Saturday 5 April 2014

Singaporeans 'fare poorly in spoken English'

They lack confidence in articulating their views, says MP
By Carolyn Khew, The Straits Times, 4 Apr 2014

WHILE Singapore teens have been proven to do well in problem-solving, Singaporeans still fare poorly in spoken English and lack confidence in articulating their views, said Member of Parliament Hri Kumar Nair yesterday.

Far too often, he shared on his Facebook page, he has attended meetings where Singaporeans kept silent, giving the impression they are ignorant.

So, although Singapore teens scored well in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) released on Tuesday, beating students from 43 other economies in its problem-solving test, there is still room for improvement. Singaporeans he dealt with are mostly "hardworking, knowledgeable and have a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to their work", said the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP. "But they are often let down by their standard of spoken English and a lack of confidence to persuade or articulate their views on their feet. Many employers I know share this view," the lawyer added.

These are what he considers important aspects of education which Pisa does not test.

Post by Hri Kumar.
"However skilled you are at problem-solving and however many hours you spend at your desk, you will not likely make a strong impression in the business world if you are unable to communicate your thoughts and ideas effectively," he said.

He had attended many meetings where he had observed that "Singaporeans keep silent while others dominate the discussion, thus giving the impression that the latter are more knowledgeable or capable".

"If you say nothing, people will assume that you have nothing to contribute. That is a serious disadvantage if you are competing for a job, a promotion or a project."

 Mr Erman Tan, president of the Singapore Human Resource Institute, said the importance of being outspoken is weighed differently by firms. "Some may like that you're outspoken because it means you engage more but some might think that you're not respecting your bosses or not a team player."

Singapore International Chamber of Commerce chief executive Phillip Overmyer said that while older Singaporeans may be less outspoken, younger ones are quite the opposite.

 "What I'm seeing a lot... is that younger groups are much more open... They want to know what they can do to make things better. They're more outspoken and they tell you what they think," he said.










Singaporeans 'more doers than talkers'
Reluctance to speak up more likely due to cultural trait: Experts
By Pearl Lee, The Straits Times, 5 Apr 2014

SINGAPOREANS may not always be keen to speak up or like to air their views openly.

But the reluctance to do so is more likely due to a cultural trait than an inability to express themselves well.

That is the view of experts who were responding to a Member of Parliament who said people here fare poorly in spoken English and lack confidence in articulating their views.

"It is probably a habit for Singaporeans to do more and talk less, but we are surely in the know," said Mr David Leong, managing director of recruitment firm PeopleWorldwide.

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Hri Kumar Nair said in a Facebook post on Thursday that while teenagers here do well in problem solving, he has met many Singaporeans who are "often let down by their standard of spoken English and a lack of confidence to persuade or articulate their views on their feet". That, he added, is an important aspect of education which the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) does not test, "and we should be mindful of".

His comments came after Tuesday's release of the Pisa results, which showed that teens here scored well in problem-solving tests.

The lawyer also said Singaporeans would be at a disadvantage and are unlikely to "make a strong impression in the business world" if they cannot express themselves effectively.

Human resource experts like Mr Leong, however, disagree.

He said that while Singaporeans generally shy away from speaking up, it does not reflect "a lack of knowledge or ignorance".

Managing consultant Simon Ranahan from recruitment firm Chandler Macleod agreed.

"Singaporeans express themselves through actions, not words. They are doers, not talkers," said Mr Ranahan.

But he added that Singaporeans do tend to be non-confrontational - not because they are unable to express themselves, but due to cultural influences.

"Saving face is a big thing here, and maybe Singaporeans avoid saying something because they feel it might lead to a confrontational discussion," said the recruiter who has been in the business for 18 years.

However, students like 18-year-old Nisha Baskar said they generally keep their views to themselves "especially if the setting or the discussion topic is an unfamiliar one".

There is also a lack of initiative to speak up in a discussion as most students need time to warm up, said Nisha, who will read chemistry at the National University of Singapore in August.

"In class, when teachers asked us for our opinions, there was always a lag time where everyone waited for someone else to speak up first," said the former student of Victoria Junior College. "I think there is a fear that people might judge you and your views."

That phobia, said a veteran English teacher who did not want to be named, is very real among some of his students.

To prepare his Secondary 4 students for the O-level oral exams, he said he would get them to speak up in class about different topics ranging from caring for the elderly to recycling.

"But when I asked the students if they enjoyed it, they said 'no'. They have the knowledge and the ideas, but not the confidence and conviction to argue their ideas convincingly," said," said the 67-year-old, who has been teaching for 49 years.

"They also seem to have problems elaborating a point or giving examples to back it up. The students also tend to repeat the same point in different ways," he added.

But other observers like Ang Mo Kio Secondary School principal Abdul Mannan told The Straits Times he has noticed that students, particularly those in the lower secondary levels, are more outspoken now than those from a decade ago.

He credited this change to initiatives such as the Strategies for English Language Learning and Reading programme that was implemented in all primary schools in 2009.

"I have received feedback from my teachers that the (Secondary 1) students who join us are increasingly vocal, speaking up to ask questions more often," he said. "There is definitely improvement in this area."





Communicating effectively in a changing world

MP HRI Kumar Nair has highlighted the importance of communication in a rapidly changing world ("Singaporeans 'fare poorly in spoken English'"; last Friday).

However skilled a person is at problem solving, he is unlikely to make a strong impression at work if he cannot communicate his thoughts and ideas effectively.

Communication comprises speaking and writing.

For speaking, besides the choice of words, one's facial expression, tone of voice, hand gestures and body language may affect the communication process.

As for writing, it seems the choice of words matters more.

In the business world, where time is precious, few would be keen to listen to a long speech, or read an article whose thoughts and ideas are not conveyed clearly.

Good speeches or presentations can create an impact on the audience and leave them feeling mentally satisfied. Similarly, well-written articles can resonate with readers.

It is not fair to put the onus of teaching effective communication on the education system, as teachers and students are already burdened with various activities and subjects.

What can parents do to groom their children to communicate effectively? And how can working adults improve their communication skills?

I hope the relevant authorities can provide appropriate advice or suggestions.

Lim Lih Mei (Ms)
ST Forum, 8 Apr 2014



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