今天Edmonton Journal上的一篇读者来信

victorw

在今天的Edmonton Journal (Sunday, September 18, 2005)的A17上， 有这样一封读者来信：
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LETTERS
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Mandarin Chinese:  the new 2nd language
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" }0 ^( @2 T2 J% y+ N0 H) h$ Y( LThe Edmonton Journal
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Sunday, September 18, 2005

We are all well aware of the fact that China’s economic growth rate and industrial potential are among the greatest in the world.

Recent research has shown that the interdependence between China and Canada has been steadily increasing in recent years.  Trade statistics also tells us that China has already become Canada’s second-largest trading partner, after the United States.  Last year, Ottawa and Beijing conducted some $30 billion worth of trade.
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: N" d( U$ G7 J# c% q0 WIn addition to those trade links, China and Canada have seen rapid progress in the development of bilateral political ties.  Chinese President Hu Jintao’s recent four-day state visit to Canada has paved the way for further co-operation between China and Canada in the fields of the economy, science and technology, energy resources, agriculture, the environment and health.
) S8 |6 ], i$ U# a' k5 M5 i% `In the next 10 to 50 years, as I see it, China will be our market, our trade partner and our competitor.
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/ Z7 H5 P" N9 O+ z( m8 bOne of the most important ways to ensure our children can compete globally is to help them learn a language other than English.

To me, the second language of choice for Alberta children to learn is Mandarin Chinese.  I believe that learning Mandarin Chinese will allow our students to learn to communicate with one-quarter of the earth’s population, learn about Chinese culture and literature, and enhance their employment opportunities both at home and abroad.

9 m' ~" @1 ^4 ~% ]6 K6 L& kXXXX XXXX, Edmonton

醉酒当歌

Originally posted by victorw at 2005-9-18 06:12 PM:
- C( p5 m, ^- B在今天的Edmonton Journal (Sunday, September 18, 2005)的A17上， 有这样一封读者来信：

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Mandarin Chinese:  the new 2nd language
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The Edmonton Journal
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4 W# ~* ]* n9 ], m( QSunday, Sep ...

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还是多听听收音机报道吧,据我说知,加拿大对于中国的态度是很不友好的,听听收音机很多的讨论就知道了,其实,加拿大与美国态度上很类似, 对于中国也是很敌意的.

antelope

Originally posted by 醉酒当歌 at 2005-9-18 20:00:
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还是多听听收音机报道吧,据我说知,加拿大对于中国的态度是很不友好的,听听收音机很多的讨论就知道了,其实,加拿大与美国态度上很类似, 对于中国也是很敌意的.

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收音机报道也不一定客观。个人觉得相对于美国，加拿大宽厚得多了（当然也显得软点）。

板儿砖

这篇文章至少可以提醒一下ECBEA和Alberta Learning的思路，目光不能总往海峡那边看，应该顺应一下时势。

马甲

Originally posted by 片儿刀 at 2005-9-19 07:44 PM:
这篇文章至少可以提醒一下ECBEA和Alberta Learning的思路，目光不能总往海峡那边看，应该顺应一下时势。

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) ?8 H* M( r% Y' k"Mandarin Chinese"用中文表达是“普通话”和“国语”，跟海峡两岸有什么关系？

板儿砖

感觉目前爱城公立学校的中文教育的理念是 heritage，追求正宗传统的 Mandarin，也就是来自台湾的国语，坚持繁体字，推崇注音符号。能联系到经济发展趋势的，似乎不多。

大胆猜测一下，这篇文章可能是哪位大陆家长写的。用心良苦，失敬失敬。

victorw

在今天的Edmonton Journal (Wednesday, September 21, 2005)的A14上， 有一封读者来信來回复楼主在一楼贴出的信件(Sunday, September 18, 2005)， 以下为回复的原信：
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9 L4 T1 v2 M2 F/ Q- JDon’t overlook indigenous languages

0 Z$ Y  k. Z' L, _1 V0 g( GWith reference to XXXX XXXX’s suggestion that Mandarin Chinese become “the second language of choice for Alberta children to learn.” (Letters, Sept. 18)

I agree wholeheartedly with Mr. XXXX that children should learn a second or even a third language.
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. L2 e& S$ }3 O) X7 n4 ^$ cMr. XXXX’s strategic reasoning points out that China is Canada’s second largest trading partner and therefore, speaking the new language of commerce, Mandarin, will have financial benefits.

In our money-driven society, we forget that languages hold infinitely more significance than the simple job of buying and selling.

The language of my ancestors, Nehiyawewin (Cree), has echoed throughout Turtle Island (North America) for at least a millennia.

Five hundred years ago, the main languages of commerce shifted to French and English and eventually, our two “founding nations” of Canada dictated these as our two official languages.  Deemed irrelevant and worthless, Nehiyawewin and many other indigenous languages suffered language loss and in many cases, linguicide (language death) as they were deemed to have no commercial value.

0 v" S5 s+ {0 w5 KIndigenous people are the fastest growing population in Canada.  The surviving indigenous languages represent a richness of culture and heritage.  I understand linguistic diversity is essential for the success of humanity, but before we look overseas to adopt another language, we should be concerned about preserving and celebrating our indigenous languages here at home.
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! }7 c. [$ H1 w0 q7 `/ WTracy Bear-Coon, research assistant for Cree language, School of Native Studies, University of Alberta

victorw

Originally posted by 马甲 at 2005-9-19 22:08:
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4 A( k) p: ]" X4 v  O"Mandarin Chinese"用中文表达是“普通话”和“国语”，跟海峡两岸有什么关系？

我想这里用Mandarin Chinese是为了强调是普通话，而不是广东话。

细雨

Originally posted by victorw at 2005-9-18 06:12 PM:
2 q+ Q, d6 m8 W' e4 h. O- }3 d. N在今天的Edmonton Journal (Sunday, September 18, 2005)的A17上， 有这样一封读者来信：

. R' _* j2 `' m5 K- w3 o% sLETTERS
3 D# e5 x- h4 X1 C8 _3 b
Mandarin Chinese:  the new 2nd language
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# u/ C, g( X- q$ @& @% u$ gThe Edmonton Journal
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/ ?, U3 M5 R- H% O" t0 s! MSunday, Sep ...

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4 R/ P6 C( v+ J+ V, j敬佩这位家长！有远见！有行动！

victorw

在今天的Edmonton Journal (Friday, September 23, 2005)的A19上， 又有一封读者来信來回复楼主在一楼贴出的信件(Sunday, September 18, 2005)， 以下为回复的原信：

Edmonton leads in teaching Mandarin as second language

3 y2 D( n+ y  D6 U; nThe Edmonton Chinese Bilingual Education Association recognized the potential and importance of students learning Mandarin Chinese as a second language almost 25 years ago.

8 @; J3 C& _& _" ?7 [+ N5 C3 Q  KThe ECBEA has worked closely with Edmonton Public Schools to ensure the quality of this second language learning experience.
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. `' ?0 }( M& M2 zEdmonton’s model Chinese Bilingual Program is getting the international attention of educators, business and government.
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Continued investment into this continuum of studies from kindergarten to high school graduation will surely pay dividends as XXXX XXXX suggested (Letters, Sept. 18).

& a  A: K' z/ E9 dWhat sets us apart is that students can start in kindergarten and Grade 1 without any knowledge of Chinese.
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The Locations of the five elementary, four junior highs and three senior highs are accessible form anywhere in our city.

5 d7 P3 f4 p5 Y1 G5 B6 g* IMore than 1800 student learn to read, write and speak Chinese Mandarin and are exposed to the Chinese culture in our public schools throughout the school year.  Many school tours have gone to China and some of our schools are twinned for educational purposes.

# Y5 N9 ]/ y$ k1 X- _The ECBEA has established awards and scholarships since 1990 to celebrate student excellence.
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Edmonton is leading hands down with the most comprehensive program of its kind.  Several cities in Canada and Australia have programs form Grade 4 only.

4 E4 [* a) x  q* gWei Wong, awards and scholarship committee, Edmonton Chinese Bilingual Education Association