|
|
 |
| Mastering
Mandarin to serve customers better |
| |
Many
of Mr Mohaimin Tokyan’s customers are surprised
when he speaks to them in fluent Mandarin. The
39-year-old
Corporate Officer from the Ministry of Community
Development and Sports picked up Chinese on his
own accord, making him effectively conversant in
three languages: English, Bahasa Melayu and Mandarin.
The
father of four young children said his interest
in Mandarin began when he was a student at Serangoon
Secondary School. “Many
of my friends were Chinese and I became interested in learning the language.” With
no formal lessons or coaching, he slowly picked up Mandarin by listening to
his friends speak the language and by watching Chinese television programmes
with subtitles.
“Initially it was quite difficult because many words sound alike but have
very different meanings. So I asked my friends and wrote down the pronunciation
in Romanised characters,” said the soft-spoken Malay man.
His knowledge of Mandarin came in handy when he started work with the Registry
of Co-operatives and Mutual Benefit Organisations seven years ago. Mr Tokyan
realised that his customers were predominantly Chinese-speaking elderly folk.
He wanted to communicate more effectively with them and was motivated to improve
his Mandarin.
“Many of my customers are surprised when I speak to them in Mandarin, but
I can tell that they immediately feel more comfortable and this helps me to do
my job well,” he said. Mr Tokyan is also very willing to share Bahasa
Melayu with his colleagues.
He said he would encourage his children to learn Mandarin once they have mastered
English and Bahasa Melayu. |
|
| |
| |
|
Next: Genuine
concern for others is her hallmark
|
|
|
