by Elgin Toh
LEARNING English tops the list of advice that Shanghai-born,
long-time immigrant Fang Yuan has for new arrivals in Singapore
from her country of origin.
Speaking halting English when she joined her husband here in
1984 but determined to improve, she took lessons at the British
Council for five years, spending six hours a week on the
language.
The 62-year-old, an accomplished pianist in China, went on to
teach music in English at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa)
and set up its youth school.
'There is no way you can integrate into mainstream Singapore
society if you don't speak English,' she said, adding that new
immigrants should adopt a fresh attitude when starting work here,
and be open about learning from Singaporeans.
She is among four recipients of the inaugural Outstanding New
Immigrant Award announced yesterday by the Hua Yuan Association,
the largest group representing new Chinese immigrants here.
The awards recognise post-1980 immigrants from China who have
made significant contributions to society here. Organisers said
they were looking not just for people eminent in their fields, but
for those who also made an effort to integrate and give back to
Singapore.