The Importance of English

[senatorabudelai]

This thread is dedicated to QXD, Ash007

English is very very important. The Republic of Singapore is an English speaking country where the laws, education, government, working language are all in English. If you don't speak English, and speak it at a native level, you are illiterate.

So many Chinese, European Koreans are rushing to learn English. They pay obscene amount of money just to speak to a English native speaker. Even the Russians, Chinese and French are learning English these days. Even Nicolas Sarzoky knows how to speak English! It is such an important language!

 

[senatorabudelai]

ENGLISH is the missing ingredient that stands in the way of Shanghai becoming a global banking centre and competing with the likes of Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

'You will have all the brains, you'll have all the accountants, lawyers, but none of yours will be able to speak and work in English and the banking business is in English,' he said, adding that the annual reports of all banks are in English.

He also said the reason Singapore has succeeded in spite of Tokyo is that 'we use English'.

http://www.pmo.gov.sg/News/Transcri...must+master+English+to+be+top+banking+hub.htm

 

[senatorabudelai]

English is the accepted business language of Europe today.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4840160.stm

 

[senatorabudelai]

Almost 60 countries have English as an official language! All Supranational bodies like ASEAN, UN, EU uses English as its language as well!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_where_English_is_an_official_language

French comes in second with 32 Countries having it as an official language.

While Chinese is only used by 5 countries (in reality, only 3 countries since PRC, Hong Kong, Macao are the same country, + Singapore + Taiwan.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o..._of_countries_with_the_same_official_language

 

[senatorabudelai]

Even the Koreans are rushing to learn English!

Mad rush to school Korean kids in English

SEOUL—With the dawn of the Internet age and the trend towards globalisation, Koreans see proficiency in English as a crucial skill for survival. And parents are pinning all their hopes on their pre-school children.

http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/55a/356.html

 

[senatorabudelai]

Wow, thanks for stating the obvious!

Ha ha ha.

 

[senatorabudelai]

Haha please ignore the troll. He is posting rubbish now.

English is the language of Business, Commerce, law, banking all around the world. Almost everyone who does not speak English as his/her first language now speaks English as his/her second language, or is trying to!

 

[IWC2006]

ENGLISH is the missing ingredient that stands in the way of Shanghai becoming a global banking centre and competing with the likes of Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

'You will have all the brains, you'll have all the accountants, lawyers, but none of yours will be able to speak and work in English and the banking business is in English,' he said, adding that the annual reports of all banks are in English.

He also said the reason Singapore has succeeded in spite of Tokyo is that 'we use English'.

http://www.pmo.gov.sg/News/Transcri...must+master+English+to+be+top+banking+hub.htm

Yeah what the old fart failed to say Japan by itself a big economy ( among the top 5 in the world), they can pretty much service it's domestic market using Japanese Lang.banking is just one of their strength, they have electronics, technology , tourism with a country of 100+ million. Japanese also has a very rich culture and innovation highly admired by the west, and even copy their work. Who cares about what Spore think? Seriously spore is just wishful thinking to compare toe to toe with Japan, even Australia can't hold a candle comparing with Japan.

 

[senatorabudelai]

Yeah what the old fart failed to say Japan by itself a big economy ( among the top 5 in the world), they can pretty much service it's domestic market using Japanese Lang.banking is just one of their strength, they have electronics, technology , tourism with a country of 100+ million. Japanese also has a very rich culture and innovation highly admired by the west, and even copy their work. Who cares about what Spore think? Seriously spore is just wishful thinking to compare toe to toe with Japan, even Australia can't hold a candle comparing with Japan.

haha Singapore has already overtaken Japan in terms of Banking, it is the 4th ranked banking centre in the world.

this year, singapore will overtake Japan in terms of GDP per capita nominal as well. Singapore has long overtaken Japan i terms of GDP per capita PPP decades ago

Surviving on 100+ million Domestic economy? Ha ha ha. FYI Japan has been in decline for decades, their economy has not been growing but contracting and their debt levels are up to their eyeballs now. get on with the program. japan has been in decline since the 90s.

 

[Received_by_Kings]

haha Singapore has already overtaken Japan in terms of Banking, it is the 4th ranked banking centre in the world.

this year, singapore will overtake Japan in terms of GDP per capita nominal as well. Singapore has long overtaken Japan i terms of GDP per capita PPP decades ago

Surviving on 100+ million Domestic economy? Ha ha ha. FYI Japan has been in decline for decades, their economy has not been growing but contracting and their debt levels are up to their eyeballs now. get on with the program. japan has been in decline since the 90s.

Well, I laughed when I saw the poster you were replying to. Evidently some people are still living in the 70s and 80s and have very uninformed and outdated views of that Land of the Rising Yen.

If Japan was that great then none of them would try to take up residence, study and look for jobs here in Singapore. There is a number, and it's on the rise. They've long lost hope in their government and their country and many are frantically looking for a way out.

 

[Ramseth]

Top World 1st Language in terms of speakers : Mandarin Chinese (>1b speakers)
(Compare English as 1st Language : <500m speakers, more or less on par with Spanish)

Top World 1st Language in terms of countries : Spanish (>20 countries)
(Compare English as 1st Language : <10 countries)

Top World 2nd Language : English (>1b speakers in >half of the world)