English-speaking bus drivers, please

***StarDust*** · 29-01-2009, 09:16 AM

English-speaking bus drivers, please
Visually-impaired man needs bus drivers' help to get around
January 29, 2009

HE can see only vague outlines. When he travels on buses, he needs bus drivers to alert him when his stop approaches.

UNHAPPY: Visually-impaired, Mr Nair is disconcerted that not all bus drivers understand simple English. TNP PICTURE: KENNETH KOH

But Mr K Saseedaran Nair was let down twice on the same day, two weeks ago, by bus drivers who failed to alert him about his stop.

The reason: Neither driver spoke English.

Mr Nair, 45, a former mini-mart owner, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease known as Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy syndrome less than a year ago.

It has severely affected his vision.

He felt helpless when he realised that the driver of the bus he was taking, SMRT Service No 187, did not understand a word he was saying.

He had boarded the bus at Lakeside MRT.

Mr Nair, who speaks English, told the bus driver he wanted to get off at Bukit Batok swimming complex.

But the bus driver, a Chinese national, replied in Chinese.

'I was taken aback that he did not understand even simple, basic English,' said Mr Nair.

After about three minutes, a passenger came forward to help, but the driver could not understand the other passenger either.

The passenger eventually advised Mr Nair to alight and take the next bus instead.

But that bus, which takes the same route, had a Chinese-speaking driver too, while the passenger beside Mr Nair also did not understand English.

Mr Nair then sought the help of two school children sitting in front of him.

He said: 'The driver communicated with them in Chinese when the bus was approaching my stop. They translated it to English for me and I managed to make my way home.'

Although it was the first time he had had such a problem, he felt the issue should be taken seriously by public transport operators.

Mr Nair said: ' People who work in Singapore need to know basic English.'

His concern: In case of an emergency, such as a passenger suffering a heart attack, how will the bus driver be able to assist?

He said: 'We are trying to place Singapore on a high pedestal in the business world, and we have foreigners coming to Singapore.

'But what will they think when they see that the drivers can't speak English?'

A SMRT spokesman said that the company does ensure that both its local and foreign drivers are tested on their English language proficiency.

According to SMRT, its bus drivers from China undergo a training programme that comprises courses in English language and English skills for customer service.

Local applicants must also take a basic English test.

And during an emergency?

The spokesman said: 'During training, they are taught to be proactive and seek help from other passengers if they face a communication problem, for example, if they are not able to understand the language or accent.'

SMRT has been notified about Mr Nair's case and is investigating.

Source: http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/st...91105,00.html?

PinkLady · 29-01-2009, 10:48 AM

cheena drivers, what do u expect?

D'eon · 29-01-2009, 11:10 AM

i dun think english can be learned so easily by the drivers.

just put a customer service officer in every bus..there..the creation of more jobs for the economy.

**Peuan Sanit** · 29-01-2009, 12:22 PM

I heard that some taxi companies are training and hiring PRC as taxi drivers.

Jodar · 29-01-2009, 12:50 PM

Don't be so picky. They are not highly paid. If you put in 'must know English' as one of the requirements, so many people will lose their jobs. Who drive Singapore's buses then?

There's bound to be passengers that are bilingual in buses. Get one to translate for you.

princess-selina · 29-01-2009, 02:27 PM

Well , the drivers should know basic English . Just the common ones will do . If not , it's very difficult to communicate with people from other races . Singapore is multi-racial country and there are many foreigners . So the people in the service like have to learn basic English to provide good services .

**casio01** · 29-01-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jodar

Don't be so picky. They are not highly paid. If you put in 'must know English' as one of the requirements, so many people will lose their jobs. Who drive Singapore's buses then?

There's bound to be passengers that are bilingual in buses. Get one to translate for you.

Yes,they are not highly paid...If they know English,they might get a better job than driving a bus.

**albert_sy2** · 31-01-2009, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by princess-selina

Well , the drivers should know basic English . Just the common ones will do . If not , it's very difficult to communicate with people from other races . Singapore is multi-racial country and there are many foreigners . So the people in the service like have to learn basic English to provide good services .

already we are having so much trouble talking to these people. bus drivers, the sellers at the food courts, the cashiers at convenience stores, the drinks servers at all kopitiams! it's ridiculous!

**InfiniteJustice** · 31-01-2009, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jodar

Don't be so picky. They are not highly paid. If you put in 'must know English' as one of the requirements, so many people will lose their jobs. Who drive Singapore's buses then?

\

Agree... but nowadays most of the bus driver are china ppl... <<< some of them very rude

InfiniteJustice added 1 Minutes and 13 Seconds later...

Quote:

Originally Posted by casio01

Yes,they are not highly paid...If they know English,they might get a better job than driving a bus.

Agree too...

Bry_n · 31-01-2009, 01:15 AM

u want english speaking? be prepared to pay higher fares if the bus companies agree. dont get the rest into trouble ma

**InfiniteJustice** · 31-01-2009, 01:15 AM

er i think that Mr K Saseedaran Nair should go sit taxi la... <<< small problem also wan to complain.... zzzzzz

grace317 · 31-01-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InfiniteJustice

er i think that Mr K Saseedaran Nair should go sit taxi la... <<< small problem also wan to complain.... zzzzzz

if he was rich, don't you think he would already be doing that? be more sensitive.

**friendshipz** · 31-01-2009, 03:50 AM

"A SMRT spokesman said that the company does ensure that both its local and foreign drivers are tested on their English language proficiency."

Jodar · 31-01-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendshipz

"A SMRT spokesman said that the company does ensure that both its local and foreign drivers are tested on their English language proficiency."

Well, I've never encountered any non-English speaking bus drivers yet. The pronunciation of their 'English' may sound weird, but it's still English!

Besides, there were passengers in the bus. Why cldn't one of them offer to be the translator?

shypineapple · 31-01-2009, 09:48 AM

there are many PRC driving taxi alr -____-
i just took one last wed night. he dont even know where is commonwealth. FFFF =.='''
back to the topic. typical singaporean who like to complain, they are drivers...not teachers or tour guides zzz

**C4l4MiTY** · 31-01-2009, 10:53 AM

some drivers really need to learn the very very basic english ... so hard to communicate de lo

**friendshipz** · 31-01-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jodar

Well, I've never encountered any non-English speaking bus drivers yet. The pronunciation of their 'English' may sound weird, but it's still English!

Besides, there were passengers in the bus. Why cldn't one of them offer to be the translator?

u didnt encountered but he did, now the issue is on the bus driver themselves, not how gracious singaporean can be.

**shinigami87** · 31-01-2009, 01:58 PM

Wah, that means bus drivers got to learn more things. Sianz...

**masterboix** · 31-01-2009, 01:59 PM

bus driver cannot speak english but ppl who board the bus should know english and help them ma...Somemore Bus uncle know malay what...

**mike_81** · 31-01-2009, 02:15 PM

totally unacceptable....NEW Domestic maids have to sit for an exam , in English , before they are allowed to work here ....THEN WHY do we HAVE FTs Bus drivers who CANNOT even communicate SIMPLE ENGLISH....A case of double standards or NO standards (at all) .....It pisses me off to see FTs (here) working , especially in the service sectors, who do not have basic English skill ... Unacceptable

, afterall , SG is a multiracial society !