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 Grappling to be understood by the foreign service staff at your neighbourhood kopitiam? Yes – this is a frequent bugbear of Singaporeans, and an issue which has received much attention within the media and government circles. Earlier this week, when speaking to students at the Nanyang Technological University, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the Manpower Ministry is studying how to get more employers – especially those running retail and food outlets – to send their staff for basic English lessons. Education Minister Ng Eng Hen also stressed the need to speak better English, saying that Singapore can aim to be an English teaching hub for Asia.
Yet, some foreign service staff may still have difficulty understanding locals, even after undergoing basic English lessons. Why? The reason being that the English they hear in foodcourts, schools and shopping malls is not quite the same as the ‘basic English’ they learnt in the classroom. While they may be taught to expect, ‘I would like to take away two packets of chicken rice’, they may actually hear, ‘one chicken rice makan here, two pack, all put one packet chilli enough orredi’. Putting ourselves in their shoes, it is any wonder that staff still have difficulties in communicating with locals who don’t exactly speak the English they have been taught in the classroom?
Before we continue to puzzle as to why it is so difficult to be understood by foreign service staff, we should take a step back and ask ourselves if we are speaking to them in English or lapsing into Singlish. Many people do have a tendency to use Singlish in non-work environments and when hanging out with friends. However, for the benefit of workers new to our shores and the peculiarities of our local lingo, using simple but proper English may go a long way towards creating a smoother service experience for all.
What do you think? Alternatively, do you think English lessons for foreign staff should also include some component of Singlish? Share your views below.
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