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Fann Sim writes for the SingaporeScene:...   >>>

Fann Sim writes for the SingaporeScene:



“One of the challenges ahead for Singapore is to decide whether to adopt British English or American English, said Singapore's former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on Tuesday afternoon.



As he urged Singaporeans to do better in English and to help every child attain higher standards, Lee noted that the nation, which currently uses British English, will be increasingly exposed to American English.



"The increasing dominance of the American media means that increasingly our people, teachers and students will be hearing the American version, whether it is 'potatoes' or 'tomatoes'. They will be the dominant force through sheer numbers and the dominance of their economy," Lee was quoted as saying by Channel NewsAsia.



"I believe we will be exposed more and more to American English and so it might be as well to accept it as inevitable and to teach our students to recognise and maybe, to even speak American English," he said at the launch of the English Language Institute of Singapore.



To ensure high standards of English competency in Singapore, Lee noted home backgrounds play an important role in developing good English language skill.



There is also the need to expose a child to good English from the time he steps into kindergarten while teachers, who do not teach English, must use good English and be the best role models for children, he said.



"Our schools must provide a rich language environment. There must be a strong reading culture where children can access and enjoy good books," said Lee as he further called for a "culture of oracy".



Lee stressed that the Singapore education system has built a good English language foundation for students here.



He also pointed out that English, as Singapore's "lingua franca", has benefitted Singapore economically since independence in 1965.”



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