More are spending money and time to learn foreign languages
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 05 March 2007 1941 hrs

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SINGAPORE: More Singaporeans are taking up foreign languages and it is not just because they are preparing for a career overseas.

Twice a week, Noorhannah Noorfuad attends Arabic classes at the Jamiyah Business School.

Noorhannah represents one of a growing number of students showing interest in the language.

"I've gone to Middle East a few times and I've made some friends there. Sometimes when I talk to them, they don't understand me. By taking Arabic classes, at least I can understand them fully," said the Secondary 3 student from Tanjong Katong Girls' School.

This year, 200 people have signed up for Arabic classes at Jamiyah, compared to 50 two years ago.

Homemakers, civil servants, businessmen are just some of the varied professions you will find in an Arabic class.

Azalea Wong, a Chinese student, said: "I like belly dancing. I like Arabic pop songs and I want to know what they are actually singing."

H M Saleem, Deputy Chairman, Jamiyah Business School, said: "At least 50 percent of our current students are non-Muslims."

Other language schools also report racially diverse groups of students signing up for languages like Korean, Russian, Thai and Bahasa Indonesia.

As the languages are usually taught by native speakers, some schools said recruiting teachers for languages like Arabic could be challenging.

Finding teachers for languages like Korean, Bahasa Indonesia and Japanese, for example, is comparatively easier because these communities are larger.

Valentine Cawley, Head of Department, Linguaphone Language School, said: "Two years ago, we were carrying just four languages. Now we are teaching over 15 in tutorial classes. I think there has been awareness among Singaporeans that if they are going to communicate with the rest of the world, they do need specific language skills.

"In many of the countries they are going to, the take-up (rate) of English is not as good, and in business, it is best to speak the language of the person you are relating to. It is not only polite, but gives you a better change of signing that contract."
But foreign language classes do not come cheap. A three-month course will set students back between S$300 and S$500.

The hope among teenage students is that the Education Ministry will offer foreign languages like Arabic in school and this is something the Education Ministry is looking into.

Currently, private language schools are not required to be accredited. Those in the industry said students should do thorough research before signing up for classes in order to ensure the quality of the curriculum.


- CNA/so