SINGAPORE : "Mandarin is Cool" - that is the message of this
year's Speak Mandarin Campaign, when it goes to the schools this
month.
And it will begin at Raffles Girls Primary next Monday with the
visit of popular local Mandarin singer Joi Chua, who is ambassador
of the Speak Mandarin Campaign and and old girl of the
school.
Joi will be singing her well-known hits such as "Watch the Sunrise
With Me" as well as "I Wish To Hear You Speak", a pop song
specially tailored for the Speak Mandarin Campaign by renowned
composer-lyricist Liang Wern Fook.
Students will be provided with lyric sheets of the songs to
encourage active sing-a-long and understanding of the Mandarin
lyrical contents.
Besides performing her popular hits, she will also share her past
experiences about learning Mandarin, the importance of Mandarin in
her career, as well as offer advice to students who are weaker in
the language.
The Speak Mandarin Campaign will continue its journey to more than
10 schools, including Zhonghua Secondary, Kong Hwa Primary, Hai
Sing Catholic, Anderson Primary and Clementi Town Secondary.
The National Library Board hopes that by bringing Mandarin to young
Chinese Singaporeans in schools through Mandarin pop music, the
Speak Mandarin Campaign will inspire students to develop an
increased interest in the language. - CNA