I totally agree with you. If they are going to expect truck loads of English speaking customers, then cough up the money that they have saved from exploiting these poor foreign workers to train up their language skills.Turtle wrote:A lot of the problem is that these days, many wait staff (even in expensive restaurants) are NOT Singaporean.
English is definitely not the national language of Singaporemelly wrote:I feel relieved for not being in the minority group.
I don't think this is solely due to the lack of English skill that these wait persons have. There were a few times when I ordered my meals through waiters/waitresses who were local Singaporeans, who were able to speak good English. After all English is the national language of Singapore. I think the local or rather Asian culture is the main culprit. I'm an Australian who spent my early years in Indonesia. Asians tend to be timid thus explaining why those who work in the customer service line are often reluctant to ask questions. To some asking questions means showing weakness, to others, asking questions means questioning your customers. Whatever the reason is, they would rather make their own assumptions than asking questions.
That isn't going to happen; one reason for using foreign workers is to reduce cost - same thing happens in Britain.melly wrote: I totally agree with you. If they are going to expect truck loads of English speaking customers, then cough up the money that they have saved from exploiting these poor foreign workers to train up their language skills.
True enough, but I think the original poster simply used the wrong descriptor to get across a point that is obvious to me.Saint wrote:English is definitely not the national language of Singapore
And the OP is moaning that the locals can't understand EnglishStrong Eagle wrote:
True enough, but I think the original poster simply used the wrong descriptor to get across a point that is obvious to me.
Singaporeans will only begin to speak good English when they get daily exposure to native English speakers, otherwise, as we all know, their English just remains lazy.Strong Eagle wrote: Thus, would could reasonably assume that Singaporeans ought to be able to speak good English.
I think this is just a matter of adjusting the accent. I've heard many complaints about how Australians are difficult to understand. Heck even I have problems understanding some of the English accent variations like Irish, Scottish and Liverpool-ish.Saint wrote:Strong Eagle wrote: We found this out very quickly when Mrs S came to the UK 4 years ago and no one could understand a word she was saying in English! Within a few months of 24/7 having to converse with English speakers it improved 10 fold.
The accent was a problem, it was the Singlish!melly wrote:I think this is just a matter of adjusting the accent. I've heard many complaints about how Australians are difficult to understand. Heck even I have problems understanding some of the English accent variations like Irish, Scottish and Liverpool-ish.Saint wrote: We found this out very quickly when Mrs S came to the UK 4 years ago and no one could understand a word she was saying in English! Within a few months of 24/7 having to converse with English speakers it improved 10 fold.
Better still, I try to speak English the way that THEY do !Saint wrote:
Singaporeans will only begin to speak good English when they get daily exposure to native English speakers, otherwise, as we all know, their English just remains lazy.
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