乘搭中国经济快车

Now that Chinese has become a business imperative, it is time that Chinese Singaporeans start to appreciate it more, urged the Editorial Board of the Nanyang Chronicle, a students' newspapers of Nanyang Technological University in its editorial “Our Say！”。

　　During the National Day Rally this year, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong touched on young Singaporeans' pessimism with regards to the economic situation.

　　According to a press report on a dialogue session with junior college, polytechnic and university students in May this year, more than three-quarters of them expressed pessimism about Singapore's future.

　　Rather than just being pessimistic about Singapore's future, perhaps we should adjust to the global trends that will affect Singapore and rise to challenges that we may face.

　　One such trend would be the rise of China. Undoubtedly, China will grow to become one of the world's greatest economies.

　　Recently, NTUC Income went into partnership with a Shanghai company, eBao Technology. Such business deals will be even more common as China develops into an economic powerhouse.

　　This could mean treading on unfamiliar ground and acquiring new skills that could steer us well in the times ahead.

　　NTU students can take up lessons at the Centre for Chinese Language and Culture which offers courses on Chinese culture, language, history and business writing that will strengthen their understanding and appreciation of the language.

　　There are already plans to improve the teaching of Chinese and to develop a core group of bilingual Chinese elite who understand China's culture, history and contemporary developments.

　　Even if the government or the university gives us opportunities to improve our proficiency in the Chinese language, it will be useless if we do not involve ourselves in the process.

　　Most young Chinese Singaporeans have been learning Chinese as a mother tongue for at least 10 years, without really understanding why.

　　Now that the language has become a business imperative, it is time that we start to appreciate the language more.

　　Just learning the language is not enough. There should also be a basic understanding of the culture behind it.

　　It would be useless if you possess the language ability, but insufficient cultural knowledge to have a proper conversation with the Chinese nationals.

　　It is no longer enough for us to be just effective in one language, or to limit our Chinese language to that of a conversational level.

　　华文现在已经成为经商不可或缺的条件,新加坡华人因此更应该进一步了解华文,南洋理工大学学生报纸《南洋纪事报》编委会在《编者的话》里表达了这个看法。

　　在今年的国庆群众大会演说里,吴作栋总理谈到年轻新加坡人对国家经济的悲观看法。

　　根据媒体的报道,参与今年5月一个对话会的初级学院、理工学院学生和大学生,超过四分之三表示对新加坡的前途并不感到乐观。

　　我们或者应该就国际趋势变化对新加坡的影响作出相应的调整,并勇敢地面对严峻挑战,而不是一味沉溺于悲观的情绪里。

　　一个明显的趋势是中国的崛起,中国毫无疑问的将成为世界大经济体之一。

　　最近,职总英康和一家上海公司建立了伙伴关系。类似的商业合作将随着中国经济的逐渐强大变得非常普遍。

　　这意味着我们必须在不熟悉的环境探索,同时学习新技术为将来作好准备。南洋理工大学学生,可以到大学里的中华语言文化中心修读中国文化、语言、历史或商业文件书写课程。这些课程可以提高学生对华文的认识和了解。

　　政府已经决定改善华文的教学方法,并培养对中国的文化、历史和现代发展有深刻了解的华文精英。

　　但是,就算政府和大学为我们安排提高华文水准的机会,如果我们不积极参与,这些努力也将变得徒劳无功。

　　大部分年轻新加坡华人,学习母语或华文至少已经10年,但却从不真正了解为什么要学习母语。

　　华文现在已经成为经商不可或缺的条件,我们因此更应该进一步认识华文。

　　然而,只是学习华文是不够的,我们也应该对华文背后蕴藏的丰富文化有基本的认知。

　　如果你能够掌握华文,却因为对中华文化了解不够,没有能力和中国人进行有意义的交谈,那也是枉费心机。

　　局势已经改变了,只是通晓一种语文已经不足够了,只能够用华语交谈也一样是不足够的。