ya so so that's why you know like united nation they have uh people that go in to be the peacemaker you know to try to negotiate, uh with these countries that is in conflict so that you can shorten the conflict and come to a peace truce you know so that the the rivalry parties can agree upon and to able to you know to give and take so call you know and that


once they come to agreement is been signed internationally then there'll be there'll be so called success you know, for instance our the the water problem along our sea you know the conflict with uh malaysia and finally we have to call the we will call the so called the the international council


to step in so that we can put up our case before them, you know because if not there is, one party saying this is right and their party said they are right you know so there are just no end to it you know as we on


, ya, but then there are countries uh who are ongoing having genocide you know so much so that the people are suffering so that's why other country need to step in because this country will not be asking for help


they feel like killing somebody just go around killing the all all the different tribes you know so there is no end to it how can they be like the warlords of the old times, you know so is because of this, that is been highlighted that the world council has no choice but to step in


you know, so sometime , yeah


that's right so that's why united nations you know is, so call the world body that is cold so call embodied all the different countries so that to help those nations so called who are in trouble and where the


conflict is so serious that they cannot handle and that's where the united nations will have to step in, and provide assistance, you know, so very often you find that in such a situation some time you know if the


no countries step in then ultimately is like what I said is the people that is going to suffer you know people are being killed like flies you know one moment you're out and about walking and then next moment you are being hacked with the so called a a knife or gun or whatever that is


ya, it's just is uh seems like we have a situation of lawlessness


uh so that's why very often you know we have to support united nations effort you know, rather than know like US is thumping them down, you know so it's very important that you know the world supports


what is needed, you know so as you become a strong voice for the poorer nations, and they'll help them


yeah but solving the basic problem there's always a limit right, ultimately is still need uh so called uh like united nation to come with the peace negotiator so that the country can really experience peace


yeah that's true, okay, thank you


how far is failure, an essential part of success


okay Song-Li I've the statement failure is an essential part of success is something which I fully endorse and agree uh because it is uh only through our failure that we are able to know our strength and also our weaknesses area of


that we need to improve, so when we know, where we need to improve then then we are able to to recognise the the, the place, that we are able to become better one point that I like to make about failure is that uh it keeps us humble it keeps us going and it really put give us the tenacity to really want to succeed


so uh that statement of of of being an essential part of success is very to me I totally agree , another point is that when we had, tenacity within us it makes us it really when we fail it's like somebody who is uh very poor not they are poor person is uh not successful but when the person is poor the person needs needs to have a very hungry uh


insight and therefore they're very they're always preoccupied in success so in in that sense they will, they will uh strive they will strive and they'll look for ways to succeed, so uh this is this the point that I would like to make across for now maybe we can uh do more later


oh okay so I need to say more


oh okay not three minutes yet okay, okay okay ya so sorry so so so in a way success, is something which, is


is something every human being strive for, and yet at the same time when uh we are afraid of to fail to fail, you know every all of us strive to be successful but many people seem to, uh fail to to see that


it's it's a paradox when you fail then then then you are able to succeed but many people fail to see that which is which is quite funny so, so how far is failure essential it it is really essential but something which we have to overcome our human


tendency our human tendency is is always looking for success success success, but it again the paradox of life is that it this is something that we that we need to fail in order to succeed it's like somebody, who who who you know you know uh when you run do a race right uh and you come across a hurdle you must be able to to to to fall


a couple of times and hurt your your knee cap and then you are able to to to learn how to jump across the you know how far up you you want to jump the hurdle so when you when you are able to fall a bit then you are able to to , how should I say calibrate your your your strength calibrate your the uh how far you you you know the strength that you need and and because of when you do that then you're then you then you are more determined to do some weightlifting increase your your thigh muscles


it's only when you are when you it's only when you know that, that okay this is how much I need to to to be to be able to jump across the hurdle so that part of it is to me is a failure, and and when you are able to do that, then then you are able to calibrate yourself think reposition re-strategize what you need to do then then then then you go for the success


it's still running it's still running


okay I hear what you say about having a mentor, uh, uh and also having supportive friends, and also uh to be self reliant, but a lot of things can happen in life


your supportive friends may not be around anymore, some days not all mentor will be around how long are you going to be reliant on your mentor, and therefore what I like is eh what you say about having to to to rely on yourself and when you rely on yourself you also need to have a


a lot of uh self knowledge, and part of the failure, part of failure is also part of self knowledge, because if you if you are only uh looking outward on mentor only on supportive friends then you are not also looking on yourself


but you'll be good if if if this mentor and this supportive friends also are there when you fail, so there's a that does not mean that that that failure cannot be a part of this uh part of the success route uh route


so what I'm saying is that, even though you have these you still need to have your own self awareness self uh knowledge about yourself and how much you can what how much more you can do in terms of of of uh you know your in this journey of success


and one thing is important is that when you have your own self knowledge then then you are able to grow from there, and and not just reliant on on uh uh outside people and when you are able to then then in your own then you have your own authority of yourself you know okay this is how much I can this is how much I can do and and what are the steps are that I need to


in order to to go onto this route this road of success, I wonder how many really successful people have not failed in their life, I wonder, really the the those who are successful I'm pretty sure if you really listen to them and if you read about their their their life history I am hundred percent sure that all of them has failed


and and that is why I'm pretty sure but the question the the the motion here is how far is failure, uh an essential part of success and I would I would I would like to put it as ninety percent


ninety percent is something that that that is needed, in order to spur us on


but when you have failure you you also it comes with a passion that passion will increase more you know you know you'll get more hungry for success


so so so in other words they're not really ostentatious they're they they are really not not really going on for the success because just one failure and then and I'm okay let's not talk about resilience you know I think part of it is also resilience able to bounce back to to to to be able to to to to to


so perhaps the statements is how far is failure essential part, so perhaps maybe not just failure alone but maybe the the the persons uh psychological uh makeup, the resilience in the person the the and like and like what you say you know the the environment


environment meaning them the the support of friends and the mentor


yes yes yes and also uh I would say that being people with the light minded they they're able to empathise with you they able to see where you are coming from , because if if if let's say for example you have people who have never experienced failure right and then when you fail and and you know all you get is criticism all you get is is is is harsh words from them because these friends have never known what is it like to fail


have have have not gone down the pits so in a way having people uh light minded people not that not that we want to be in the company of failures but all but but but it's more of people who are able to empathise


yes yes yes yes, I think one part of it is not so much of failure but also the how far to me I'm I'm I'm still quite quite clear that it is ninety percent is really important the other part is also not to lose focus because once you fail you kind of lose focus on on on the goal that you want to do where you want to go


but also you know to be able to keep uh uh uh clear focus as to what you want to do what kind of success your success might change you know, your your idea of success might change


, yes yes yes, ya like in singapore, uh of course the five, Cs are is it is is a status of success but again you know uh the definition of success is is is is very important to us someone who has failed may may think to come to realize that maybe the five condos are not important at all it's just only


when you when when when you when you are fail and then you have me may have the time to really reflect what is the value that I want what what kind of life do I want for myself, cause if you keep striving and striving and striving you got you there's no hindsight there's no reflection for you to really to see what exactly do I want for my life


right yes yeah and then now and and and now it may not be be the five C it could be compassion it could be consideration , ya correct correct correct yes


the cash, yes yes yes yes so


yes yes yes yes what what society defines for us, ya, ya so it's only when we are when we are uh fail then we recognise our humanity our vulnerability, and therefore you know we we we going to question could we begin to ask ourselves the the more essential questions than what society uh gives us or what


the environment gives us, ya ya, so you agree with me Song-Ling Song-Ling


experiences are more, valuable than material possessions


well , I agree with the with that statement that experiences are more valuable than material possessions, however coma, this can only be achieved once


the basic material possessions had been a quiet, because there's no point talking about enjoying there's no point talking about, err travel, when you have no basic needs at all, so for me


there is always this need for material possession like maslow hierarchy of needs right the basic is needed once you have your basic needs when I have no roof over my head when I don't have a three meal, there's no point talking about travel there's no point talking about enjoying yourself and no point talking about going to jerusalem or israel


so to me that the point about material possession which is more, is is is is the bottom line for me that point and and and if you if you were to look into the basic needs of people, the basic housing things that that that people need in order for them to to have their three meals


family, schooling all those things, are the are, are are the are the material possessions that people need, not that not that experiences are not important, right but when you are, busy acquiring the material possessions when you're busy


uh living on a day to day basis when a when a parent you could just do nothing but go out every day uh fit to fit to earn the money to feed the family imagine having to sit to stand like a salesperson having to stand for ten hours


all you ever think of is, I need to go back home I need this job I need to to have to have uh you know uh to make sure that I have enough money in order to feed my family, right


I don't think , experiences is not important, it is, but it but the the material possession is is needed right from the start, as a as a foundation of a house as being built


what if you have no if you have no foundation a solid foundation for this house to be built there's no point talking about having a good experience on the, hundredth floor in order to experience the the beautiful landscape


so that that that's my that my point that it is an essential part, of uh material possession is is valuable


well the mere fact that when you say you know uh during this COVID period, or people hadn't have uh, are jobless and therefore, that is that is part of the material possession that people need they they need this they they need to have this security


we cannot be living on fresh air love and fresh air we need to have we still need to have our basic needs basic needs first, in order for us to be to be able to enjoy the the fresh air to be able to enjoy the the you know like you said east coast I'm sure when you you you have a house over your head


you already have your breakfast then then that's why you are able to enjoy your walk along the east coast, if it if it's not for that then how your stomach suddenly you'll be suddenly awakened by the ground in your stomach oh no how come am I going to enjoy my my my walk along the beach when my when when I'm so hungry


can you imagine not having not having enough, err, all these essential things the material, I mean I'm not talking about really possession in terms of, like uh or I need uh uh, five bungalow houses I'm talking about just basic needs and and every


possession could be physical possession our family our our


parents they are the material possession that that a child needs in order to grow, right, uh schooling this are material possessions, these these are the things these are the structures that the society needs to build for us in order for us to to step on


so these are the things that are, are important, however I do I I see your point that the experience the, then and I've I find that in order for a family maybe a poor family who has no who has uh very little to


in terms of uh income in terms of , I suppose luxury in in life perhaps the experience that they that they need to have, uh would be from that lack, of material possession I wonder you know when you when you have


no not enough then then it builds a lot of community living among the the the family members the give and take maybe that's that just experienced that, that you are talking about but all the more uh whether lack of it or or or or


abundance in material possession this is something that that we need that is is is is important you one cannot do without the other


it really it it really depends because I know a lot of, family who are poor, the main thing is survival, they really it's it's it's really uh uh


what about what about those those family the where two parents the two of the parents are working and the child is a latchkey child and the child hardly see the parents at all, you see so so what what experience what warmth are you talking about it it it some some of these family are so cold in fact I I have uh uh many many


thinking that you know they have somebody that they can take care of the physical uh needs of the of the family of the child but


unfortunately there's no bonding at all, like so so so the material possession is something is is needed, but how how you look at it, is is important how you look at material possession I know uh some family also who who works


even though the money is tight they agree that it's important for the child to have, have, uh positive experiences, with the with the family members with with either one one parent so so they sacrifice the salary of one parent


parent, right so that their so so that the the mother or the father will have time for the children


that's because that's because they they are in that last stage of what ericsson say you know in in the in in the last stage the the stage where where where they're looking back, they are looking back at at at their life stage but you see the it's uh it's very unfortunate that that perhaps the early part of their life they was they were busy


doing the things getting uh acquiring material possession, uh doing the things that they need to do so that the family members, they have all these possessions with them and it's always towards the end of our life when we look back, like like looking looking over the rich that they're able to see oh no this is something which I value most now in my life and it's always the family it is the family togetherness family experience


but unfortunately this kind of wisdom you can only get there at the end of your life or towards the end of our life you know when when when we are able to to to value people more than things


countries experiencing conflict should be left to sort out their own problems how far do you agree


okay my topic is uh countries experiencing conflict should be left to sort their own problems how far do do you agree, I must, admit that this is a difficult topic for me to to agree with but I will try my best I'm thinking actually when countries that experiencing conflict are right now in palestine in israel in afghanistan


china and russia I I suppose china doesn't really have it have it right now but but it's a big country and uh and it's very hard for the for for the country to be uh managed , but right now this this country like I said palestine israel


, my sense is that you know uh the people themselves know, their own needs they know their own strength, and, they they should be able to to know how to govern themselves another country that just popped in my head is myanmar


and also uh vietnam, so these are the countries that that that really know their own people they know the political situation, and even even like let's say the philippines duterte says I will know how to handle my own people and he knows the situation in in his country


but of course the the rest of the world uh just are in shock how could he do this to to the to the drug addicts how could he how could he, uh uh has such a hardline against the the you know the drug lords


but I suppose he needed to have this hardline to to have to really stand on this line in order to to to really know uh uh, the situation and therefore even I I was really surprised that that that this helper that I know she's from the same same uh southern part of uh philippine sibu


and she totally agree with what he's what what he's doing you know to to be to be really really be firm with the drug addicts and and and in order to control because they say that that poverty really comes from comes from these these uh illness and sickness


uh corruption that comes from there so, from the outsiders we wouldn't know really how deep that situation is in that probe in the country, you know and we can criticize all we want, but


again you know how do we really know, so I this is something again like I said you know I find it difficult but to appreciate what he's doing but but but you know everytime when when I hear people she's not the only only filipinos who who tell me this and and and and and they all say yes yes yes I think what he's doing is very good what he's doing is very good


yeah but the problem is sometimes uh uh when outsiders come in they bring in the theirs their value system, their the their their ideology, the way they they think they


uh how how a country should be run which is why, you know when when when we were starting up right, uh I think our our our former uh minister mentor says your state keep out of it we we we take care our own self


we we we do, we uh of course in in singapore there were a lot of uh conflict on, but, minister mentor was able to to resolve all the issues and and and there were many many people country especially the western country they they want to butt in as it oh you all shouldn't be doing this uh uh what human rights people were caught trying to come in


uh you know all these but, eventually we are able to sort ourselves out, so I think it's it's it's like when when when I see clients, right, I always has this premise that that clients themselves have have the ability to sort things out what they need is people to support them


what they need to people is to to to to to to say what do you really need they don't need interference that's the last thing that they need but unfortunately when when when when some when people think, because they are so powerful they will just come and and and and try to take over the whole whole running of the hope of of the country


so so in in in that sense this is something that that that that not what we want right so in in in in a sense we should be country should be able to to to resolve itself, but to a certain extent again back to the point of basic needs because once a country is in conflict


a lot of a lot of , hardship a lot poverty goes on, so in that sense if the leadership has not proven itself, then then like what you say Song-Li you know it perpetuate a lot of poverty a lot of uh corruption


and and and and, and you know what what they say about the when two elephants fight right the the ends on the on the ground suffer so so so, that sense you know so in that sense uh uh perhaps there is there there there is a need for it but I think at the at the start they they need to be given a chance to to run their own


how how they see it I think it's as important, I can't imagine singapore being being uh uh, uh you know uh, taken over by other countries, and and I do not know the history of singapore where where you will be if if if it wasn't for the fact that our government was strong enough to to say let's do it ourselves let's be independent


ya but my my my my issue it has has been uh when people come come in it should be at the request of the country and also uh the that the country people need to articulate what exactly do we need


help what what kind of help, because I find that you know when when when is help given and and it's not the kind of help that we need it creates more harm to their country than anything else


uh but in this case it is the country we the country who asked for the help instead of that from the external from the outside imposing, and and and making judgement on what on on what the country should be doing, so we are in a way sorting out our own problem


it is it is is it it it is not it is not that we are not sorting it we are doing it but it is it is in our on our own terms and and and and within our own culture within our our own understanding infrastructure


of course of course this this is part of violation of the human rights, and and we are part of the the the whole humanity so this is something that that that there's no choice, uh but but other countries need to need need to step in but it has to be uh a right organization to do so


we also need to know our boundaries


yes yes yes but you know even even even in in country that supposedly uh with law, they will they will use the law to to to go against the weaker ones so in a way uh I suppose sometimes we need to have some some kind of uh intervention from from other international organization that really cares for humanity


, , yeah yeah but I'm sure there are there there are uh I suppose not necessary united nations but but those country that uh those of those entities that can provide


uh really the the the the food the you know the basic needs of the people like in singapore when whenever there's anything that happened in other countries you know we will always send uh ambassador or the red cross


you know these are the these are the what do you call those uh non partisan is it uh uh ya ya these are the ones that that that has uh no political uh affiliation with with with any with any organisation or even the doctors without borders these are organisation


that, that could go in to to help solve some of these basic problems


uh that that that will really take a real miracle because because there have been going on for years and and in the meantime the poor ends or all being crumbled and and they have absolutely nothing to eat, so what so so so before before these two big elephants are able to to even to to to have some uh negotiation I think the the basic needs needs to be looked at


education should only be concerned with what is useful in life discuss


okay ya no doubt the good education you can give the children is a good start, but then some is not arranged, uh student is a smart children so, it should be equipped the student with the right skill and knowledge for their job in future


so is depends on their, hobby err on their interest, and then is to equipped with the right skill and moral, for them it's not only for the, uh only uh useful of


and then sometimes it's not every children, not not every student, they're, interested with all the school subject, so is , I think is better is based on their


one and a half minutes ah okay okay , oh eleven minutes ah okay still so so long


what I said still uh is depends on the student what they what they want and what they need


ya for for my point I still, I still saying that is a , depends on their interest for those, to let them study for what they want it's better, ask them to study those so boring subject


they are not interested they will, they will feel that learning is very boring, and then no use, and then doesn't mean that if you got study very good


give them the right skills lah


and then at the same time if let's say they not they then they can't learn well in the, those uh school uh learn from school, and then they can because some information


they need to update, update their information, because at school I don't think so they can give them


but no doubt the certificate is very important but then still have to based their on their


ya this one I agree also


ya okay can, (oo), I agree with min also that uh the, those err


traditional the education also need, and then at the same time they have to look into their, what they want and know what they need also, it's not only the traditional education, okay and then uh that's what I think Nah


, consider the bill most people this day could and should


ya I know anxiety okay


ya when the parents first uh entertained the idea, of home schooling their first, is, do this, certainly taking your child education onto your own hand can feel


overwhelming and, in the beginning you will wonder if you are, doing enough, doing it right or even doing, these concerns perfectly normal, and actually indicate that


indicate something really positive that you want the best possible education for your, child, and then for the you have to, go through a adjustment period for those


parents who are thinking about, transitioning their child from traditional to school traditional school to home school the process can seem stressful


current life choice schedule and activity, , activity can be a lots when you are first starting out, additionally the longer your child has spent in additional school, in in traditional school


the hardest is might, the hardest is might be to begin, home school, it will take some time to move from, classroom either side to the, realisation that you you have


freedom to create your own, it will take some time to move from graduate classroom neither side to the realisation that you have the freedom to create your own


customise learning environment and then, many family who have, who home school have to make difficult financial decision it can, it can means moving from, two income, to one or exploring option for working from home while this may pose a financial challenge it can also be uh


blunt, lifestyle change to get used to it, potentially be a disadvantage of home schooling but it might also


also be an advantage in to a public school it can, cost more to, home school your child, depending on your, current situation choice, yet, there are also plenty of free resources


such as unit study supplement or even trip trip to the library, the cost of the homeschooling expenses roughly from


okay people disagree about how much formal education, uh, person need to be a good teacher not all parents and, homeschool tutor had gone to school to learn to teach, or to learn the subject they're teaching


if a parent is well-educate, he uh he or she might understand some subject really well but others, not as well for instance a kid's mum maybe, great at chemical, chemistry but not as good at


english, to be fair not all the school teacher are expert in, their field either and tutor might, may be used for subject, the parent the, parent isn't skilled in, if a school is a home school parents or tutor doesn't know something or can't fully explain it


the instructor and the student can always research, the issue together, a local library university community college or the internet, might have the answer a kid's a kid's who have who's homeschooling who home a kid's who homeschool


doesn't have the convenience of school facilities such as, fitness, gyms science lab or art studio, the child may be, taught at the, kitchen table or at the school area in the home, he and she might do


do science experiment in the kitchen or go outside to work, on and art art projects some parents who, homeschool their kids from groups so their kids can go together to take art classes and take part


in other group, learning activity, like field trip, in fact on social life can be another, possible disadvantage for homeschool kids, all kids need to have friends and be around other children


some homeschool might feel, cut off from kids their age or feel that they spend too much time with their, family and then parents parents who, homeschool their kids often may in fact to ensure their son or daughter


have a, social life for instance, group of home home school children, might get together regularly to learn together or just social social life, and, that any children they might, be on sport team in dance classes or take part in other activity outside of school


they have to work from home


they can, get the children in the proper way also they don't have the ability to get the children, not every parents ah


that will increase their cost also what right


only focus on the laptop, and not on ya, always focus on the laptop, ya and then they ah , and then they cannot uh interact with other people so the social life will be narrow, unless they are they're they're unless they are uh


in a small group with their friend also if not their social life will be narrow, I think that's all


yeah conformity should be the main aim of


of all school how far is it true


there are now not seventy until thirty-four still another thirty-one second


okay okay okay okay I try I try


ya conformity can bring although there is a needing for, learning, for learning and then they, it means they it's better, for those uh student all in


and efficiently, his need for the learning


yeah I know I know I will speak normal english ah, and then they they will bring the order there's a need for the, learning also (oo)


and then they will ah, develop the children hospitality and fulfil his potential, there's other social, and then they can, socialise with other people with all the children


individually of student have been a huge, debate among education, parents and children physically, recently this issue has come to the, elizabeth war essay in the new republic


on school uh claim, feeling nice comfort, kids in the the essay, conformity in a school play a major role


in produce their top, task of education, the team and preparing them for, the world outside the wall of school building, mobility, with their head down, student are taught


taught to become successful executive and agreeable number of, society, parents dream of the team that, it's great to have a degree is good at support, and does household chores but never ask


but teacher and parents forgot that teenagers in the time when kids begin to express their individuality they will have, occasionally out, brush, through tender express intensive


passion for a certain subject or activities and proof to be, headstrong, this behavior patterns are, part and parcel, parcel of teenager's life


and more, prominent among the teens who have a strong sense of individuality, on the country singapore management and teacher regards this uh, behaviour as


as advocate in children some time something that needs to be, almost every every other parents is advised, to advise to get ADHD


medicine to their kids so that they remain calm and focus in the class, in most court cases what school, therapy diagnosis attention, disorder are not


but I still think that is still need the conformity


uh education for the, for the children when they are still young, so that they can, give that so that we can give them a proper


uh according to the rule of the school ah, so that they know what they are doing, it's very important lah because the childrens they are still young you if you don't guide them ah


they will go to the what what happened they go to the wrong way


ya lah the main point the main point must be in the conformity it, uh environment first and then after that you can learn from, others from I mean according to the


that's why that give them a uh good foundation, so that in future they can, be, develop brought in the proper


the truth uh is the between school effect to come, confirm and kids, desire to express their individuality is


children in which the behaviour of children is modified, to, examine in the social uh society to the extent they become robotic


confident does give uh, result, in the shape of well-adjust, kids but at the cost of the, passionate creative smart, with team or individual


so I still, think that, comfortability is the, is the best way, the main aid of all school


earlier I read already leh, (oo), comfortability versus, individuality of students have been a huge


debate among, these parents and, child, physically recently this issue has climbed to the, firm while while elizabeth well essay in the new republic american school are


filling, non-comfortability, kids in the essay, well-discussed the approach adopt by teacher to keep children, is discipline, focus and motivated


in the classroom, she argued that under these uh circumstances and, ideal student is the one, always complaint is comply, not overly expressed


stay quiet in class and does not


education should, only be concerned with what is useful in life discuss


so , yes uh education today uh has always been seen , to be a route for a better life right when you make it to college, you, make better money you start off with a higher pay


and, uh you essentially you have a uh, uh, an earlier run a longer runway to to really excel in the later years, , and you know brought up in singapore our asian parents are always very concerned with education compared to western parents


, it's always the the degree that marks the end of education in asia and therefore education is indeed, , what we should only be concerned in in in in our lives that's that has been our asian upbringing it's


its key it brings in the money uh it's a very practical uh, uh aspect of of life, with money comes our ability to fulfil our


basic needs right on our maslow cycle hierarchy of needs right our basic needs of uh, having food having water having shelter and security right so at the end of the day yes education should, be what


is but should education should really bring it is important and it is really what gives us the money and that is something that is very practical and that is there should be something that we should be concerned with, in our lives today, that is the one and only that's important in our lives today


that's my stand, in this conversation, I see oh I see so we can continue for the for the entire duration


so I will continue, right so, so what do we actually really need in life today I think it's a it's a very important conversation point that we can establish apart from our basic needs of food and shelter we talk about security and safety


which are which are which are just as important, yup yup and uh, and what what else do we need I think uh another fundamental need where we are looking at today will be a sense of having good relationships having uh uh friends uh


but uh, but really the feeling of, progress accomplishment, ya, I think those are needs at that our at that with good education will give us, a uh uh uh a step forward uh, a step forward towards uh a kick start to to a young person's life as as he or she moves on into


ya I think I think uh my buddy brought up an excellent point about interest, and, skills and knowledge which are which I agree with, which I agree with her uh it's important and and I think in today's uh economy I agree with her also that information gets outdated very quickly and therefore what we've studied in school may not be exactly relevant in when when the student graduates is not it it is also possible that our students uh


upon graduation may not even use this knowledge uh for their jobs because the, the knowledge-based economy moves just moves too quickly, it's just irrelevant so I agree with with her on this point where, , education moves beyond just


uh uh, you know plain uh uh dollars and cents to instilling skills and values I I think that that's uh an excellent point, uh but in my perspective in a very practical today you look at COVID situation yes you might be an excellent pastor who who is uh who has got a who's morally very upright and spiritual and is able to


uh, uh carry yourself uprightly ya but the situation here is now is that uh with no money with no job comes no money and that's where uh the uh, it's uh coming back to the practicalities of uh yes you might be morally upright but you you you still need that


uh dollars and cents to, to the money basically right, to, to help you or to help a person, , achieve uh he or his or his or her basic needs of having again food water and even oh and and shelter


therefore I guess, I agree skills and values are important and in uh in school uh, uh, having you know uh subjects uh that are interesting for students uh is important because it helps to really expose our our young people to


a greater uh uh world beyond just the classroom but at the end of the day, at the end of the day is still the uh the degree that brings in the dollars and cents that truly matters in our practical world today especially in singapore a very economy-driven uh country I I cannot afford to go out


which uh, retrieve or rather go back to my backyard to farm even if I want to not to say that farmers are, are are are you know , incompetent but at the end of the day uh, dollars and cents are still important in in in today's context


and therefore I I stand to my point that education uh should, only be concerned what is useful and in this case of usefulness I think it's, really about uh making money making sustainable income


uh, values are important skills I think values are important here but each but but those are by-products of our education


so I think , I agree that uh there are a lot of intangibles in life such as you know good relationships the need for a spiritual development and that something uh formal school uh cannot achieve, uh you know schools today I think are moving into more collaborative projects with one another ah so that students gets more interpersonal skills uh developed to modular talks and training I think those are very relevant in today's uh world


, but like I say earlier on it is a by-product of, what, education should be all these at the end of the day yes uh you have more interactive projects collaborative projects, but that allows at the end at the end of the day intent is to allow our students our young people to really excel in


in in, the in in in in their in their and therefore eventually leading to a very practical, uh certificate that takes them off, to, the world beyond singapore and therefore the certificate is still something I think is


uh important and that's key


I I think the the yup go go ahead, I think no DS I agree also that the interest is important uh I think today education has gone beyond just the


uh, our general education I think we talk about education uh we also talk about the, the uh, the the known traditional languages, uh, uh rather non-traditional subjects such as uh your your design-related uh content which which are very relevant in today's context when you are jobless you can


pick up a freelance design job so I think , uh, you know help we define education is, probably uh key, and, and and in my perspective uh, the the way I see education is that it's gone beyond just uh the traditional academics of strict subjects subjects don't exist in silos they actually uh cross


cutting, and therefore getting interest in in those subjects that are is is actually uh also a very intelligent way of uh, helping young people see where they want to move towards, ya, so again I still feel that education is something that leads to a better


uh quality of life uh through bringing in, dollars and cents, in the young person's life and is a lifelong learning, that doesn't stop even at, sixty fifty sixty years old


uh I think let let's just wrap this conversation point up, about about how uh, whether education should only be concerned with what is useful and I I think singapore's education system had over the years has been lauded for it's achievements ah I think let's face it uh it is an excellent uh uh system that has delivered very good quality universal schooling to all our young people and that's how it has


given , uh zero literacy, zero was it zero uh illiteracy rates in, singapore then hundred percent literacy, I I think it has also constantly topped the door to international education rankings producing students with excellent international competition results


and more importantly churning out very good graduates uh they are very much desired in the world I I think education is uh is truly important in life I think the way we define, uh success, and usefulness uh in the singapore's context is about making money I think that's something very practical and that achieves our


our uh our, the various spectrum of our maslow's hierarchy of needs from your food shelter all the way to spiritual needs I think having , an excellent uh training exposure uh from a young age uh will then allow our young people to


be very uh uh well-rounded in the way he or she keeps up to his life, , whether in his teens and all the way to when he or she is in the forties and the fifties


consider the view most people these days could and should be educated from home


okay, seventy minute okay so again ah you go to the first link you


read from the anxiety the a the word that starts with a a when a parent first entertain that one uh so read there are one two three four points, , ya okay so that's your first then your second shall be


the what other disadvantages uh very very long like very long paragraph, all the way down to can homeschoolers get a good education are home school kids different uh those you keep going on, okay okay {ah] easy ah okay chat yes it'll be better practise practise practise


okay how many minute okay nineteen minute


no it's okay I'm okay no no it's alright it's alright I'm good I'm good, ya how's the noise is it very very noisy out there is it is okay right okay, because I heard some tap tap tap here and there I also don't know what is that it's the pen it could be ah


her pen I think so, okay good good good, okay no problem so it's okay if I jump in ah I I mean you guys can cut accordingly right, I mean ya okay


it's not easy ah, ya okay I'll okay I'll possible ah


actually if you sound ah my suggestion is really ah give them a paragraph I mean one is the I mean I I did this kind of, activity before and it's it's video I think the challenge ah with with having , non-native speakers ah is really the content you have to formulate and the debate is something that's very advanced so you give them a paragraph it might it might work out better since you are just capturing sound bytes and listening to the enunciation and intonations


just just a suggestion lah I mean but I'm sure your client also has other considerations yeah, , okay no problem yeah okay I should start


I should start already right seventy minutes ah okay I'll start ah okay so uh on this topic of uh what is homeschooling or rather homeschooling and whether we should be educated from home maybe we should start with understanding what is homeschooling, I think uh learning uh schooling is really about learning and reading mathematics and content


uh such as science geography and various subjects but the key here is that uh all these content are not taught by uh teachers in the school environment is really taught by a tutor or, uh a group of tutors with content matter expertise at home and that's what homeschooling is all about so and in a homeschooling context I think uh what is significantly different is that uh this child is the one and only one at home uh he and he or she may be taught


uh together with his siblings or just a few kids in the neighbourhood, so uh there are, reasons to why parents home school children in today's context, uh whether it is uh because the parent thinks that he can provide a child a better education than a local school especially in a if their child if especially the parent is not in in uh in at home like in his uh native country right like expatriate parents


uh or that parents uh also choose homeschooling because they like to include other instruction maybe religious study which is not typically offered in public schools, so I think uh that really defines what homeschooling is, and


in this conversation we're supposed to be discussing homeschooling and uh why it is good or bad so as the proponent of homeschooling I think it is excellent to homeschool because homeschooled children uh will benefit from one-on-one attention


uh, err you know in a big class you end up having to struggle with , uh waiting for your friends who are slower than you and if you are the one slower, you end up uh uh uh, trying to catch up with the fast learners in in your same class so that is the problem with uh homeschooled uh that's the problem with classroom-based learning and therefore homeschooling you allows uh uh one on one attention and therefore uh learning becomes a lot more


, a lot more deeper, because, the tutor can then pace the child, at, his pace and therefore uh get the best out of the entire learning experience uh which might be a lot more in-depth and hands-on uh because of having just one learner in that class


alright over to you uh what is your perspective on


okay so I think you have brought up a few uh pertinent points about homeschooling and why this not good right uh you said that parents are anxious because don't know whether they can do it you say that parents may need to go through an adjustment period


uh for especially if they are moving from traditional to homeschool and you also talk about lifestyle changes uh which may bring in financial challenges and last, lastly you talked about cost, uh which could potentially be a disadvantage because


uh it is just obviously more expensive to be educating your child at home because you need to uh you know look at developing curriculum and et cetera I I I think those are very good points pertinent points of uh why homeschooling uh is is a challenging in today's context


uh however homeschooling is really an excellent opportunity for parents, who wants to customise their curriculum so that theirs their student so that their their children especially those with special needs comes out with a customised learning package the flexibility is important for uh for for learners especially for those with special needs


right uh, uh also it also facilitates uh parent-child bonding because in home in a homeschool environment typically there's more time there's more time for parents and child to to to bond and spend time together because there isn't a fixed


uh, a set routine that traditional school set and and that is also an opportunity for, uh uh, learning to uh to actually spread across even vacations even the off-season period of times


so that really opens up a whole new uh window of learning opportunities uh when children are homeschooled uh just now I talk about how it is effective because they're really just, not twenty to thirty children but just really one or two children or even just one kid and therefore it's learning is a lot more effective with a one-on-one environment when uh we consider the learning style in their


of the learner right I think another last very important point is that our home schoolchildren tends to be more independent and mature because parents uh good homeschooled, uh, homeschoolers with good tutors uh often uh take control of their own education as compared to leaving it to


the public school to say that oh my child's not doing well because they they are not helping my my my my child in learning and that oh this teacher is not good I think homeschool parents and children tends to be more mature, as compared to their peers and of course uh they then start working and earning better when uh they graduate from a school environment like what is your ya over to you again


okay I think uh you have brought up uh interesting points about how schooling at home uh may not be as legitimate as in a public school, right so I I think I I recognise the points that you mentioned whereby


, skill sets of parents uh or the tutors, uh, may be a disadvantage, so I think at the end of the day being homeschooled you you really need to know your learners your yours your child and the type the learning style and abilities the advantage of having homeschooling


is really on a few points right flexibility having more time to bond, and therefore uh it makes the entire parent-child relationship stronger and learning more effective, I think it's a lot of effort that the parent needs to put into with the intent of giving the best to their child


uh uh, uh but it really takes as what what is key in the success factor of homeschooling is really when both parents and child uh, uh, are mature enough to know the advantages of not going through the mainstream type education


now I think with COVID we see the challenges of having uh parents and child both to work from home and uh to study at home uh yes agree on that uh but of course in this homeschooling example, we assume that the parent uh is taking on a an educator role and not uh double-hatting as a uh uh as a parent and uh uh a teacher at home so I think that's a very important point


and therefore in homeschooling it doesn't mean that the parent is the teacher you can also be hiring uh uh tutors to come in for various subjects


yup that's true so homeschooling like I say has its strengths and weaknesses and the strength of it, is really for your hour learner, our parents and learner, uh, knows clearly why uh they reach or rather why they're motivated to learn from home I think that motivation is key


uh, and and not to, uh uh , uh follow follow the mass market I think that's also one of the key factors to why uh families uh choose to homeschool, and therefore I think


uh, in my perspective uh homeschooling is a now a very viable option in today's context where learners are very exposed to resources learning resources or the internet you don't really need to buy a textbook to really learn there's a lot of learning resources online yes go on


that's right screen time I think is uh


I think uh you brought up a few pertinent aspect of social life having a financial cost which are very real uh very real, considerations when we when parents choose to homeschool their child uh, uh so I think uh my perspective here to wrap up this debate is that uh it's their pros and cons I I would like to sit by my perspective of having uh having


homeschool as a good alternative, for uh a select group of learners and parents who are, uh who who may need such uh uh special learning environments because of very different learning abilities


should be which mean of all schools


how far is this true


I'm good you can start and no I mean when you're when the time is at seventy you can start, keep to, ya but seventy wait wait it's only at seven is uh thirty-four, ya so, ya so so keep talking ah don't stop talking this is easier than the earlier on


so you you talk about why is important to all be the same right, you talked about the order punctuality you know the everything must be the same also is tried and tested education model that kind of stuff


then you say that you have gone through you know in our pioneer generation and there are, uh, they have had enough it's a tried and tested model your know


that has led to singapore's development that kind of stuff, okay I think can start already right


okay I think I will come in here uh so conformity uh I think my partner has mentioned that uh has scored its strengths of bringing order to deliver classes effectively uh however with conformity comes


uh cookie-cutter type, education where ours our our students, uh are, forced to learn together with their peers who may or may not have the same uh learning styles and learning abilities so having a a very uniform


curriculum a very uniform teaching methodology affects really , uh, uh rather forces forces young people to to accommodate to each other and therefore not, excelling to their,


or rather a leading to there're not excelling in their fullest to their fullest potential that is really the key uh repercussion of conformity, , I think uh you know tried and tested education system of singapore which is very conform is one of the repercussions uh we have experienced now is when young people are already uh very comfortable to take the safe route


of, uh doing it the same as my friends and not to be totally different and that so that they don't go, uh off tangent, so uh yes, uh, conformity has its strengths


but it also has a lot of repercussions that uh the younger generation is experiencing now so with with conformity, comes , in that sense rewarding rote learners good test takers, uh uh and and and also and at the same time uh disadvantaging the passionate the creative


critical thinkers uh who, are just as important in really shaping uh uh first world country like singapore today so yes conformity has its strengths in our mainstream education but it also has its, uh, repercussions that we are experiencing uh right now


so I agree with my partner that conformity has its strengths in, fulfilling curriculum task and to prepare the young person for the wall both outside the walls of the school building so yes conformity


, helps to develop a child's potential academically especially so, , I agree on that on those points however uh conformity fails to address the other, uh uh


aspects of a child's life including sports including life skills including the softer skills which are not, it certainly not cookie-cutter type, , uh skill sets that can be taught in a


in a conformed, classroom environment I think the the reason is simple every student is unique every student is uh not identical to, his or her friend and therefore getting all the students to stay quiet in class and not challenge the rules set by the teacher is not a very uh it's not a very practical item to do


and more importantly, , having rote learning uh, uh really stuns thinking and to and and has, repercussions uh of uh of of


of recognising unfortunately rote learning skills more than creativity and therefore, uh, I stand by my uh perspectives that, uh


conformity is not something that is uh helpful in uh in a first world country or like singapore, because uh we have gone beyond the basic necessities of a subject-based learning to the creative aspects of uh uh challenging norms and to make sense of uh the social


aspects of life, moving on I I think, uh another interesting prospect, thing about conformity is that it also allows harm or rather non-conformity is that it really also allows a child to express their individuality individuality at an early stage as compared to much later in life and that's going to be something that can really shape


the child's , uh uh understanding of herself or himself to be not a, robotic uh, singaporean boy but really uh uh a boy uh jonathan and and and not just


yet another jonathan who uh who is identical to his friends, so so in my perspective uh


uh, like I said earlier conformity has its strengths in , in, growing public uh education for the masses however it does not helped, to, achieve the the child's greatest potential


that that's my perspective of uh of of conformity now, in education


okay what do you mean by the proper way, okay and why is rule important in your perspective


however in my perspective failure is part and parcel of learning if our child is brought up in a in a very protected environment uh the child ends up being a little strawberry who has not been exposed and and that's going to be detrimental when he or she feels when he's older


okay so your your perspective about setting about conformity when you are young set about setting foundation


I see therefore foundations before foundations to facilitate uh uh conformity to facilitate foundational subject


and perhaps , having, a a more diversed uh uh multidisciplinary multi curriculum content for uh for older uh more mature uh students or even adult learners might seem to be the way forward


in education to allow to allow , really a a more vivid perspective, of uh, of uh uh a a learner's appreciation of, of our today you know


with our volatile, uh, uh uncertain uh, world today I guess uh that seems to be, uh, a a good uh conclusion of our discussion on conformity versus nonconformity maybe any another point for you to add on


then you read the last paragraph in the same text


read another paragraph we have one minute go and find if scroll up and you read the earlier paragraph, almost, it's okay just read that paragraph


part one debate topic one


where do


okay why do I feel that a spoken language is more important than the written form it's because of the way a message, is conveyed to the listener in terms of how you can convey the message through your body language


the tone of your voice the way you phrase your sentences it can be conveyed in a clearer and more concise way as compared to a written form, because uh in in in a written form there is no emotions involved it's just pure facts and evidence so when speaking you are able to input your emotions into it and to convey a stronger message


than anything so let's take for example ya you might say that a a written form does or businesses in terms of like contracts and everything, however everything that comes into the contract has to be conveyed through speaking before anything and it's a faster and more efficient way of getting any message across


so ya basically it's the foundation of any written form of things that's why it is more important, and in terms of like body languages in a written form for example book or anything you can't see what the the writer is trying to how he really feels about it


he could be lying about it but in terms of speaking you can't lie about this kind of stuff, sorry I receive a whatsapp a whatsapp call can I submit


my phone screen, ya four four four five zero four five one


ya it is running, sorry


uh ya I think I kind of like finished my my point my point so ya


, hong kong on


but I meant it like if if you are so in terms of uh academic and a business point of view right ya a written form can be important however in terms of a speaking language it is a, day to day thing so I feel that's very important like for example what you said


people who read the books social media wise and have written one book it actually like let's say fourty fourty people read a book, they have like forty different imaginations forty different way of


seeing seeing whether where where the writer is coming from so some of them might have this impression this imagination that oh it is this way however if you if he were to portray that to the writer the writer will be uh no that's not what I thought lots everybody have a different


perspective of what what is what what is uh read so ya I feel that, ya ya of course it is good


yes I wouldn't say that's bad I mean it's a good thing however in terms of a day to day living I will feel that uh spoken language is is more important than than writing in in in any sorts ya


but I mean like okay let let's say I I'm I'm I'm not saying that writing it's not important it is it is as important but if let's say if you are given a chance to


eliminate one of it say like spoken language or a written language uh which one would you eliminate wouldn't it be very weird if like everybody it's like


(mmhmm)


so so for for me personally I feel that a spoken language should be, should be more important ah cause it's a it's a it's a day to day living it's not it's not just uh businesses or whatever thing like I said if you if you do business right it has to be spoken first before everything is put down into a written form into a a contract before everything anything is done ya it has to be discussed


and you could be hired instantly via online isn't it there's a reason why they would want to see you in person to to know how who you really are that's why in terms of spoken language you can convey yourself through


body language the way you speak your tone and everything ya it it is more important the final procedure of hiring you ya


(hmm) understood ya, a written form ya, are there more points you want you want to add on


ya I feel I feel that like


you have from the body language and tone you are able to, uh you know, state state a lie into a fact and that's so you know I feel like it's uh a very powerful tool a very very powerful thing that


uh speaking language is not just about the content itself , they are as well I feel that ya it's more important


but then


then again we are using a recorder now isn't it so ya you can still refer back I mean I just feel that it's a more, powerful a powerful tool as compared to uh a written form of uh speaking


and it's also a more convenient uh you know convenient way like I have a have a couple of friends that uh they would rather voice record on whatsapp as compared to like typing typing you know a lot I think it's more like a habit thing so


ya time saving convenient something you can do when you are driving, ya it's it's a it's a powerful a powerful way of it's a powerful language speaking is a powerful language not saying that written is not I think they have their pros and cons in uh many many sorts of different ways ah


ya like like I said ya written it's important in uh academic and a business way however I would say day to today living it's uh something of my priority I feel


it can it can be not not just nothing serious can be like ya it can be serious and non serious and that's uh something that we use, more often as compared to writtens written stuff ya


possibly like, ,


ya which turns out to be in a spoken language also but ya I I mean I mean for people who, like people for you you you enjoy reading the lyrics, first before listening to a song whereas like for me I prefer listen song first then looking back at the lyrics so


ya it's, equally as important but spoken it's more important


like if you are talking about Instagram and everything how how the influencers put words in their captions and everything without without the photo right Instagram with full words they will not have any


any users at at all people are attracted to the visual and not the words that they write so ya for me I scroll through Instagram it's all about looking at photos and not like the written words because it's not of the utmost important


importance to me so ya


that that's that's because of how how you portray and not how the writer portrays it so it's like a very


ya everybody understand in a very different in their own, manner in a very different way because there's no tone there's no body language there's no there's no uh no way to convey the emotions so everybody will have their own thinking as to what the writer is saying


part two debate topic two


oh okay, so are there any value in preserving the minority languages in the world I feel that it err absolutely essential to to preserve that, I firstly uh


if you are taking the singapore into context the obviously the majority of the language are, english chinese and malay and everything so like for for the minority languages I would start off with like stuff like dialects which is obviously slowly dying when uh it's coming to uh a younger generation like us


and people of my age uh I'm I'm not good with the dialect languages but I put in the effort to go and, try and understand more in terms of like say cantonese uh hokkien teochew I feel that


this little languages kind of, although it's minority it brings it uh a long way in terms of how the the culture of this language has been brought up that is why it is so commonly used with the older generations from my parents to my grandparents and I feel like it's it's an issue kind of like


now that my grandparents are not around it it's uh something that I regret that I didn't pick up the language when I was uh younger because this uh uh language uh are those that it's it's the only form of communication I can have with my grandparents cause they don't speak english uh at at all so


ya I feel that to preserve that it gives you a stronger bond uh that bridges different uh generations together and, move it uh moving on outside of singapore I would say like the minority language in the world probably


uh say know thailand language japanese korean they they they only use that specific language in their country, and although although they are trying to move towards a more global language like english or chinese


they they maintained that that bond with they have, within their country just solely using their own language like like koreans they, they'll be so happy to be able to speak korean to another, uh fellow fellow korean that they meet outside of korea so


there's this sense of belonging there's this sense of uh pride in their language that uh that is why preserving every bit of it it's very very important to, to have that, to keep that tradition to keep that culture to keep ya it's just it's just a gap that I feel that it can it can never you can never lose it


yup yup hi hi


ya ya ya


bonded ya


ya


ya it uh, thinking about like majority the majority language yes and it's uh it's a global thing and it's uh very essential I totally agree with you


however I believe that this minority language it actually brings a different, uh a different like like I said the value of preserving it I think it it does give a lot of value not just a bit, uh to this minority language like uh you mentioned just now that uh there are like french players playing in a english football club and uh vice versa you know the they will definitely converse in english because that's the global one


however for for the team to bond you usually see the french players hanging out together, where as the spanish players will hang out together and there's err there's a reason why is because their minority language gives them the the instant connection a bond that they can


communicate better and that itself it's a very important value to just preserving such languages so like you you know when you like during chinese new year or you know like, whatever stuff usually the older generation will ask like uh are are you cantonese are you teochew are you hokkien I mean this is a very common uh a common question asked from the elder generation because they feel that


they get the instant bond and the connection is like oh I'm teochew your dad is teochew as well since like, and you know you know there's there's this like instant bond I don't know why but that's why there is a definite value in preserving such such languages because of this simple bridging of gap the instant gap


yes absolute absolute okay let's take for example uh uh when I was in I was in the UK for a holiday and all and and we were like in london we're just walking past and and you just hear this like singlish like, and a very singapore tone and then both of uh both of our families just turn around and


we're just like singaporeans right and this this this instant connection and bond that not I'm not just saying about singaporeans but in terms of like uh japanese koreans thais, they were they were just there's this like instant connection when you are just


in a different in a different place and isn't that, a simple or I'd say a big big value that it it is important to preserve such languages around the world, there's this just this identity


it is it is,


obviously for for better cert isn't it, absolutely absolutely


and that's what I'm saying it, it brings you it brings you this uh uh a kind of identity that, or you speak this language it and and it's so special it's like, you know that nobody else speaks that


you know that uh you know only japanese speaks japanese and and, it's it's just a strong identity that, anywhere you go there is this


I I I I know I know what you say lah I I'm not saying that it's not important but in terms of preserving this minority language, there is absolutely, many many reasons why many many values behind preserving this this uh language because


it is it is so valuable, dialects uh languages that only a specific country speaks like spanish I feel like, so so much value


eh so you are saying that like uh you don't, you don't see the importance in communicating with the elderly ah I mean, exactly


but isn't that a value in preserving it, are there uh you ya ya ya is is, yes yes yes exactly what I'm saying there there is, not <NEN> lah I'm I'm talking I'm talking about having having the value having the value in preserving it it's like there's so much value in it like I don't know what to say there's so


there's this bridge there's this uh uh bridge to to build the gap to there's this bonding there's this this so important I feel, it there is


and that's a very sad thing that is it is dying in the in the younger generation it is sad, it's isn't it a sad thing it's because there's there's the value in it that it should be preserved


that's sad that's a very sad thing


do do we stop it now


part three debate topic three


right the the book has no place in the modern society which I totally agree with that I I I feel that like , with smartphones and like the internet and everything it's so easily accessible books are something that slowly they are phasing out and getting eliminated in the modern society


it is quite a hassle and, it just slow things down and I I know a lot of people still pick up books because like just solely for leisure and everything but I feel that even it just slows everything down it's it's not efficient it's not productive and


even schools these days they are using laptops to substitute books, just solely based on the fact that it's just faster and everything, if you are talking about books in a modern society I think that ya they don't have a place here anymore I mean uh for me I don't even know when was the last time I picked up a book


I haven't stepped into a library I don't know if anybody still steps into a library because everything can be found just in the comfort of your home from the smartphones from the laptop from the internet, it's just, ah ya I books are kind of pointless in this modern society and uh


ya I think that's that's that's about how I feel


I agree with you like what what you're saying in terms of like uh, how to relay the the the information and the storyline across and whereby books are able to do that however I feel that uh, the book doesn't have a place in modern society


because it's slowly getting replaced by Ebooks which is uh exactly the same you you get the same information you'll get the same storyline, however it's replaced by stuff like, kindle or stuff you know everything there is there is correct and and so I I I genuinely feel that books are like uh


for memory sake for display sake it's uh it's part of history in the modern society that eh I have this book instead of like uh I read this before is like I have this book, for memory keepsake so like uh let's let's take for example


like I'm so curious to know that when when is the last sale of a dictionary ever been sold because I don't think anybody ever picks up buys a dictionary anymore, there is no need to and these are the books that are slowly dying in the modern modern society that it's it's really redundant I don't need a hard copy book of a dictionary because


I can google and get the meaning instantly so I bet that like nobody's picking it out


no when did you what have you been searching no I'm I'm I'm I'm saying like I will totally understand you saying that sometimes people need the physical copy to to get the feel of it the touch of it the smell of it ya absolutely


but in terms of whether it's needed, it's slowly dying in the modern society that's why there's no place for it because it's just redundant really so for people who likes the touch of it the smell of it, I totally understand that's why I say like books are kind of


more towards for display in like a memory keepsake so yeah in the modern society there's is it's redundant honestly so, those people who it's it's like CDs exactly like CDs we can use spotify instead of CDs but I still keep my CDs because yup it's the first album I bought or whatever thing is like just for the memory keepsake but the base I don't I don't use it anymore so


there's there's there's no there's no there's no place for it in the modern society I feel


pets course book , ya orchard road


wait I I I I'm I'm I'm saying that if they if you don't have to put online you have it's like uh the current education in secondary school everybody requires a, a laptop whereby they can just input it is it doesn't have to be online and available to the world like for example


and and and it, though you can, it you you can do that in an intranet means only the laptop itself it's uh you you you can do that the thing it's they have been doing that for in terms of education and everything


to slowly phase out the books and yes there are still people using books because, it's it's just a it's a transition, it it ya ya absolutely it


but how how often do you see people carrying books like tons of books everywhere they go because it's so heavy so it's like they are still people doing that, maybe one or two books but, slowly it's it's slow it's slowly it slows it's slowly phasing out


in terms of how technology is taking over everything so maybe like from what we see our ya there's still people doing that that but there're definitely lesser people doing that so in say maybe five five to ten years times


aren't they slowly dying it's like in ten years time I don't think I don't think they'll be there that's why everything they're moving toward selling Ebooks instead of like ya it's it's another form of revenue for them because there are still people out there who wants to have the memory keep sake of it so


it it yet, it is maybe for for people of our generation I understand, but uh if you look look, they don't they don't


they don't that, that's why kids these days got their eyes all fix on iPads and not books because it is slowly phasing out it's how the generation are brought up that way


I know I know I know it's like in five to ten years time it will just slowly phase out and I I don't think that there will be a place for them in a modern society because of how I portray the younger generations I'm for me absolutely I'm somebody who likes the touch of the book and and and so on so forth the thing it's


there isn't any place for them meh, ya it is it is that way right now it is that way right now


eh I'm I'm not saying that I I fully support it but I just feel that these uh the books and everything it is slowly just phasing out and there isn't a place for them anymore sad to say I'm I'm I'm not a supporter of it but the thing is


ya it is slowly moving towards that trend and uh, it is what it is is is more efficient obviously but I mean from the emotional side of it it is just for memory keepsake and I wouldn't be surprised if if like there wouldn't be anymore libraries in singapore in future


eh ya it can happen that way it can happen that way, , it's sad ya I know , it is there are ya


the thing is it is phasing out I I don't see people walking I don't remember when was the last time I bought a book and dropped dropped it in on on this like this this uh metal slot in ya ya ya book drop thing, (uh huh) ya, ya that those those were the days and


my brother my younger doesn't do it and the younger generation doesn't do it like, at all now so one day or just, you know phase out and become a E learning hub it's uh, there are probably just be like laptops and desktops everywhere whereby children go to learn from and the books will slowly be eliminated sadly


ya good old times good old times but ya it is that way so like bringing back to topic I just feel that although I wouldn't like that but I feel that the book the books doesn't have anymore place in the the modern society anymore


yup so ya


oh on my phone part one debate topic one


okay then it's my turn I don't, I think that, on written form is also very very important because not every time right you can be there in person to talk to the person so, for business wise I would think this is very important you can't always like go down with the company and just like talk to your clients on or everything is very waste


of time, and for this right , we for written form like for emails and black and white and presentation, uh, it's it's good for proving of what you have said, like


to your clients or or whoever, and it's also good for like storing information, like, when you have too many things to remember like example like


for for, documents like a brand guidelines or uh, a brand book is too much information for you to explain to the person like if you are , let's say if you are an art director you can't explain to your designers eh like


what, you need to do or what do you need to follow they can't sit down there for one whole day just to explain to you what to do you have to refer you can refer the information from written form so I think it's very important, and


another another point would be like organising yourself like because you can't remember everything right like example in schools uh you can't remember what your teacher says you will need to write, write down in forms or


like how how would way it be good for you to remember, ya, like for schools or at work itself, and , for like what <P2>daryl</P2> said just now about uh writers as in when you write you can't really feel


the emotions uh I disagree with that because, I I find that, writers do, somehow they can explain betters like that is why like some people would rather read than go and watch a


movie, because they explain very like in detail like how they feel it's just that in a written way so that is like literature like that, ya, and for for now social media is like out there very in trend right so


with like, although visuals are very important like uh instagram, but, the content itself the copy content itself is also very important let's say if you take a selfie or you take a scenery or what people who want to know uh what do you feel about that that image so written form can be very important by how you write out the content itself for that image


thing also it's it's good for you to imagine like, like, like you have imaginations


ya I'm trying to say like it is very important still for written form is because not everyone like can be there like I I won't meet the writer for sure I won't meet the business people for sure they won't come down example for this COVID period like nobody will want to like


go up to your door and talk to you is is, it's not encouraged to do so and that's why written form like example WhatsApp we can email we can WhatsApp and it's very safe like for this kind of ya especially COVID period I think it's very important


okay it depends on uh who like let's say if I'm at home of course written language is not important but let's say if I have, for like a very long distance friend or something or


like, uh example if I want to talk to an artist or something I think written form is definitely more important than spoken because it's kind of, impossible for me to even you know go there


I feel like nowadays right they will ask as in like, to apply for a job or something usually you apply online and if they like you or they like your resume they they will ask you to go down in person to see you in person to talk to you in person for the interview as why written is always first then


after that, it will be ya knowing the person better face to face that's for business lah


but to even to get, but, like , that is why !aiya! both is both is important but I will fight for fight


a lot already leh okay uh for example in school I I did mention that ya school one there's so many things to remember like uh textbook or or whatever notes that we need to


note as in remember from whatever teacher or lecturer is talking about you can't you can't just have a lecturer sitting beside you all day long to tell you [eh} this is the thing like, you should remember this the thing this the important notes or something you have to write down yourself to remember


written is just ya it's just, for a referring back to something also


for us humans we yeah, we don't have much memory space to keep all the notes


for for you right spoken language uh you will say that it's important I I would think that it's important a way that you can, can, say your tone out, like when you express something you can say it people can hear it but, where as


for like when you went to WhatsApp your, friend or, at anybody they can't read the tone of your sentence, but, when speaking on phone then ya


but it also depends on the situation when you're in like let's say you say you want the voice records something to your friend but what if you are inside a meeting or something you can't just voice record when people are doing presentation you only can WhatsApp you only can message you only can type


you know on your computer, to reply your messages or email while the the the presenter is present


and I also believe like uh people hire like, copywrite, does to bring to to have, very strong copy lines to, to uh sight, their visuals and stuff there's a meaning to it because sometimes


words can be very powerful, and, and uh that's why advertisements out there we have copy for visual, ya and, and also for singer singers also, they write lyrics


first, then they portray how they want to sing, like the tone and everything right


I will say by writing somehow it can, it can portray better, feeling sometimes than just, you saying it directly it will be very straightforward but whereas when somebody writes in a very nice or poetic way it's it's just very beautiful ah


but it depends if, if the words he used ya is very poetic it's just beautiful in that way ah everybody will understand how what what him


he meant


alright


uh so I disagree with that, and I feel that global language is however more important because it's, , it makes communication easier for like business people and also travellers


like, uh let's say if I were to do a business, but uh, the business is,


and it's is, is like uh it makes it more difficult for, our business to progress and it's more


to, with me too, to go on this business trip instead of, of , just one person itself, and , , sometimes like let's say footballers or what


right they always have transfers like a, a french club going to a english, club, but they don't know english and it's so hard for them to communicate with their team mates and if you know english right, uh you can communicate very well you can you you know as in like


the instructors or the coach, or your your, your soccer team mates will, will just tell you like, what to do or what you should not do or what you can do well it's more effective


for communication, ya, and also like let's say for in schools like japan or uh, uh thailand, is more as in they say it


essential to take english language already because it's like, it's a global language that every, almost the whole world recognized like you go to india people, know english you go to


taiwan people know english although they they study from like may be chinese or something like that, uh, you go to korea people are trying to learn english also it's, it's like the, number one thing to know like, uh a, number one subject


to to to learn, not really number one subject to learn but it's, very very essential for, for communication itself, and, like what you say your for you right like you your grandparents you as in your parents maybe taught you dialect and stuff that's why you know how to communicate with them but for me maybe my not say our generation is different we are still in the same gen it's just that


my parents don't have the, time to teach me dialect so there is one period of time that I have to stay with my, my, for uh one whole year to wait for my, my my flat, renovation so we stayed with them


for one whole year and , felt very bad because I don't know how to communicate with her as in because all I know like if everyone knows like english, then it will be so, as it, english or maybe chinese then everyone will be so uh


it's so easy for us to communicate whereas like for my grandma she she knows how to watch like TV because of the visuals itself, but some, unless if let let's say if she knows this global language she can we can have the communication together


and, it it will feel nicer for for this like one whole year we can chit chat about what's the drama about what's the show about and ya just, have more chit chats, rather than I


remember this one whole year it's just, very silent like, when I'm home with her I just felt like we we just cannot communicate, but if there is one language for us to ya just talk to each other I would say like since everyone out there already know like english and chinese so why don't we just keep this global language thing


and I find that, is more important than just dialects itself, like ya, it is a cultural thing


an elderly asked me like uh what's your dialect, like, like for me right it, it doesn't matter, because I don't know how to speak them I don't even uh, understand them I don't really as in I don't know how to speak them I I just feel like


embarrassed, like it's not my fault I know because my parents don't have the time, time to to teach me all this kind of dialect languages uh and I feel like, for like where we talk about the soccer teams like


, the french players will always linger with the french players although when they are in the english club or something like that, I , to me I feel like is more sad, that they have to hang around with their own


own, own people that they can talk to instead I I think they want to talk to everyone it's just that they are limited, like, because they only know their own language, and


I will say that if they have a chance to like uh, talk, like speak in english I think that they will want to mingle around with more people and instead instead of just like sticking around with their own uh group of friends that who knows


or understands them so, I'm very sure this is the case and not because they they just feel like ya it's a cultural thing I'm sure everyone would, like wants just want to make more friends and just be open to everyone and learn more new stuff that's humans so


but I will still say the global language is very, important, like you say about like like uh going overseas I would say like okay when if I were to study overseas like if I go to, or you can study and I just mingle around with my group of friends like as in like singaporeans like the singlish people then there's no point of me studying overseas right I will just like stay in singapore and study


why why should I go to you UK and study why should I go to err maybe to to maybe france and study because I I just want to, ya ya, not not only just for better cert I also want to mingle around with bigger groups of people and learn their culture learn the global culture the english culture and their language


and just, ya ya and just not mingle around with my own little friends you know


I would say it will be so important because then if let's say if I go to UK and I wouldn't know english people would look down on me like why am I talking to the person but the person is not replying me back you know but if I were to reply, the person said oh she's chinese but at least she knows the global language so I would say ya english as in like global


language is so important


like for me after my, , like my grandparents uh who have, passed away, it's like I don't need to know dialect anymore because, I won't be communicating dialect with my parents because they don't even speak dialect to me


like, we only speak the majority language like english and chinese so to, as as well to my friends, it's the same thing I don't speak dialect with them because it's it's not uh, it it's just not common


and, ya it's just like when you buy something you go to a store we don't speak, dialect, to people we only speak dialect to like uh elderlies, and, which I I don't really really everyday speak to like you know public elderlies


no no no as in it it will be nice if he knows chinese I will communicate but then I I, I don't, I think that now even though right like a lot of elderlies out there they know their own dialects but they also know the majority language will be chinese or maybe a simple english like we don't need the dialect anymore because they know they're


old uh the younger generations like their granddaughter or what they need to learn how to speak a simple english or chinese to communicate with them, yes it's for their own culture for their own memories like it's a beautiful memories with their friends their <NEN> life and everything


but it's just


for for me there's no bonding like next time if I have a kid or what right , if I were to teach them it's not that I want, don't want to teach them dialect it's just that it's an it's the end for me like as in I don't know anything about dialect so I cannot


ya ya it is dying it's dying that is why, I I don't know what's the point of preserving , , it's just memories, ya


for the older people, I know it's sad I just need to debate this


okay


part three debate topic three,


okay I feel that books still have a place in this modern society that say uh, what, you say social media is, it's out there right now everybody uses the internet to research for stuff but I disagree with that because


all the stuff that you can find on on online like let's say wikipedia they only give you a brief summary of it you only can find like summary of, everything, but instead right if you want to find like real information of the history the background of the


uh, of the stuff that you want to research is all inside, books only books have, the the amount of detail to store inside, I mean amount of this, how how do you say to store


uh and, the whole information inside this book, like let's say like, for schools I'm sure, there will be still like libraries inside every school and inside


every country that would be still libraries like, public, libraries it's just that we don't visit very often, unless we want to search for something and when there is this one day where we want to search for that something is very important to have this storage of information


, public storage and not like uh online like online everybody can hack, and write , over wikipedia as in like it's not even , uh, I don't think it's very recognized to even like research on wikipedia


it's like, really anybody can just type, inside, and just write the information it's not, I I don't think is very reliable but for books it's like, people out there who have the source of information


and they will write down every detail and stuff and for some youngsters or people who, who, loves to read, they will always go for a book before the movie so let's say uh, uh like let's say uh you


people might like to read harry potter, the, instead of the movie like they will want to read the book first before watching the movie because they will know that no matter what the movie will always be a let down because they don't show everything they can't film every single


few hundred pages inside a two hours film like they have, to, they have to summarize, summarize stuff and, and which is not nice like books can tell you in every single detail which is nice for people who really want


the detailed stories, and, ya it's very reliable


but not not everybody have the money to buy you know tinder


but it depends like, okay it depends on the content itself yes dictionary definitely is dying because it's so much easier to use on the phone, but then let's say uh let's say if you like if you like comics you like visuals like art stuff and it's very nice for people to look at comic books instead of looking


at a comic itself like on the phone, it's so hard for us to see like it depends how big your phone is is so hard to even look at a visual you have to like zoom in and whatever like it's nicer to have, feel and maybe the smell of the comic book you know it's just very nice to just flip and just read through your comics and


and , magazines also are still alive like uh although like online like facebook, whatever social sites they will give you the latest post or what but they don't have all the very random stuff like


last, time I still remember when I was young I read like seventeen magazine or what they have this like random category page that, uh, uh they went out to , the the the magazine person went out to source for some information from the public and ask people like what do you find of this topic and what


uh uh what so whatever but I've uh, but it's nice to read those kind of you know comments and stuff, and for, for for online wise, all you see is like vulgarities and


you know but you know magazines they will choose , , it's


no modern society doesn't mean like uh you cancel out education stuff and you you know like example let's say you you study uh, uh math like, no as in no as in uh you study


law or what you you don't you don't find a whole fucking, uh eh, eh sorry you don't find a whole, , sorry you know find a whole, , the the law book everything, like a lot of a lot


a lot of things there's privacy and everything like for the content itself uh you don't find it online you can never find online, like you will have to put it inside a book to store


every information and detail inside, a book and it's very uh essential for them, to to have a book, even for now because education will never die like uh, for for medical for law and it's always there as in


you can never put it online


no but you can't put that kind of stuff the heavy information inside the laptop,


and don't you think that books are so easy to refer to like, like let's say you you, you want to mark down or you if you want to highlight something you would normally have a bookmark or you will put a post it on it to remember where is the stuff uh you want to refer to


and, also laptop you, okay let's say laptop your phone what if you never bring a portable like charger or something you run out of battery you can't, you can't always like depend whether you


you brought out your battery or what, but books is always there like you just have to bring it out and just read it anytime you want, and, or time or day or ya all day long


you don't take ya not a one, ya but


but it's still surviving as in there there are still place for for, there are still place for a book in this modern society if not why the publishing companies are still out there and not dying right


how about those people who, like to read a book just they buy books based on the covers like the book covers, and, the Ebooks that there won't be any nice book covers for me when I I I remember when I was very young


I like to, see the texture of the the book cover to buy the book if it's like a very hard book cover it will be nice instead of the soft ones or you you understand what I mean I get to feel the feel of it and it's just nice


I think it's also nice if you give like the younger generation they they will just like to touch you know like as in younger people they are playful you know like you give them a Ebook they they will just like


don't know, as in it's so hard for them to read, and that is ya it but they their, eyes are on iPads is because of games and visual stuff videos and not on and not on to like uh not on to reading I would say that books are nice to read like when you need to read you need a book and not like


not like reading it online on the phone it doesn't help them to read you know


then I will think next time the school fees will be very expensive also because everybody if it that that everybody will have to need, to have a laptop, or if not an iPad which is


no I think there's too much thing for online to even store I think sometimes ya books are


book drop you don't even remember


actually it depends on it depends on every people like character, like some people like example my brother he's always like a book worm he will always be a bookworm he he won't read stuff online he would rather hold a book like borrow a book or buy a book to read I it really depends on each individual like


I still, walk past Kinokuniya and I see a lot of people inside they just, there are just readers out there like book worms out there it depends whether it are are you moving towards the social media person or are you still


uh a reader you know


part one debate topic one