By Greg Mellen, Staff writer
Long Beach Press Telegram (Calif., USA)
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - While Progressive United Action Association labors to bring English to the Cambodian people, the feeling is not unanimous that English is the most valuable language skill to have.
Douglas Gardner, the head of the United Nations Development Program in Cambodia, is an American, but he floats a very un-American idea. He suggests Cambodian children might benefit more by learning the language of a neighbor.
"As it gets into trade and the global economy, Cambodia is in a subregion where China exerts enormous influence," Gardner said. "It's no longer just English. As we look to the future, English and Chinese are primary."
Kol Pheng, senior minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, agrees that Chinese is important and he favors it being taught in college.
He would like to see more Chinese offered by non-governmental organizations but predicts that because many of the groups are funded by Americans, they may not want to spend to teach a language other than English.
Another player in the mix is France.
Because Cambodia was a French colony until the 1950s and adopted the French education model until the Khmer Rouge uprising, much of Cambodia's educated population still speaks French and the language remains strong in the country.
Tippana Tith is a Cambodian activist who lives in Long Beach but often travels back to his home country. He favors expansion of English teaching in Cambodia but says he sees France trying to re-exert influence in the region and worries that their efforts are being bolstered by French-educated political leaders such as Sam Rainsy, leader of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
Pheng, however, says English remains the focus of the government's efforts to expand literacy in second languages. He says students are required to begin taking English in fifth and sixth grades, but their exposure is minimal.
Douglas Gardner, the head of the United Nations Development Program in Cambodia, is an American, but he floats a very un-American idea. He suggests Cambodian children might benefit more by learning the language of a neighbor.
"As it gets into trade and the global economy, Cambodia is in a subregion where China exerts enormous influence," Gardner said. "It's no longer just English. As we look to the future, English and Chinese are primary."
Kol Pheng, senior minister in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, agrees that Chinese is important and he favors it being taught in college.
He would like to see more Chinese offered by non-governmental organizations but predicts that because many of the groups are funded by Americans, they may not want to spend to teach a language other than English.
Another player in the mix is France.
Because Cambodia was a French colony until the 1950s and adopted the French education model until the Khmer Rouge uprising, much of Cambodia's educated population still speaks French and the language remains strong in the country.
Tippana Tith is a Cambodian activist who lives in Long Beach but often travels back to his home country. He favors expansion of English teaching in Cambodia but says he sees France trying to re-exert influence in the region and worries that their efforts are being bolstered by French-educated political leaders such as Sam Rainsy, leader of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party.
Pheng, however, says English remains the focus of the government's efforts to expand literacy in second languages. He says students are required to begin taking English in fifth and sixth grades, but their exposure is minimal.
8 comments:
I've come across a number of un-American ideas that are not downright stupid - but this is not one of them.
Well, we need a common language so
we can speak internationally. The
Chinese are learning English also.
Hopefully, we can get by without
learning Chinese or Vietnamese or
Siam ... . But if one plan to build
a career with a Chinese Company, it
is not a bad knowledge to have.
Yeah maybe we can all join in and eat PLICE LICE together, what do you think?
it's PLIED LICE, you PLEAKING LAT!
Huh? you meant FRIED RICE you FREAKING RAT?
NVM...I gave up learning English long ago!
Well, any language is fine but vieinamese's, i just can't stand it. Hey, don't get me wrong, i like viet's girls....
Watch YouTube "Sihanouk & Vietcong"
FYI-
a numbers of rich business folks in USA- put adds on newspapers looking for babysitters who can speak proper Chinese Professional Mandarin. The annual salary is $ 80,000 to $100,000.
Job descriptions:
-speak native professional Madarin
-12 hours work day and speak and write only Mandarin with their kids (6 am-6 pm)and will get one and half compensation in payment when mammy is required to stay longer ($ 75-80/hours extra)
-Good cook with Chinese cuisine is a plus.
-A job is terminated when kids complete high school/or special circumstances.
THIS IS NOT A JOKE FOLKS--HAPPENED HERE IN USA: NEW YORK and San FRANSCISCO)
Damn, hook me up, dude!
Post a Comment