Singapore's English standard. The World. And much more!

[vbelle]

dear Skpp,

We all here know that not all Europeans speak English (its the expat website isnt it??)..
you cant compare Singaporean with Italian or French..
Foreigner expect Singaporeans to speak English..but not to the Italians or French..exactly because the road signs are in English..foreigner thinks all of you speak good english..
Nevertheless, I am gratefull that I can communicate with almost everyone using english..
well...i used to think English is your national language..and i guess many people think the same..thanks SMS for the info

About grades..
I have to say that I am a living proof that grades doesnt equal your overall skill in the subject..
I never took english course unless those 2hours/week at school for 6years and 1 semester of uni (you can ask how much that help to the other Indonesians)..and few weeks studying TOEFL book..I manage to get 627..
when i start to write up my thesis (in Australia)..my supervisor repeatedly complained about my grammar skills...

Most of my friends who is having difficulty in their spoken english..can do this grammar thing much better than me...

A friend who took 6 years to graduate and GPA of 2.x got a better job than those who graduate for 4 years with GPA 3.x

Asians emphasize on grades so much...I dont think its a really good standard to measure your real capability

And...although everyone else have said..(can i repeat it??)

if you have been educated in UK...is not so fair to compare your English skill with those who arent...really...

to the others...sorry if you think i repeat some of what you guys already said..cant help myself:)

[Saint]

There are so many spelling and grammatical errors in your original posting that I would ask for a refund on your education fees.

[NeSSa81]

This is based on my own opinions and what i see...not judging anyone or blaming people...

I really don't know what to say just that i am embarresed what this person is trying to say...

I studied oversea all my life (only did p.1 in spore) due to my dad's job...but i never was proud that the fact that my english is pefect...me english is really bad...yet i know how to switch to my english without singlish when i talk to others that aren't from singapore...

doesn't mean you studied oversea ur english is perfect...even my parents (dad didn't finish primary sch, mum just manage to get pass secondary school) is very good in english and i said very good...not perfect no one is perfect in english..even a english teacher can make mistakes....

[road.not.taken]

There are so many spelling and grammatical errors in your original posting that I would ask for a refund on your education fees.

Exactly my thoughts. I stopped reading after the third or fourth typo/spelling error/ grammatical faux pas. That and the assumption that we are condemning an entire nation based on a few posters here (as if we live only in cyberspace and do not encounter real, live Singaporeans as part of our daily routine ).

I remember realizing that what I heard most Singaporeans speak (remember I'm not in too many Singaporean boardrooms) was not English as their second language, but Singlish as their first language. A bona fide Oprah 'Aha' moment for me.

[road.not.taken]

.even a english teacher can make mistakes....

True enough. But at least an English teacher knows when they are making mistakes.

[Strong Eagle]

It's a wind up.

[QRM]

It's a wind up.

Thats what I was thinking, there is a certain Borat feel about the guys first post, like some one mentioned no one uses the term "lowly educated".

[sundaymorningstaple]

I though wind ups were only on Fridays!

[Forks]

Most SGPers speak more than one language so its to be expected that english gets murdered here, I have met many SGPers and even the "well educated" have said things which just had me laughing, get used to it. I mangle Hokien and Japanese and make my friends laugh or cringe depending.

[Addadude]

The Singaporean's accent is rather neutral and it can be easily understood.

[Quasimodo]

I find it quite amusing when non-Singaporeans try to use Singlish when conversing with locals. They look right fools.

The OP has some valid points, yet comes across as being a ponce. Shame.

[Skppp]

My opinions are not personal at all, Singaporeans may like to claim English as their first language but to do so is erroneous - simple question: what do most speak in their own homes and what language do they drift into?

You are right. No one speaks English at home in Singapore.

Your claim that 30-40 percent of the population are foreigners cannot be correct as that mean nearly half the population of Singapore

Right on once again. Even though the newspapers has reported that 35% of the population are non citizens (I have posted the link but one of you moderators removed it).


Read the sticky: Important all users please note

Moderator

Examinations in many languages quite aside from English can be passed with only a 'stilted' ability a trait I have seen only too often amongst Asians in particular (they know fundamentals and grammatical rules but have no real grasp of the nuances).

Very true. I have no real grasp of the nuances. You have got me there.

I think your problem is possibly one of false pride

Once again, right on. It was all about false pride for me.

Sorry mate your country is simply too far away to be speaking English better or as well as us, which you admitted yourself when mentioned the accent of Scotland and Wales.

Very true indeed. Singapore is extremely far from England. Look at the US and Canada, they belong to a different continent and those guys have terrible English standards.

Australia is even further from the UK than Singapore. Their English is horrible.

No one speaks English as well as those from the UK. The British have the clearest accent.

sundaymorningstaple And, I hesitate to tell you, but the main language here is not English. As I said before, it's the "language of Government". English is NOT the main spoken language here. If you think is it, then why are those who are purely English speakers kept from '000's of jobs weekly? I think you need to fall back a regroup. Have a ride on the MRT (if you can lower yourself down to that level) or the Buses (even lower) and have a listen to the languages that you hear. English rarely, Singlish only in mixed company, Mandarin, Dialect, Tamil, Hindi & Malay primarily.

Right on once again. Having lived in Singapore for a few decades, I finally took the train today and realised that no one in the train spoke English at all. English definately is not the main language here.

And yes no one speaks English at work. Pure English speakers are kept from thousands of jobs.

Your replies and those of many others have far exceeded my intellectual capabilties. I apologise for everything I have said I know realise how wrong I was. After all, how can I, a Singapore born man, who has lived here for a few decades know more about Singapore than you?

I am leaving this forum for good as I cannot match your intellect. I am also unable to string together any more replies as my English writing ability has reached its limit. I live too far from England and am not a native speaker you see.

Thanks for all the well informed and friendly replies. Take care and enjoy each others' company.

[ksl]

Could you please make reference to who the quotations belong to, it makes life easier for the none educated Thanks

[sundaymorningstaple]

One also has to wonder why (s)he keeps registering a new nick each time it posts? Doesn't it realize that it's IP address remains the same?

Right on once again. Even though the newspapers has reported that 35% of the population are non citizens (I have posted the link but one of you moderators removed it).

Had you just bothered to read the stickies you would know why the software (not the moderators) automatically deleted the link to a certain newspaper.

Your replies and those of many others have far exceeded my intellectual capabilties. I apologise for everything I have said I know realise how wrong I was. After all, how can I, a Singapore born man, who has lived here for a few decades know more about Singapore than you?

That is the typical reply that we would expect for your ilk. After all I have lived here for a few decades as well (all of them as an adult as well). You are just like most of your countrymen. Educational levels not withstanding. Proud like a peacock but (what is r.n.t's favourite word? Oh, yeah, now I remember) "snarky" when confronted. Don't feel too bad, If you don't know that much about your own country - you fit right in with most of the heartlanders. Much the same as most American's don't know too much about their country as well (course their country is a wee bit larger though so they might be forgiven). Bye-Bye. Maybe we'll see you on Sammyboy where you probably normally hang out.

[road.not.taken]

Hey!

Just for the record 'snarky' is not my favorite word, jackass is my favorite word.

I especially like the part of Skppp's argument which states that the British have the most British accent...