Revitalise the learning of mother tongues

There is concern that interest in learning Mandarin, and perhaps other mother tongues, among our young has declined and that efforts to promote bilingualism might have slackened (Campaign gaffe no help in boosting youths’ interest in Chinese language; July 21).

The people and the Government must re-endorse the need for our bilingual policy.

Once we do this, let us implement it wholeheartedly. We should gather experts to review and formulate new measures to revamp our bilingual policy.

Let us study whether we can borrow ideas from other countries, like multilingual Switzerland.

We must reconstruct a conducive environment for the learning and using of our mother tongues, considering developments in technology and media, as well as global socio-economic trends.

Most experts suggest that it is best for children to learn languages at an early age.

But more families are now speaking English at home, where it is difficult and inappropriate for the Government to intervene.

We could intensify the learning of mother tongues in pre-school.

The emphasis should be on the spoken form, helping them master words and phrases commonly used in daily life, and on teachers transmitting values to them in the later years of schooling.

We could consider using English in morning classes, shift to mother tongue in the afternoon classes, forcing children to pick up the basic mother tongue vocabulary for daily conversation, and build a strong foundation for learning the written form later.

A weak command of mother tongue among our races would be a symptom of a weakening national identity.

With all races accepting English as the main official language and the common language among us, rejuvenating mother tongues is the best strategy for reinforcing our traditional values and national identity.

Signboards in government offices, public places and, perhaps, big corporations should use four official languages, with English placed the most prominently.