CNA938 Rewind - Travel & the average Singaporean - an Allianz Partners survey
In 'Destination Anywhere', Melanie Oliveiro analyses key travel survey results released by Allianz Partners, a global firm providing B2B2C insurance and assistance. Managing Director Vinay Surana will discuss the Allianz Partners Travel Index survey which - for the first time - has released some Singapore findings. Surana will discuss trends like why some Singaporeans are not travelling; what concerns they have about going overseas; using AI for holiday planning; and even aisle passenger behavioural trends.
CNA938 Rewind - Malaysia's Booker Prize nominee Tash Aw discusses 'The South' – the first in a quartet of novels
In 'Culture Club', Melanie Oliveiro speaks with Malaysian author Tash Aw, known for international bestsellers like 'The Harmony Silk Factory' and the longlisted Booker Prize novel 'Five Star Billionaire'. Twenty years after his debut title, Aw will talk about 2025's 'The South' which is a coming-of-age tale of teenager Jay Lim who – with his family – moves south of the Malaysian peninsula to a neglected farm that they have inherited. Aw will talk about the characters and era that propel the story and how 'The South' is the first in a quartet of novels.
39 mins
CNA938 Rewind - Travel & the average Singaporean - an Allianz Partners survey
In 'Destination Anywhere', Melanie Oliveiro analyses key travel survey results released by Allianz Partners, a global firm providing B2B2C insurance and assistance. Managing Director Vinay Surana will discuss the Allianz Partners Travel Index survey which - for the first time - has released some Singapore findings. Surana will discuss trends like why some Singaporeans are not travelling; what concerns they have about going overseas; using AI for holiday planning; and even aisle passenger behavioural trends.
19 mins
CNA938 Rewind - #TalkBack: If you are a private hire driver, should there be a limit to the number of hours you work?
The recent passing of 49-year-old driver Gavin Neo from a stroke has raised serious questions about the long hours some drivers are putting in just to make ends meet. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin discuss more with Tan Ying Ying, Director of NTUC Freelancers and Self-Employed Unit.
28 mins
CNA938 Rewind - A Letter to Myself - Vidhi Modi on launching XVXII Jewellery with only $500 and growing it into a multi-storey flagship at Haji Lane
Vidhi Modi, Founder of XVXII Jewellery, started her entrepreneurial journey early, from selling handmade bookmarks and masala popcorn at the age of seven to launching her own waterproof and tarnish-free jewellery brand. Starting XVXII with just $500 during the pandemic, Vidhi grew it from a bedroom startup to a three-storey flagship store at Haji Lane, all while juggling a degree in Cyber Security. In this episode of A Letter to Myself, Vidhi tells guest host Vaisali Prabhakaran about the personal journey behind her brand, the influence of her family, the lessons learned through failure and resilience, and her vision for global expansion.
41 mins
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That means abandoning your inhibitions and not getting hung up on grammar or achieving proficiency, said Thomas Sauer, assistant director of resource development for the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland. Travellers can connect and communicate surprisingly well at this level, which he described as a speaking style, akin to that of a toddler, that gets the point across. For Brandon Shaw, a co-owner of the Tour Guy, a company providing specialised tours in Europe and North America, reaching survival level means focusing on a core of essential verbs (words like 'go,' 'see,' 'eat,' 'drink,' 'have,' 'do' and 'be'), then learning a small vocabulary of other words centred on your particular interests for a given trip. 'Then you can literally build a hundred sentences around that,' Shaw said. Learning those 'right words' doesn't happen overnight. Getting beyond the transactional tourist tropes of 'Where's the bathroom?' and 'Check, please,' for example, can take anywhere from one to three months of daily practice, although everyone learns differently. As with a fitness programme, you get out of language study what you put in. The trick is finding what works for you. HIT THE APPS Diplomats, chief executives and missionaries often learn languages in high-intensity, immersive environments with dedicated instructors. For the rest of us, an app is often the first step. Esther Gutierrez Eugenio, a language learning expert from Geneva, said apps can be helpful — she prefers Babbel — but encouraged learners to test several options. More important than any specific app or method is to get started right away, she said, and practice every day. Shorter, consistent sessions are more effective than longer, sporadic ones. 'There's a big time and effort commitment when you learn a language. So you definitely need to find something that you enjoy,' making it more fun to practice regularly, she added. Test out different apps like Duolingo, Babbel, Memrise and Busuu, which all offer either free versions or free trials, to see which one works for you. Dr Eugenio recommends systems that employ spaced repetition, an evidence-based learning technique that reviews and repeats material at increasing intervals. Some apps, like Duolingo, use spaced repetition, but don't always provide authentic cultural context, which is important for learning intuitively, said Sauer. Dr Eugenio said some of her clients have had success conversing and drilling with AI chatbots in voice mode. And Google, whose Translate app is already indispensable for travellers, recently released Little Language Lessons, a free, customisable, interactive tool that uses AI. Speaking with another person can help you make progress, Sauer said, and apps like HelloTalk or Tandem, which both offer free versions, can be a good way to find a partner who speaks your target language and wants to learn English. You can also check out the Language Learning Community on the social platform Discord. For an entertaining way to learn, stream a foreign movie or TV show, turn on the English subtitles, and try to follow along. To improve listening comprehension, cue up music in a foreign language and view the lyrics using Apple Music or Spotify. If apps aren't your thing, consider time-tested alternatives like in-person classes, language groups, practice sessions with a fluent friend, books, audio guides or flash cards. Many of these resources are free at your local library. 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