Comments on: Evarist reneges on his pledge for more English in schools, and instead takes steps to start teaching Mandarin (Chinese) https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2013/10/evarist-reneges-on-this-pledge-for-more-english-in-schools-and-instead-takes-steps-to-start-teaching-mandarin-chinese/ Daphne Caruana Galizia is a journalist working in Malta. Mon, 14 Oct 2013 20:50:48 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Viva lejber https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2013/10/evarist-reneges-on-this-pledge-for-more-english-in-schools-and-instead-takes-steps-to-start-teaching-mandarin-chinese/#comment-1318059 Mon, 14 Oct 2013 20:50:48 +0000 http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/?p=38858#comment-1318059 Learning Chinese is very important, otherwise how would we be able to inform Enemalta’s customer care when there’s a power cut?

]]> By: Joan https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2013/10/evarist-reneges-on-this-pledge-for-more-english-in-schools-and-instead-takes-steps-to-start-teaching-mandarin-chinese/#comment-1317927 Mon, 14 Oct 2013 18:03:34 +0000 http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/?p=38858#comment-1317927 To offer Mandarin as a choice yes, but to have Mandarin as part of the curriculum definitely no.

This reminds me of my school days when I had no choice but to learn Arabic whether I liked it or not, which I didn’t.

I agree with Neil ‘1980s Reloaded – The Sequel’

]]> By: carlos https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2013/10/evarist-reneges-on-this-pledge-for-more-english-in-schools-and-instead-takes-steps-to-start-teaching-mandarin-chinese/#comment-1317805 Mon, 14 Oct 2013 15:26:20 +0000 http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/?p=38858#comment-1317805 Backwards to Dom’s era when Arabic was made a compulsive subject in our schools.

]]> By: Crockett https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2013/10/evarist-reneges-on-this-pledge-for-more-english-in-schools-and-instead-takes-steps-to-start-teaching-mandarin-chinese/#comment-1317767 Mon, 14 Oct 2013 14:53:11 +0000 http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/?p=38858#comment-1317767 Maltese schoolchildren are struggling with Maltese, let alone English. What happened to all that talk about literacy before elections? Oh all right then, let’s introduce Chinese.

]]> By: django https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2013/10/evarist-reneges-on-this-pledge-for-more-english-in-schools-and-instead-takes-steps-to-start-teaching-mandarin-chinese/#comment-1317731 Mon, 14 Oct 2013 14:26:45 +0000 http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/?p=38858#comment-1317731 They want to introduce Mandarin so that we can all understand our Enemalta bills.

]]> By: Paul Bonnici https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2013/10/evarist-reneges-on-this-pledge-for-more-english-in-schools-and-instead-takes-steps-to-start-teaching-mandarin-chinese/#comment-1317639 Mon, 14 Oct 2013 13:19:08 +0000 http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/?p=38858#comment-1317639 This may be the reason why Chinese is important:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24473933

]]> By: BFG https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2013/10/evarist-reneges-on-this-pledge-for-more-english-in-schools-and-instead-takes-steps-to-start-teaching-mandarin-chinese/#comment-1317572 Mon, 14 Oct 2013 12:16:03 +0000 http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/?p=38858#comment-1317572 NI HAO!

Labour will never change, no matter under which thin veneer it chooses to present itself. It will always remain the same roiling cloud of turmoil, ambition and hatred.

The switchers have yet to learn that. At the cost of EVERYBODY’S peace of mind and tranquility.

However, methinks PN needs to look back on its people skills (or the lack thereof) and high-handed strategies and learn a few lessons too. After all something did actually motivate 36,000 voters to switch. To date I have yet to see one answer from PN that adequately addresses that burning question.

It’s going to get much worse before it even begins to get better.

]]> By: Neil https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2013/10/evarist-reneges-on-this-pledge-for-more-english-in-schools-and-instead-takes-steps-to-start-teaching-mandarin-chinese/#comment-1317492 Mon, 14 Oct 2013 11:20:42 +0000 http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/?p=38858#comment-1317492 Mandarin. It’s the new Arabic, don’t you know.

1980s Reloaded – The Sequel

]]> By: ian https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2013/10/evarist-reneges-on-this-pledge-for-more-english-in-schools-and-instead-takes-steps-to-start-teaching-mandarin-chinese/#comment-1317480 Mon, 14 Oct 2013 11:08:36 +0000 http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/?p=38858#comment-1317480 In itself, I don’t think learning Mandarin is a bad idea. It would definitely help open doors in our children’s future.

However, like you said the priority has to be English, and we all know how much improvement we need there.

I don’t think the solution is to have Mandarin as part of the curriculum. But I would like my son’s private school to offer Mandarin lessons as a choice.

Actually I think they might do already. I haven’t looked into it yet as he’s still very young and only just started school this October. I would definitely consider sending him.

]]> By: Tabatha White https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2013/10/evarist-reneges-on-this-pledge-for-more-english-in-schools-and-instead-takes-steps-to-start-teaching-mandarin-chinese/#comment-1317461 Mon, 14 Oct 2013 10:54:46 +0000 http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/?p=38858#comment-1317461 It was just a matter of time…

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