TBR (To Be Read): Books about bookshops seem to have lost their bite
(From left) Days At The Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, The Library Book by Susan Orlean and Umberto Eco's 1980 debut, The Name Of The Rose.
SINGAPORE – Book-lined spaces are the closest analogues to temples in a secular context. Especially when one is a bookworm.
Throughout my reading life, there have been favourite book-lined spaces, beginning with the old red-brick National Library building in Stamford Road and the similarly red-hued MPH Bookstores across from it, to the floral-scented hush of London's Hatchards bookshop and the bad gym stink of the old Forbidden Planet bookstore in Tottenham Court Road.
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Straits Times
3 hours ago
- Straits Times
Mandarin with Taiwanese characteristics: Taipei leverages language as soft power tool
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox – How do you say 'MRT' in Mandarin? In this particular Chinese language class, the correct answer is 'jieyun' – a Taiwan-specific term – and not 'ditie', which is used in mainland China. Reading comprehension exercises here can be about Taiwan's night markets, with references to stinky tofu and bubble tea; and writing is done in traditional Chinese characters instead of the simplified characters preferred across the Taiwan Strait. Finally, students might be prompted to practise saying where they are from with the following phrase: 'Wo shi tai wan ren, ni ne?' – I am Taiwanese, how about you? The scenes described above provide a snapshot of what lessons are like at a Taiwan Centre For Mandarin Learning (TCML) – the Taiwan government-funded overseas learning centres which, as they admit, offer Mandarin education with 'Taiwanese characteristics'. Since their introduction in 2021, Taiwan's Overseas Community Affairs Council has set up 88 centres across Europe and the United States, in major cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, London and Paris, as part of Taiwan's efforts to use Mandarin to promote cultural diplomacy. These centres are typically established within existing language schools or community associations, which receive Taiwan government funding and resources to cover operating expenses. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore I want to divorce my husband and be a single mother: More victims speaking up on emotional abuse Asia Dozens injured after magnitude 6.0 quake strikes Sulawesi, Indonesia, official says Singapore Buying hope: Inside S'pore's love affair with the lottery Singapore She won big in Genting, but getting $240k winnings back to Singapore was dicey World Trump drops Ukraine ceasefire demand after Putin summit Singapore Motorcyclist dies after multi-vehicle collision on TPE An estimated NT$541 million (S$23.1 million) so far has been spent to fund the programme. The programme is set to significantly extend its reach: In 2026, new centres will be established in Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand. Dr Elaine Chung, a Chinese studies lecturer at Cardiff University in the UK, told The Straits Times that it was unsurprising Taipei had selected those countries to set up language centres. 'These nations share democratic norms and are likely seen by the Taiwanese government as providing a favourable context for cultivating long-term international goodwill and political support amid intensifying cross-strait tensions,' she said. Taiwan faces the constant threat of invasion by China, which views the island as its territory and has in recent years ramped up its military and diplomatic pressures against it to assert its sovereignty claims. In a July speech addressing TCML's expansion plans, Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said that Mandarin education served as one of the island's most effective diplomatic tools. 'Mandarin language exchanges have brought Taiwan to the world and the world to Taiwan,' he added. If the TCMLs sound like Taiwanese counterparts to China's dwindling government-funded Confucius Institutes (CIs), that is because they were designed to be that way. Founded in 2004, CIs are language and culture education centres embedded in overseas universities and colleges, whose stated purpose is to promote Chinese language and culture. But as tensions between Washington and Beijing intensified in recent years, concerns have grown over the alleged use of CIs as tools for Chinese propaganda and espionage in American educational institutions. Critics have accused CIs of censoring discussions on issues sensitive to the Communist Party of China, such as the Cultural Revolution and alleged human rights abuses in Tibet. From a peak of roughly 100 CIs in the US in 2018, fewer than five remain operating in the country, according to a 2023 report by the US Government Accountability Office. A similar wariness about the rise of China's influence in parts of Europe has also led to rapid closures of some CIs in countries such as Sweden, Spain and Germany. Taiwan saw a chance to fill the void, teaching adult students its version of Mandarin – along with its democratic values – as Beijing's threats against the island have become increasingly aggressive. In 2021, Taipei launched the TCML programme and marketed it as an alternative source of Mandarin instruction that was open and democratic. Besides the programme, Taiwan also runs a long-running scholarship programme offered to international students, including from Singapore, to travel to Taiwan to study Mandarin. Another scheme involves sending Mandarin language teachers from Taiwan to teach in US universities. Dr Chung said: 'Taiwan's active promotion of Mandarin reflects its ambition to mobilise the language as a cultural resource that projects value-based soft power, emphasising its democratic and liberal identity as distinct from China on the international stage.' At London's Hua Hsia Chinese School – a TCML centre – some 70 students have signed up to master basic Mandarin while picking up factoids about Taipei 101 and how to identify cities and counties on a Taiwan map. Many students have some kind of connection to Taiwan, either by marriage or business ties. Ms Katja Ting, who runs the school, said she felt heartened by the show of interest in the course, despite the significant challenge in learning to read traditional Chinese characters versus simplified script. 'One of our students said that it has always been his dream to learn traditional characters because he thinks they're more beautiful,' she told ST in a video call. 'Our Japanese students also prefer it because the same characters are used in their Kanji writing system.' Experts noted, however, that the promotion of traditional Chinese script as a unique feature of Taiwan could also be its drawback. 'The education system in most countries teaches Modern Standard Chinese as it is spoken and written in China, which is 'putonghua' with simplified characters,' said Dr Jeffrey Gil, who has researched extensively on the topic. 'That means that TCMLs are teaching a kind of Chinese that most students haven't studied and which doesn't match their prior learning experiences,' said the lecturer from Australia's Flinders University. 'This raises questions about if and how TCMLs can connect with and contribute to existing Chinese language education programmes abroad,' he told ST. Dr Chung noted that despite the political controversy surrounding CIs, international students see the appeal of learning a version of Mandarin that is usable in China due to perceived academic or career advantages in the long run. After conducting interviews with 30 university students in the UK majoring in Chinese studies, she found that even as students were critical of China's political system, many preferred to learn the version of Mandarin as written and spoken in China. 'While Taiwan works to brand its Mandarin education as a progressive, liberal alternative, it struggles against the gravitational pull of China's global economic and political dominance,' she said. For Ms Ting, who heads the TCML centre in London, Taiwan's Mandarin education strategy should be seen as offering students an additional choice. 'That's better than thinking of it as a competition with China. Students will want to learn Taiwan's version of Mandarin for specific reasons, and it's good that they have this option,' she said.
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
More than $850K raised for Singapore Children's Society in annual walk
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE - The Singapore Children's Society raised more than $850,000 from its annual fundraiser walk and family day, which drew 4,200 people to the National Stadium on Aug 17. The event this year , called Walk for Our Children, was organised to spur young families to get active and to educate parents to help their teenage children strengthen their emotional well-being and resilience. Throughout the 2km route along the stadium and Geylang River, placards and boards provided information on how to help young people , using a framework for developmental relationships. The framework comprises five elements: expressing care to young people, supporting them, stretching their growth, giving young people a say in matters, and expanding their worldview and connections. Since 2022, the society's four youth centres have been working with teenagers using this framework . 'In day-to-day interactions, the centre's staff will utilise the developmental relationships approach to challenge growth by pushing the youths to do better in their academics or personal interests, hold them accountable for their actions, and guide them on reflecting on their mistakes,' said Mr Taufiq Salehoodin, assistant director and head of youth centre The Fort @ Children's Society in Radin Mas. Mastering developmental relationships have been linked to improved academic performance, better emotional regulation and stronger interpersonal skills, said the society in its biannual report published in March. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore I want to divorce my husband and be a single mother: More victims speaking up on emotional abuse World Trump drops Ukraine ceasefire demand after Putin summit Singapore Buying hope: Inside S'pore's love affair with the lottery Singapore She won big in Genting, but getting $240k winnings back to Singapore was dicey Life These cats may have disabilities, but they are resilient and capable of being affectionate Singapore PM Wong's National Day Rally speech to begin at 6.45pm on Aug 17 Singapore Motorcyclist dies after multi-vehicle collision on TPE Opinion Confessions of a born-again Singaporean Of the five elements, teenagers struggled most with the 'challenge growth' pillar which involves stretching their limits and helping the students deal with mistakes and setbacks, a recent survey by the four youth centres found. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung attended the Aug 17 event, which also included a 5km run and carnival activities. Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung flagging off the Walk For Our Children 2025 at the Singapore Sports Hub Aug 17, 2025. The Straits Times Proceeds raised through ticket sales, donations and sponsorships will go towards supporting the programmes and services run by the Singapore Children's Society. Apart from Radin Mas, the other three youth centres are located in Toa Payoh, Jurong and Chai Chee. These centres are not just for at-risk youths but any teen looking for a space after school where they can spend time, added Mr Taufiq. The four centres, of which the oldest in Toa Payoh is 25 years old, have different ways of engaging youth. For example, students at Mr Taufiq's centre are usually busy with leading community programmes and running a podcast, while the centre at Chai Chee helps students through digital platforms and games. Mr Tian Enqi, 36, his wife and their two toddlers were among the 4,200 people who attended the fund-raising event. 'The event and leisurely walk was fun for the kids, who are of the right age to join and play,' said the senior manufacturing manager. The Singapore Children's Society event was part of Singapore Pools' SG60 weekend event – called Weekend with A Heart – which featured futsal and e-sports matches, alongside other family activities. In a charity football match on Aug 16, several MPs and ministers played against past national footballers including Fandi Ahmad, Baihakki Khaizan and Jeremy Chiang. The politicians in the parliamentary team included Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo, Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow, Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh, and Minister of State for Education and Digital Development and Information Jasmin Lau.
Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Straits Times
Confessions of a born-again Singaporean
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox For years, the writer tried to make a life for herself elsewhere. She admits she was blinkered. If my heart was not going to lead, then I would have to first make a decision to love the country I call home, says the writer. At 12, frustrated after I came home with subpar results for a maths paper, I decided I wasn't suited to be a Singaporean. As a child of the 90s, I – rightly or wrongly – believed there needed to be certain checkboxes to be a model Singaporean. Do well in all subjects, check. Be a demure, size 6 girl, check. Excel in sciences and maths, check.
