10:08 p.m. - 2007-12-08
appreciation

A random conversation with a friend recently showed how some people do detest Chinese. Though I am unsure whether it was the lack of aptitude for the language or for whatever reason, the general perspective I get is that Chinese is being looked down upon.

I don¡¯t understand why the reactions are so different:

"I take H2 english Literature."
"WOW! You must be really good!"

"I take Japanese/German/French/Russian/Egyptian..."
"OMG! That¡¯s so cool!"

"I take Chinese Literature."
"siao! Are you okay?"
*no sign of admiration, maybe with raised eyebrows instead.

While I do agree that the argument that we being chinese, should be proud of our heritage. While the whole world scrambles to learn Chinese (potential market in China, shanghai etc), the chinese (in Singapore at least) scrambles to get away from Chinese. How ironic is that?

I believe a language that has been able to survive more than centuries would have its reasons and meaning for its survival. For the time being guess the line is still thriving to spread its true meaning, maybe one day it will succeed and we will finally appreciate it.

In my grandparents' time, hardly anyone spoke English and the students hated English. It was kind of a joke to many of them. Funny how now the roles are reversed for the languages. I suppose the 2 language education system still has not gotten it right.

Being homogenous and lack of emphasis on their mother tongue, many times I felt it is unable to place enough importance on mother tongue in their education system. However, I am glad it was made as a compulsory subject in secondary and JC. Maybe one day, it will correct itself and Singaporeans will all become effective bilinguals. Maybe that one day will come.

After all it didn't take a day or a year for our society to walk away from chinese, guess it will take time.

Pointless ranting. So, yes I am still having exams. FOUR more papers to be battled. Thanks for all the encouragement, I am alright no worries. After being emotional, pouring out my feelings I will be back to normal state. (:

Study hard! The fear that is pushing me to work harder.
Steadfast in duty.

It's not what is happening to you now,
or what has happened in your past,
that determines who you become.
Rather, it's your decisions about
what you focus on, what things mean to you,
and what you are going to do about them,
that will determine your ultimate destiny.

-Anthony Robbins