Any Hokkien courses being offered in S'pore ?

M T · Post by **M T** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 2:45 pm

Hi, Does anyone know if there are any Hokkien language courses offered in Singapore ? Hardly can speak or understand my own dialect

niuc · Post by **niuc** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 3:09 pm

Hi M T

It's a pity that I have never come across any Hokkien courses here in Singapore

. Nonetheless I have ever seen Hokkien course book with tape sold in Popular bookstore. You can buy one and study by yourself. If you have any questions just post here, friends here will gladly help.

hong · Post by **hong** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 1:04 am

I only saw singapore teochew association offer teochew course.

person · Post by **person** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:50 am

I don't think there are any, considering the Singapore govt's endless attempts to eradicate "dialects". The little bit of hokkien I know I learned from my parents and grandmother.
And are there hokkien books with tapes in bookstores? I have never seen one. I only saw ones teaching cantonese.

niuc · Post by **niuc** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:57 am

Hi Person

Yeah, that's indeed a sad fact.

But I think Hong is right, I kind of saw Teochew and Hainan associations ("huay kuan") offering respective language courses. It's sad that Hokkien Huay Kuan only promotes Mandarin.

It's true that I saw Hokkien course book with tape in Popular, along with similar format book & tape for other languages (not only Chinese ones). I also came across books about Hokkien in Kinokuniya (in Chinese, published in Taiwan). Another easy way to learn Hokkien is via internet. There are quite a number of good site such as: <http://www.glossika.com/en/dict/taiwanese/index.php>, there are other links in this forum but I can't find it now.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:50 pm

Thanks niuc. Which was the Popular bookstore selling the tapes ? Kinokuniya does have Cantonese tapes but not Hokkien.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:13 pm

Just mix around with the Ah Bengs more and you will be able to speak Hokkien in no time.

hong · Post by **hong** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:44 am

It is not true that Singapore association didn't promote minnan because they are the one who sponsor Singapore minnan dict,singapore minnan 概要 and 歌謠。To offer the minnan course on sunday they have to send students who have bachelor degree in Chinese language for a three master degree in Xiamen University.The thesis must be directly related to minnan but not 古漢語/普通話。

niuc · Post by **niuc** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 3:11 am

Hi Person, I saw the book (&tape) in Popular at Bras Basah and Orchard MRT but should be also available elsewhere. In fact I saw it once in Kinokuniya too - at the language section next to the door to escalator - but soon it disappeared (may be someone bought it and the store didn't replace it). If you still can't find it, may be this weekend if I go to bookstore, I'll check the exact title of the book for you.

Hi Hong, thanks for the info. Glad to know that Hokkien Huay Kuan sponsored Singapore Minnan dictionary etc. I haven't find any info regarding this in its website (<http://www.shhk.com.sg/>). The association doesn't offer any Hokkien course but many Mandarin courses (<http://www.shhkact.com.sg/chineseenrichment.htm>, <http://www.shhkact.com.sg/hanyupinyin.htm>, <http://www.shhkact.com.sg/readingcomprehension.htm>, <http://www.shhkact.com.sg/oralproficiency.htm>). They even have Malay language course! (<http://www.shhkact.com.sg/conversationalmalay.htm>) These courses are good and beneficial, yet! Alas! it neglects its own root!

hong · Post by **hong** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 5:36 am

http://202.119.47.14:8080/opac/item.php ... 0000388536 did mention they sponsored the book