Language, they say is the most powerful tool to succeed in getting your message across to the audience. The utmost important must-do way is by using normal conversational language as a tool. When I say, conversational language, it doesn't need to be perfectly constructed sentences. The infamous Manglish (English spoken in localized Malaysian slang with localized words) is one conversational language. Same can be applied for other local languages as well. Knowing the language is one thing. Being proficient in it is another thing. Being able to use it to appeal to the right audience is another whole new level.
I usually train my Customer Service personnels to adapt to customer's language level to be able to create a rapport with them. Giving dummies example, if a German is working in Japan, he can't speak German to the colleagues. Of course, they can speak a common language, such as English. However, if he's to learn Japanese & speak to the colleagues, it brings the rapport & relationship to a higher level. Even, in any tasks in our working environment, we can use this method too. This can be demonstrated in below some real-life scenarios below:-
MESSAGE: To check driver status & to inform him on the urgency to deliver the goods to customer
Speaking to Malay driver (Malay language)
Me: Bang, ko kat mana ni? (Bro, where are u now?)
Driver: Aku kat Shah Alam ni, dekat roundabout JVC. (I'm in Shah Alam now, nearby JVC roundabout)
Me: Barang Canon tu, ko hantar cepat pi sana ya. Aku dah kena marah teruk dengan customer ni (U know the Canon goods, please deliver it urgently, okay?? I've already got scolded by customer)
Driver: Ya ker? OK, lagi 10 minit sampai. (Is it?? OK, be right there in 10 minutes)
Me: OK, timo kaseh ya (OK, thank you)
Speaking to Indian driver (Malay language)
Me: A-ne, lu sekarang kat mana? (Bro, where are you now??)
Driver: Saya kah? Saya dekat.....tol USJ. Kejap lagi sampai. (Me?? Me now nearby.....USJ toll. Will arrive there shortly)
Me: Itu macam kah? Itu barang Canon ahh...lu bawa kan? Itu manyak urgent lahh. Lu cepat-cepat hantar sana ahh. Itu customer sudah manyak marah lahh (Is it??U know that Canon goods? Ur carrying it right?? It's an urgent goods, could u please deliver it urgently. The customer is very angry now)
Driver: Ya kah? OK, OK, nanti sekejap sampai (Is it?? OK, OK, will arrive there shortly)
Me: OK, thank you ahhh. (OK, thank you)
Speaking to Chinese driver (Cantonese language)
Me: Tailo, yi kar lei hai pin to?? (Bro, where are you now??)
Driver: Yi kar ahh?? Yi kar ngo hai USJ toll kor to (Now?? Now. I'm nearby USJ toll)
Me: Tiew lo !!! Ko ti Canon for ha mai, ho chung yu ka. Ngo pei hap chai tiew to ho sai lik...Fai tit sung hoi kor to, ma fan lei. (Fu**!!! U know the Canon goods, it's very urgent u know. I got fu** nicely by customer. Could u please deliver it urgently?? Thanks)
Driver: K&%%& !!! Ho lah ho lah. Ngo chun leong ahhh (K&%*!! OK, OK, will do my best)
Me: Mmmm koi lei ahh, ha si cheng lei yamcha (Thank you very much, will buy u drinks next time)
I'm truly grateful to be able to grasp the local conversational language, be it in Malay, English or dialects like Cantonese, Hokkien etc thru exposures in my education years in national schools & current working environment. My only regret is not learning Mandarin properly during my schooling years, which I promised myself not to let it happen to my children. Not undermining some people putting priority for their children on learning internationally recognized language such as English & Mandarin, but many of us may have forgotten about the having language skills required to work in a Malaysian environment.
True, learning English & Mandarin is important & in fact, should be made a priority for all children. Unless, we're training ourselves to work in oversea country for all our life, we mustn't ignore the other languages as well such as Malay & local dialects such as Cantonese, Hokkien, which sadly I think is slowly dying. As what I mentioned earlier, grasping the conversational language (not necessarily need to master) to survive in a Malaysian environment. We took for granted on having a home country with cultures so diverse that we forgotten that it's actually a free training ground for our children to learn multiple languages, all at the same time. Something to ponder on for the parent wannabes or for those planning education for their child....
Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Education. Show all posts
Saturday, 10 August 2013
Sunday, 26 May 2013
A Peek Into Japanese Education System
Sharing with what I read from a Japanese source.
1 - Do you know that Japanese children clean their schools every day for a quarter of an hour with teachers, which... led to the emergence of a Japanese generation who is modest and keen on cleanliness.
2 - Do you know that any Japanese citizen who has a dog must carry bag and special bags to pick up dog droppings. Hygiene and their eagerness to address cleanliness is part of Japanese ethics.
3 - Do you know that in Japan students from the first to sixth primary year must learn ethics in dealing with people
4 - D you know that the Japanese even though one of the richest people in the world but they do not have servants. The parents are responsible for the house and children -
5 - Do you know that there is no examination from the first to the third primary level; because the goal of education is to instill concepts and character building, not just examination and indoctrination. -
6 - Do you know that if you go to a buffet restaurant in Japan you will notice people only eat as much as they need without any waste. No wasteful food.
7 - Do you know that the rate of delayed trains in Japan is about 7 seconds per year!! They appreciate the value of time, very punctual to minutes and seconds.
8 -. Do you know that children in schools brush their teeth (sterile) and clean their teeth after a meal at school; They maintain their health from an early age
9 - Do you know that students take half an hour to finish their meals to ensure right digestion When asked about this concern, they said: "These students are the future of Japan."
10 - Do you know that everybody in Japan will be taught & trained about practicing "kaizen" or what we called continous improvement in every stage of their educational & working life
All these above clearly show what can a good education system & guidance from parents do to empower & mould the children into spiritual-centered beings. Reflecting this with the current education system in the country, everybody know the root cause of the declining state of our education level. Its just the matter of whether the policymakers have the political will to make the changes for the betterment of the country. Nevertheless, Rome is not built in a day & it's all take one person to make a change. Look into life of Jesus Christ, Siddhartha Gautama, Confucius or Prophet Mohd. Make the change u want by changing ourselves first....
1 - Do you know that Japanese children clean their schools every day for a quarter of an hour with teachers, which... led to the emergence of a Japanese generation who is modest and keen on cleanliness.
2 - Do you know that any Japanese citizen who has a dog must carry bag and special bags to pick up dog droppings. Hygiene and their eagerness to address cleanliness is part of Japanese ethics.
3 - Do you know that in Japan students from the first to sixth primary year must learn ethics in dealing with people
4 - D you know that the Japanese even though one of the richest people in the world but they do not have servants. The parents are responsible for the house and children -
5 - Do you know that there is no examination from the first to the third primary level; because the goal of education is to instill concepts and character building, not just examination and indoctrination. -
6 - Do you know that if you go to a buffet restaurant in Japan you will notice people only eat as much as they need without any waste. No wasteful food.
7 - Do you know that the rate of delayed trains in Japan is about 7 seconds per year!! They appreciate the value of time, very punctual to minutes and seconds.
8 -. Do you know that children in schools brush their teeth (sterile) and clean their teeth after a meal at school; They maintain their health from an early age
9 - Do you know that students take half an hour to finish their meals to ensure right digestion When asked about this concern, they said: "These students are the future of Japan."
10 - Do you know that everybody in Japan will be taught & trained about practicing "kaizen" or what we called continous improvement in every stage of their educational & working life
All these above clearly show what can a good education system & guidance from parents do to empower & mould the children into spiritual-centered beings. Reflecting this with the current education system in the country, everybody know the root cause of the declining state of our education level. Its just the matter of whether the policymakers have the political will to make the changes for the betterment of the country. Nevertheless, Rome is not built in a day & it's all take one person to make a change. Look into life of Jesus Christ, Siddhartha Gautama, Confucius or Prophet Mohd. Make the change u want by changing ourselves first....
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