Re: [xmca] Allan Luke on Race and Language as Capital -- part 2

Foo Keong--

So, despite problems that are difficult to discuss, it seems that
However, with globalization and increased mobility (esp. of well-educated
professionals), our national identity seems to be held together only by
Singlish (which is officially frowned upon).

a "lingua franca" that belongs to everyone but no one, effacing the problems
that Alan and Jay highlighted??

mike

On Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 11:58 AM, Ng Foo Keong <lefouque@gmail.com> wrote:

> hi Jay,
>
> { we met in a bus with ZhangBH at ICLS Conference 2008 going back to town }
> it's good to 'see' you in xmca.
>
> The issues we're discussing are weighty (as they concern the destiny
> of planet Earth!) and thorny indeed and there are no easy answers.
>
> In multi-cultural, multi-religious, 'meritocratic' Singapore, there
> is general help for needy students and also specialised organizations
> to help the various communities. We learn at least two languages in
> school. English (actually "Singlish") is the first language and lingua
> franca, which is not the mother tongue for most of us. The other
> language is usually the "mother-tongue". We don't usually whine a
> lot about gender and race. Teachers and students work hard, and we
> have perfected the science of ace-ing the various high-stakes
> International examinations.
>
> Our language situation is confusing. Take me, .... please. My first
> language is English, but I'm not a native speaker. My 2nd language is
> Chinese Mandarin, which is officially my "mother tongue". But my real
> mother tongue is Chinese Cantonese. I also learned German as 3rd
> language in school. Being in Singapore also allows me to pick up
> Chinese-Hokkien and some Malay. I also learn some French on my own.
> So linguistically, I have an 'identity' crisis. However, I am potentially
> able to understand and make connections with many people. I make a good
> spy, and perhaps a good interpreter in an International crisis situation.
>
> Is ours the ideal formula? I don't know. But Singapore has managed
> to keep together relatively peacefully since independence for 43 years.
> However, with globalization and increased mobility (esp. of well-educated
> professionals), our national identity seems to be held together only by
> Singlish (which is officially frowned upon) and good food (!?!).
>
> Allan Luke did a stint heading Singapore's Centre for Research in
> Pedagogy and Practice. He did a very good job of uncovering cracks
> in our society and our school system, but our officials deem some details
> too embarassing for international consumption. Like Allan, I shall not
> spill the beans, except to say that our problems are not so unique that
> they are not found in other parts of the world.
>
> My PhD research concerns the development of mathematical identity of
> several trainee-teachers. This is an intensive case study, using a
> non-essentialist definition of 'identity' as a life story, and
> viewing 'learning' as a change in identity. Encouraging reflexive
> practice in teachers seems to be another way to initiate reform in
> education, although this is by no means easy. All of my volunteer cases
> (of different backgrounds) struggle through life as a teacher and life
> in general.
>
> Ng, Foo Keong
> PhD Student
> Singapore
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Received on Wed Nov 26 15:55:09 2008