Unlocking doors with Mandarin fluency

Two Steps to Mandarin Fluency

 

SJKC reality: For better future opportunities

  

JKC reality: Sink or swim for non-Chinese students?

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Testing his knowledge: Year 4 pupil Muaz Harith reading in Mandarin during a Science lesson while his teacher Tam Kai Shan looks on at SJK(C) Kampung Baru Paroi. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Many parents, including those who are non-Chinese, have opted to send their children to a Chinese school in the hopes of expanding their children’s opportunities in the future.

This is especially so as China has rapidly become a global economic powerhouse that is still expanding.

But what is the reality on the ground? Are employers more keen to hire workers with the added advantage of being fluent in Mandarin?

Having an extra language in your arsenal is always a positive thing in terms of employability, according to business leaders from various chambers of commerce and industry in the country.

While Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor president Datuk Ng Yih Pyng agreed that being able to speak Mandarin gives one more options in terms of employment, he said proficiency in any foreign language is valuable in today’s more connected world.

It also depends on the specific business and its dealings, he added.

“It is always good for one to learn more languages, regardless of race. A lot of schools also offer French or Spanish 

“I think it all depends on the company. If my company specialises in dealing with Japan, for example, it would be good for me to have candidates who speak Japanese.

“Your supplier and your customer will feel more comfortable and the chances of misunderstandings will be lower,” he said.

Ng pointed out that there are other considerations when hiring an employee aside from their language proficiency.

“Language is important. But there are also more skill sets out there.

“So it really depends on a lot of factors. But being able to communicate in Mandarin is an advantage,” he said.

Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia president Tan Sri Low Kian Chuan believes Mandarin fluency will indeed improve someone’s chances of getting hired in China-oriented businesses and Chinese-populated countries such as China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

“Being able to communicate in their native language enhances communication and cultural understanding, develops connection and fosters trust, which are valuable in building stronger relationships and conducting business effectively,” he said.

He cited the example of the Malaysian tourism industry, where mastering Mandarin could help tourism practitioners such as tour agencies and tour guides provide value-added services and tour experiences for tourists from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Concurring, Christina Tee, president of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted that China is a big economic region now, so it is almost certain that being fluent in Mandarin will give these job seekers a higher potential of getting employed.

Those who learn an extra language tend to have very good communication skills as well, which will give them even more of an edge in getting hired, she added.

“They definitely stand a higher chance at getting better opportunities internationally because they have opened themselves up to a different kind of market,” she said.

This is the final part of Media in Arms’ special report series “SJKC: Reality for Non-Chinese students”, which explores the experience of non-Chinese students in Chinese schools.

Media in Arms is a media collaboration comprising five mainstream media outlets: Chinese newspaper Sin Chew Daily, Malay daily Sinar Harian, local news broadcaster Astro Awani, Tamil newspaper Malaysia Nanban and The Star, which formed this initiative in February 2022 to share resources and collaborate on diversified news content.

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Rediscovering the heart of Qing Ming tradition

Important observance: Lim (right) and his family members preparing for Qing Ming prayers for his late parents at the Johor Baru Tiong-Hua Association memorial park.

 It is important to educate the young about purpose of practices to honour ancestors

FOLDING gold and silver foil paper ingots was an annual exercise that my brother and I were tasked to do before Qing Ming.

Both of us would compete to see who could fold more ingots.

My late grandmother would remind us that folding these ingots was not about the quantity or quality, but our sincerity in carrying out the process.

Traditionally, people believed that these ingots, resembling money in the afterlife, would bear different values depending on their shapes.

Those that were perfectly folded would bear more value, in contrast to imperfect ones with pointed edges or which looked like cups.

These memories come flooding back as Qing Ming approaches this year.

Although it falls on April 4, it is observed two weeks before and after that date.

Qing Ming is a day for Taoists and Buddhists to honour their departed family members and ancestors.

Back then, my family and I would visit the columbarium and pay our respects to my grandparents and great-grandparents.

We would always bring their favourite food, such as kopi O kosong for my late grandfather as well as fruits and roasted meat for our ancestors.

We would burn the gold and silver ingots, alongside boxes of other paraphernalia such as clothes, shoes and “hell banknotes”.

After praying, my mother would “update” them on our lives and whether I had been a naughty boy or not.

That was about two decades ago, when I still observed Qing Ming.

Paper smartphones, computers and credit cards were not available or too expensive back then, but now you can even burn a range of paper luxury cars and bungalows.

I always find that aspect fascinating and look forward to seeing what creative items will be churned out each year by enterprising traders selling prayer paraphernalia.

I gradually stopped this annual pilgrimage due to the hassle and inconvenience.

Other than the crowds at columbaria and cemeteries, one would also have to contend with the sweltering heat and smoke from the burning of joss sticks and other items.

Excuses, some might say, but I have stopped observing the tradition.

Yet deep down, I am curious about the origins of these rituals and their significance.

Customary practices can sometimes change due to circumstances and modernity.

One may even wonder to what extent these rituals were practised by our ancestors.

To find out, I spoke to cemetery management committee members and historians about Qing Ming rituals.

While the main rituals do not differ much, offerings such as food can be unique to respective clan associations.

Each clan association prepares its own specialty foods for offerings on the altar, such as the Cantonese fatt gou (prosperity cake) Hakka hee pan (rice cake), Hainan yi bua (glutinous rice cake) and Teochew ang ku kueh (sticky cake).

I also learnt that most of the paper paraphernalia items that I looked forward to, are commercialised.

Historian Lee Eng Kew noted that gold and silver foil papers burned as offerings to ancestors were the only items that symbolised money.

“Hell banknotes and credit card paper paraphernalia are purely commercial,” he said.

Nowadays, families practise and conduct rituals within their means.

Attempts are being made to reduce wastage, such as bringing home edible offerings and minimising the burning of ceremonial items.

Though simplified, these rituals still have meaning if done sincerely.

While it is important to uphold tradition, we must also at the same time educate the younger generation on the significance of these rituals.

If they do not know the reasons for them, it may be difficult to ensure these traditions continue to be practised for years to come.

Qing Ming crowds arrive early to avoid hot sun

Paying respects: Lim (left) and her family members observing the Qing Ming festival by bringing prepared dishes and prayer paraphernalia for their dearly departed at the United Hokkien Cemeteries Teluk Bahang. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star