KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Mastering a second or third language is no longer merely a pastime; it is a crucial key to advancing one's career and promoting cross-cultural collaboration.
The founder and chief executive officer of Kunkwan International Mandarin Training Centre, Kent Ng Kun Kwan, picking up Mandarin as an additional language can significantly enhance an individual's value, especially in the realm of international business.
“The 16th to the 18th centuries show that language plays a crucial role in dominating the economy, particularly in the mastery of French and English.
"Today, people continue to learn English and Mandarin to enhance business collaboration with China, now the world's second-largest economic entity.
"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim previously said that Mandarin has become an economic language. So, if we want a strong economy, we should learn other languages.
“People learn the language because they want to use it as a tool to communicate and win people's hearts,” he said on Bernama TV's 'The Nation: Learning Mandarin In Today's World’.
Commenting on the language centre’s record in The Malaysia Book of Records for Most Students Enrolled in a Mandarin Language Course in a Year, Ng attributed the success to its simple approach that enabled students to master the language quickly.
"If you attend a Chinese school, the first thing the teacher does is hold your hand to write 'Chinese characters.' Based on my experience, Chinese characters are the most intimidating part for students. That's why at KunKwan, we sacrifice reading and writing to focus on listening and speaking.
“At KunKwan, students' assignments don’t involve writing. They learn how to create videos, practise speaking in front of the camera, and send voice messages to teachers to enhance their speaking skills.
“Language is tied to culture, and when we learn a language, we are also learning about its culture,” he said.
Ng added that learning other languages promotes respect and a deeper understanding of the different ethnic groups in Malaysia.
"In KunKwan, we consider ourselves as a cross-cultural centre because we conduct many cross-cultural activities. During Chinese New Year, we do ‘Lou Yee Sang’ together, and during Hari Raya, I fast along with the students.
“For Deepavali, we create ‘Kolam’ together. We should emphasise unity; indeed multi-culturalism is Malaysia's uniqueness and strength," he said.
Since its founding in 2013, Ng said KunKwan has enrolled 370,000 students from countries such as Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Brunei.
It is now the largest international Mandarin training centre in Southeast Asia.
-- BERNAMA
