Studying Chinese class in Singapore can be an excellent way to meet new people and learn about the culture. Going to one of these classes is also a great way to explore the possibility of living in Asia for an extended period. Many people enjoy living abroad and learning about new cultures, but starting it with a Chinese class in Singapore is a good idea.
A Chinese class in Singapore is an excellent introduction to the language. There are many reasons why you should take a class:
- Of course, you will learn some key phrases and how to introduce yourself in Chinese.
- You’ll make some new friends from Asia, which can be great fun.
If you get involved in a Chinese class in Singapore, you might discover something new about the culture.
Study groups around Singapore
Locating a Chinese class in Singapore is easy, and often, many of the students share some common interests. While some people want to learn on their own with a CD or video, others prefer to join up for an organized study group. This is especially common in universities where many students study the same subject area and can get together for weekly meetings.
Singapore classes vs. China classes?
Another consideration is whether you want to do your learning in Singapore or China. Many people find that it’s an advantage to do their classes in the country because they can then see how the language is used in real life. It also gives you insight into other aspects of the culture and society and things like how to avoid raising the ire of a Singapore policeman.
Consider the value to Singapore of its four official languages, English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, and Tamil. The use of each language is confined to particular groups within the population. The country’s 5 million people are clustered into four main groups: Malays (67 percent), Chinese (14 percent), Indians (9 percent), and Eurasians (7 percent).
In the early years of Singapore’s independence from Britain, English was spoken by most people. Today, however, it is used by only about one-third of the population. Malay is spoken mainly by Muslims, older people in rural areas, or those with lower levels of education. Mandarin is the main language of about 2 percent of the population.
English, Singapore’s first language, is still widely understood and used by most people for work or education. Malay is primarily used in Parliament, where it is the official working language. It serves as the other official language at all levels of society because Malay was an important rallying point for the small Malay population.
Tamil is spoken by about 15 percent of Indians and retains a high status among Indian Singaporeans even though its use has declined over the past 20 years.
Why take a Chinese class in Singapore?
1. Common language of business and education with China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and other parts of Asia
2. Most highly populous country in the world
3. China is the second-largest economy in the world
4. Chinese calligraphy is an art form used in business and education
5. Mandarin is one of five languages included in Singapore’s curriculum
6. Promotes learning via media, socialization, and interaction with friends and family
7. “Huayu” is the official name for the Chinese language in Singapore
8. Singlish is a patois that draws vocabulary from Mandarin, Malay, and English
9. Learning Mandarin provides an advantage when doing business in China
10. Chinese dialects differ greatly but are mostly mutually unintelligible with standard written Chinese
Conclusion
Studying Chinese class in Singapore can be an excellent way to meet new people and learn about the culture. Going to one of these classes is also a great way to explore the possibility of living in Asia for an extended period. Many people enjoy living abroad and learning about new cultures, but starting it with a Chinese class in Singapore is a good idea.
