The big screen to my left, the lady in the screen is China's ambassador to Singapore.
I got the invitation for the recording session of the finals of "The Chinese Challenge" this coming Thursday, but as we're supposed to arrive by 7pm and the session is scheduled to end at 10:30pm, Snowylady is having 2nd thoughts about going with me ...
Main issue, as usual, is what to do with the Snowypups.
It's kinda late to leave them at my in-laws until 11pm, or a neighbour's.
Also, I hoped to be able to pick them up from pre-school, shower and feed them before going off. Snowylady thought it was too much of a hassle. It has been quite a hectic week for her - she's in charge of temperature screening point at school and has to be in school by 6:30 am daily.
Just told me to go without her and get another friend - felt like I've just been stood up for a date.
Hope I can work something out and persuade her to go ... even if we might have to leave early.
http://www.thechinesechallenge.sg
Interesting 12 set of quizzes there ...
Well, went alone last evening. :(
ReplyDeleteThe recording opened with a song-and-dance item by 4 girls, singing about how the whole world is learning the "language of Confucius" ...
Didn't think that was accurate though, I mean, Mandarin is not the language of Confucius (spokenwise) ... and he's from Shandong province to boot ...
Had a shock when contestant #1 needed to use lifeline to answer a very simple question.
The fun part of the evening though was encountering questions I didn't have answers to, and learning new things.
Didn't know China's ambassador to Singapore, a GOH at the event, was a lady.
have problem entering the site.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the question for No1 contestant ?
"Name which of the 8 immortals rode on a donkey backwards?"
ReplyDelete1. Iron-crutch Li
2. Zhang Guo Lao
3. Lü Dong Bin
Now, do you really need MCQ for this?
I don't think this picture is quite common nowadays in Singapore.
ReplyDeletehttp://lh6.ggpht.com/_eT1q8GWcf90/SAliHZFHblI/AAAAAAAACNI/5jFiFYcszEU/The+8+Immortals.jpg
It's too political, whenever I think of the Chinese language issue I can only blame the MOE for their failed policies. They are more interested in promoting English rather than Chinese. If China is not a strong economic today, I don't they are interested to promote Chinese.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's a good lesson for those who failed their business in China, they think they can still use the ' Singapore style ' to do business there.
I don't know whether these people really interested in the culture and history or they just go there to win prizes and if so, many might using memorizing like going for an examination..
ReplyDeleteMy mother-in-law didn't see the telecast, but apparently, they had been interviewing the winner on radio for the last few days.
ReplyDeleteThe guy (50 year old) said his father made sure he learned the Chinese language 'cos "anywhere he go in the world, he'd be identified by others as Chinese".
One of the question faced by the winner was interesting ...
"What road/street was also known as "吉宁街"?
It was a good thing he knew it was not pronounced as "Ji Ning" but "Keileng" ... otherwise the question wouldn't have made any sense to me at all ...
The chap was still a student ... at that age, I'm not surprised if he tried to cram facts into his memory.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, there was nothing else MOE could do to promote the Chinese language if there is nothing else to motivate the people to pick it up.
ReplyDeleteMOE didn't really promote English rather than Chinese, it's just that Singapore cannot make the progress it did if the medium of instruction was not set to English.
If not because the the political incident Nanyang University, maybe we could still have a Chinese University and still retain some of the Chinese schools. It may not sound practical esp English is the only language use in the official documents, applications forms, letters. There are always a lot of complained why only English ? Basically, those who can't read or have no one in the family to help them simply put the letter aside.
ReplyDeleteIn the past, the relevant authorities only see English as a source of survival and the Speak Mandarin Campagin was a total failure until now suddenly you find Chinese very important because of the Chinese economy.
I'm simply tired all the excuses and explanation...
In the past, or maybe even today you'll still find parents who still look down on Chinese language even though they're Chinese,
I heard it on the Chinese radio station 958 this morning, they interview 2 people, one is the winner, the other is a young chap 20plus who speaks speak 5 different languages ,,one of contestant.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, where is this Keileng street?
ReplyDeleteThe young chap was not a contestant at the finals but one of the panel of "consultants" ... contestant had 3 lifelines to use - one of them was to poll the consultants for the answer.
ReplyDeleteCross Street ...
ReplyDeleteUpdated the blog with some pictures I took from the recording session.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
ReplyDelete