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The decision by the Education Ministry to change its policy on the learning of a third language means that non-Chinese students will be allowed to study Chinese as a third language. By the same token, Chinese students will also be able to learn the mother tongues of other ethnic groups, such as the Malay language. Apart from giving students the opportunity to master an additional language which may prove handy in future for career advancement, the objective of letting students take up a third language is to help foster better understanding between the different racial communities as well as greater appreciation of the culture of the different ethnic groups. In my view, the government should consider extending this policy beyond the school to the society at large. Singaporeans, especially young Singaporeans who have just started work, will then get a chance to study a third language during their free time. For many students, the tremendous demand of schoolwork has already made them feel that learning the mother tongue is a strain. There is no reason to pile on the pressure by studying a third language. Yet, after they have completed their education and joined the rat race, they may become more mature and may desire to learn a third language when the avenue for it is no longer readily available. The government should consider offering such language courses since they will obviously benefit our multi-racial society. We have been stressing the importance of lifelong learning with the focus on keeping up with rapid progress in science and technology and management know-how. The little attention paid to language and culture leaves much to be desired. The irony is that we do not know much about the language of other ethnic groups even though we are a multi-racial country located at the centre of Southeast Asia. There are young working Singaporeans who hope to learn the Malay language but have little idea where such courses are available. Some private schools and community clubs do offer Malay-language classes but they are mostly short courses. For people who are keen on acquiring a deeper knowledge of the Malay language and culture, where should they turn to? Similarly, there are non-Chinese Singaporeans who are interested in learning the Chinese language. Do we have Chinese organisations which specialise in providing such courses? Perhaps the Japanese Cultural Society in Singapore, where many Singaporeans spend years to learn the Japanese language in a systematic manner, can serve as a model for us in designing professional courses for the learning of the Chinese or Malay language. (The writer is a community worker. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.)
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教育部已决定修订第三语文政策，也就是说在籍的学生，如属非华族，可选修华文为第三语文。同样的，华族学生也能选修马来文或其他族群的语言为第三语文。 推行第三语文政策的目的，除了让学生多掌握一种语文知识，以便将来在社会上工作时多了一种谋生技能，也有助于多元种族社会的相互了解，促进各族之间对彼此文化的欣赏。 政府的这项政策的主要对象是学生。其实我觉得政府不妨考虑推广到社会的各个阶层，让其他的国人，尤其是那些刚踏入社会工作的年轻人，也能在工余之时学习第三语文。 由于学生们在求学时代要应付的功课实在太多，要他们学习母语已经不胜负荷了，如果要他们再学习第三语文，更是提不起劲。然而这些学生一旦毕业并踏入社会一段日子后，也许身心思想各方面都更加成熟，这时如果他们想要学习第三语文，却往往不得其门而入。 因此政府不妨考虑也为工作人士开办第三语文课程，让各族人士能通过学习彼此的语文，加强对各族文化的了解，这对多元种族的社会绝对有利。 政府虽然强调终身学习，但主要都是在科技工商管理方面。对于语言文化方面，我们可以说是未臻理想。然而最具反讽的却是我们是一个多元种族的国家，位处东南亚的中心，对于他族的语言文字，我们又了解多少？ 本地有不少踏入社会工作的年轻人都希望学习马来文，却不一定晓得有哪些机构开办相关课程。虽然一些私人学校或联络所开办马来语课程，但都是属于短期性质的，如果要有系统的学习马来文并加深文化层面的认识，他们又可以在什么地方学习呢？ 同样的，本地的异族同胞也有人想要学习华文，然而试问：有哪一个组织专门开办这些课程呢？ 在本地，有不少人以好几年的时间在新日文化协会有系统的学习日文，或许我们也应该像新日文化协会那样，有系统的开办华文、马来文等专业课程。
·作者是一名社区工作者
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