Singapore Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew has cautioned about the danger of

Singapore Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew has cautioned about the danger of moving too far away from rote learning (learning by repetition) when it comes to Mandarin.

Speaking at the launch of this year’s Speak Mandarin Campaign on Monday, he said there is still a place for memorization when it comes to Chinese poetry, for example.

Mr Lui said: “There will be a group truly bilingual. We hope that they will become bicultural – totally fluent and at home with the use of the language.

“There will be many, like myself, struggling along but we can still make improvements. We can still feel a higher level of comfort in the use of the language.”

This comes as more creative ways are being developed for the learning of Mandarin.

The Speak Mandarin Campaign is into its 32nd edition, and this year is geared towards engaging the youth.

The campaign hopes to create a conducive environment in Singapore for mastering the language.

One way is to encourage parents at home to communicate more in Mandarin with their children.

Seow Choke Meng, chairman of Promote Mandarin Council, said: “They will pick up the language really quickly. The parents will lead by example.

When you go on to school, that’s another area. We hope to create an environment where the students are encouraged in the learning and appreciation of the Chinese language and culture.”

There will also be a theme song contest to get schools involved and students interested in the language.

Winners of the contest will be offered classes by some of Singapore’s most accomplished lyricists and composers.