difference if parents are Chinese ed. Or from Taiwan or China. 

Anyway it's more about whether u can think in Chinese without translation. If u think then translate, then your language ability will be reduced. The more bilingual you are, the less you think in a certain language. 

My mother is mandarin speaking only. So while I don't have much depth in Chinese, my everyday conversational Chinese has always been better than average for kantang schools. 

My wife's Chinese language is much deeper than mine, that's cos her parents are both Chinese Ed. She didn't even have English newspapers in the house while I never read the 早报 unless it's required for some school work. 

For the younger generation, feel that the English medium is even more pervasive. My girl has some interest in Chinese but even then her conversational Chinese tends to be a bit stilted. 

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But at home does everyone speak mandarin or english? Makes a difference, I think. For me and my kids , conversation is just conversational level, no technical terms or deeper nuances, e.g. in expressing opinions or feelings. If I had a PRC or Taiwan spouse it would be a different story!

 

[Lala81]

  On 9/24/2022 at 11:00 AM, Windwaver said:

At least it's presentable on national TV .

I'm pretty sure you know a couple of foreigners looking down on Chinese in Singapore that doesn't speak Mandarin properly citing us as a bilingual society.

The most ironic experience was actually from a US ex-colleague that speaks Mandarin like a local DJ (he worked in China for some years). He wasn't shy to bring that up during a Friday evening after work in front of a group of us.

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Who gives a f what that guy thinks? He's just a snob. 

Asian and western languages are just very different languages structurally and tonally. Hence why Thai, indo Chinese, Cantonese and strong mandarin speakers all struggle with good enunciation and have their own characteristic accents. 

Some people just have a gift for languages. Bilingualism is what most normal people can manage. And almost everyone has a preference. Cos simply you read or understand more with one language. 

 

 

[Lala81]

  On 9/24/2022 at 1:46 PM, Sosaria said:

But at home does everyone speak mandarin or english? Makes a difference, I think. For me and my kids , conversation is just conversational level, no technical terms or deeper nuances, e.g. in expressing opinions or feelings. If I had a PRC or Taiwan spouse it would be a different story!

 

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I've spoken to thousands of kids over the years.

For kids who have prc parent (Taiwanese sometimes but those are in very small numbers), they can converse in both English or Chinese at above average levels. And even though they are 2nd generation, almost always you can tell Just by their mandarin accent. 

Or you have kids who speak English fluently and speak mandarin with a kantang slang. 

Then last you have kids who speak English with subpar grammar. Their parents are also local Singaporeans (typically parents who prefer conversational mandarin but use English for work) or Malaysians. 

This is generalisation, but stereotypes are true. 

 

If anyone had tried to even find Chinese reading materials from China for their schooling kids, it's usually too deep. And Chinese Ed material is so boring. 

Edited September 24, 2022 by Lala81

[Mahjong74]

  On 9/24/2022 at 1:46 PM, Sosaria said:

But at home does everyone speak mandarin or english? Makes a difference, I think. For me and my kids , conversation is just conversational level, no technical terms or deeper nuances, e.g. in expressing opinions or feelings. If I had a PRC or Taiwan spouse it would be a different story!

 

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@Sosaria 

No wonder some of those high income earners I know in MNC, has a second spouse aka mistress from PRC

Their main intention is to learn and improve their chinese 🤣 

[Ender]

  On 9/24/2022 at 1:55 PM, Lala81 said:

Who gives a f what that guy thinks? He's just a snob. 

Asian and western languages are just very different languages structurally and tonally. Hence why Thai, indo Chinese, Cantonese and strong mandarin speakers all struggle with good enunciation and have their own characteristic accents. 

Some people just have a gift for languages. Bilingualism is what most normal people can manage. And almost everyone has a preference. Cos simply you read or understand more with one language. 

 

 

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Snob, that's it.  Why look down on people who can't master the language. Most of us would do with level that is functional in everyday life. 

[Windwaver]

  On 9/24/2022 at 1:55 PM, Lala81 said:

Who gives a f what that guy thinks? He's just a snob. 

Asian and western languages are just very different languages structurally and tonally. Hence why Thai, indo Chinese, Cantonese and strong mandarin speakers all struggle with good enunciation and have their own characteristic accents. 

Some people just have a gift for languages. Bilingualism is what most normal people can manage. And almost everyone has a preference. Cos simply you read or understand more with one language. 

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Seriously, I don't give an F what he thinks too   but I realized a lot of our younger generation tend to look up to AMDK unknowingly thinking their smile (AMDK in front of them) means they get respect .

In fact, I think a lot of our younger Chinese generation is consciously making sure people know they don't understand Mandarin maybe because they think it's low SES (I've never got my head around that).

The funny thing is, of all the AMDKs I've worked with, they give me the most respect when I'm not only good with English but also knowing my mother tongue and culture well; good job to @Mahjong74 .

[Ender]

  On 9/24/2022 at 2:53 PM, Windwaver said:

Seriously, I don't give an F what he thinks too   but I realized a lot of our younger generation tend to look up to AMDK unknowingly thinking their smile (AMDK in front of them) means they get respect .

In fact, I think a lot of our younger Chinese generation is consciously making sure people know they don't understand Mandarin maybe because they think it's low SES (I've never got my head around that).

The funny thing is, of all the AMDKs I've worked with, they give me the most respect when I'm not only good with English but also knowing my mother tongue and culture well; good job to @Mahjong74 .

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Clearly AWWA guy tried to speak mandarin and does not pretend to not know chinese. Forgive him lah..

[Jman888]

  On 9/24/2022 at 3:07 PM, Ender said:

Clearly AWWA guy tried to speak mandarin and does not pretend to not know chinese. Forgive him lah..

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at least he is brave enough to speak in public tv, some chinese outright refuse to speak mandarin.

[Sosaria]

  On 9/24/2022 at 3:24 PM, Jman888 said:

at least he is brave enough to speak in public tv, some chinese outright refuse to speak mandarin.

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Just like in the company, when have PRC important visitor or group visiting, and have to do presentation, all siam far away  

 

[Sosaria]

  On 9/24/2022 at 3:07 PM, Ender said:

Clearly AWWA guy tried to speak mandarin and does not pretend to not know chinese. Forgive him lah..

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The importance of knowing another language also hinges on work environment. Have a school-mate that works in environment with many minority staff and he wished he had the time to learn the minority language because otherwise he wouldn't know what the staff are gossiping about sometimes. Clearly the AWWA guy only mainly use English for work.

Edited September 24, 2022 by Sosaria