M' sian FM on diplomats' language proficiency
With all honesty, I must say that new Foreign Minister Rais Yatim has finally conceived the indisputably correct and right idea of upgrading the language skills of our diplomats who represent us and project the nation's image to the world of many languages and cultures out there.
Rudd' s Mandarin impresses Chinese president
Rudd' s Mandarin impresses Chinese president
posted by James Wong Wing-On at 11:19 PM
3 Comments:
As diplomats, proficiency in languages and diplomatic skills are 2 basic job skills that should be constantly pursued for their professional advancement. If they need additional rewards as motivation to do so, it shows badly about the attitudes of our diplomats towards their job.
I've often been amazed at how Malaysian official delegates at international conferences are virtually deaf-and-mute.
In international diplomacy, you often have to be very precise what and how you say things, and the language has to be carefully calibrated to convey the right message - no more, no less. Such fine language skills are totally beyond most of the serving foreign service officers.
And it would help a lot if their personnel recruitment was more reflective of Malaysia's rich ethnic diversity.
Too little too late. Thanks to our 'nationalists' our education system has produced a 'lost' generation.A very heavy price to pay. I have stories that our younger bunch of diplomatic staff will not intermingle with other foreign diplomatic service people and choice to huddle together like lost sheep. Reason? They can't even string together a decent sentence in English, let alone hold any meaningful conversation!
But hey, a ready-made source is available. These same 'nationalistic' leaders send their kids overseas for education from a tender age whilst they scream and shout about the perils of proficiency in English. Perhaps, the elitist class can now not only rule the country but also land plum jobs overseas.
-WQLin
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