Eunos Bilingual TMC as Language Evaluator, 25th July 2019

On the 25^th July 2019, I visited Eunos Bilingual Toastmasters Club, as language evaluator.  Eunos Bilingual Toastmasters is unusual in that although it is an English and Mandarin bilingual club, it has members who do not speak Mandarin, or speak it fluently.  And yet, they welcome everyone in the shared love of language and learning.  This was my 15^th club visit, on the 25^th day of the Toastmasters year.

The president, Cho Cho Yi, gave an address in Mandarin and English, on the qualities of a leader, citing the saying of Confucius.  According to Confucius, a good ruler, is virtuous, wise, and humane.  She went into some depth on the Mandate of Heaven, and how we are all bound by it, if we want to lead.

Area Director, L2, Marie Ong, spoke about the importance of focus, and never forgetting the intent of what we have set out to do.  She also spoke in fluent Mandarin and English, setting the standard of expectations.

The first speech was by Vinoth Mannan.  He gave a humorous explanation of how the humble toilet is known according to various euphemisms around the world.  This was only his second speech, but he shows promise.  It was unfortunate that he was unable to keep his speech above the minimum time.  However, I believe he will get better with practise.

Jamie Lau spoke about how we could help baby birds.  She is obviously an animal lover, and spoke with passion on the subject.  She recommended feeding baby birds mashed boiled eggs.  She said it without irony.

Doreen Neo’s project involved reading an extract from Lee Kuan Yew’s “One Man’s View of the World”.  She chose the section Lee Kuan Yew spoke about his impending mortality, and the legacy he wanted to leave behind - a prosperous, corruption-free meritocracy.  In the weeks leading up to National Day, it was a fitting tribute.

Yeow Kian Poh was then kind enough to give us all an overview of Pathway, and how the senior members may get into the system.

Gwen Wanda Poon Wah Ling presided over the table topics, and there were five speakers.

In my language evaluation, I covered three languages, but spoke mainly in English.  I mentioned how languages evolve, the challenges of translation, giving the example of some Chinese idioms, and how translating them to English or Malay, changes the meaning, or loses the flavour.  However, if we are able to mine the richness of each other’s languages, our mythos, our proverbs and idioms, and are able to bring them across, it enhances our speech.

The evaluators were Sim Lai Ngin, Soe Haty Latt Latt, Jenny Au, and Wiwiek Najihah binte Hairudin.

Best Speaker: Jamie Liu;

Best Evaluator: Wiwiek Najihah binte Hairudin; and

Best Table Topics Speaker: Guest.

It was a successful meeting, with wonderful people. I hope to visit them again, and see them grow.