Why the Chinese Educated and English Educated Don't Mix

LONG POST AHEAD.

I came across a Youtube video just now by a Malaysian Youtuber and it inspires me to write this blog post. I'd advise you to watch this videos first before reading my post but it doesn't matter if you don't want to.







For those who are too lazy to watch, let me just brief you what this entire topic is about. Well, it's about the certain attitude of a typical Chinese educated person which annoys some of those of English educated. I think one of the factors that sometimes set Malaysians apart is this. We all know that the Chinese educated ones can never really get along with the English educated one, which I find pretty saddening because if they were to open their minds, they could learn more things about life from one another.

Personally, I'm a more English educated person, since I'm a Convent girl since I was young. But then, I come from a fully Chinese speaking family. I speak both Chinese and English in my mind (as in speaking to myself in my brain), but mostly in English.Since young, I spoke English with my friends. In secondary school, which is also a Convent school, I spoke both English and Chinese, but still mostly English. But when I went to college, I spoke more Chinese compared to English as I mixed mostly with Chinese educated friends (of course I still speak English with non-Chinese and those who's first language is English). I can't read Chinese but then in Form 3, I took up Chinese lessons, so well...  I still can't read much Chinese. That's basically my background of my first and second languages.

You know, when I went to college, switching to having Chinese educated friends is not easy. If you watched the videos up there, yes,sometimes, we get discriminated. Like, people will make fun of us. They'll tease us for not knowing how to speak Chinese. Like saying, "Omg.. Yeok Ho, you don't know Chinese! You're a banana". If any of my college friends are currently, reading this, let me just clarify that I've never gotten angry with you guys for saying all these things. I've got friends laughing at me and stuffs like that.They'll say it in such a way that sometimes, I don't feel like I'm a Chinese. When I use the wrong words, they'll ... well, tease me and say I don't know how to speak proper Chinese (not literally but let me tell you, these Chinese educated people, they're very good with their words. They won't tell you in the literal way, but they'll put it in such a way that you get what they mean!)

And then, there'll be the Malaysia's most used "Word of the Everyday", the word

BANANA

They'll label me a banana because apparently, I'm yellow outside and white inside. I call myself a half-blooded one since I still speak Chinese! Anyway, the thing is, I think the English educated ones, shouldn't really get offended with this. I know a lot of people get offended because it's not a nice thing to hear. But personally, I've never gotten offended with what my friends call me. I'm pretty okay with it. Because I remember a friend of mine once told me that there is nothing to be offended when people call us that. It's true afterall! We don't know Chinese and really, there isn't any other fruits suitable besides banana!

But then, I understand the constant teasings we get for not knowing Chinese.They'll think that we're trying to act more "high class" when speaking English, that we think we're better off than them. But I just want to tell the Chinese educated ones that this is just a generalisation. That's not true. Why must we even let a bloody language to determine our social class? Just because I speak English so I'm better than you? At the end of the day, languages are used for communication, not for class determination! Speaking English doesn't mean that I'm smarter than you, better than you, richer than you or more capable than you. Sure, there're a lot of Chinese educated ones (whose English are below average) might find themselves struggling (i.e not so successful) but that's because they have not brushed up their English, and because it's an international language, hence they can't compete globally in the world. So, to justify what Joseph Germani (the guy in the video) said, I think it's reasonable that he might feel annoyed at the typical Chinese. He's right in asking people  learn up English. You can think that we're trying to act more high class but sometimes, we're not looking down on anyone. We're just speaking in a language we're comfortable with, just like how you're speaking in Chinese which you're comfortable with. You do not have to feel more inferior and think that we're more "high class". Sometimes, it's when you think that you don't match up to one's ability that you will start disccriminating them, teasing them, making an excuse so that you could feel more "comfortable" with yourself. I know what I'm saying right now is a little frank and you have the absolute rights to get angry with me. At the end of the day, if by discriminating others and putting a label on them that you think you will measure up, then go on.But in this case, it doesn't really help both parties. So yup, while I may not get offended with the label "banana" (and I actually find it pretty cute and funny), there're some people out there who would. Respect is what you have to give if that's what you want to have.

Also, sometimes, the English educated ones know that they're not very good in Chinese and because of that, they do their best in learning it. One way is by speaking it But then, some of their Chinese ed. friends have the guts to laugh at them and say like, "Omg, your Chinese sucks! Could you please, stop speaking it?! Hahahahaha! Your usage of words are totally wrong!"  ... now, this is what I'm a little pissed at. Like, you laugh at us for not knowing Chinese but when we take the effort to learn, you still laugh?! Like, what the hell do you want us to do? Speak English cannot, speak Chinese also cannot! Wahlau.. I might as well speak Malay like that. That's our national language afterall. We could use a little encouragement, you know. Like, if you're our friend,at least teach us the correct words if we're wrong (without laughing) and tell us that it's a good job and we should keep moving on.

After entering college and when I started mingling with the Chinese educated friends, I start getting a glimpse of their life. And that, I think no matter what first language, we should actually do our best to cross over each other lives. I won't say that my life is perfect but I think that I'm blessed that I can get friends from both the English ed. and the Chinese ed. Because I know a lot of people tend to just be with their comfortable social circle. All of us should try breaking into other people's world, to get what they see and get some self-reflection.

The Chinese educated ones, they're not "losers" as depicted by Joseph Germani. Because you see, when you speak English to them, they're gonna be very uncomfortable. You have to understand,English is their second language. They don't speak English as much as you, just like how you don't speak Chinese as much as them. One thing I hate about people is when they look down on another person's language skills. Look, you're not happy when they call you a "banana" but you think you're better than them when you belittle their English? I know you hate it when they use the wrong grammar in Facebook, I know you hate it when they use shortcuts and tYpe lYK thIs ShiT. I know you cannot tahan and want to be the grammar Nazi (ok, to be fair, I sometimes do that do on 9GAG but that website's just for fun where nothing's serious). A lot of times, me too, feel pretty uncomfortable when their English command is not that good but does that mean that I have to stop being friends with them?

No!

Just because their English is bad, doesn't mean their personality is. While I have friends whose English might not be as good the English educated ones, they have the best personalities I've seen and I'm very comfortable talking to them. So, sometimes, I really don't get it. You can't make fun of other people's English (trust me, I've seen some people who do that) just because they don't match yours up. I know your English is oh-so-great but do you think your Chinese is good either? And stop trying to stay in your comfort zone by comforting yourself that you might not need Chinese because I'm telling you, not knowing Chinese is one of the worst disadvantages. You can laugh at their English but you most probably can't read any of their Chinese. Chinese makes up a big part of the world, so trust me, when I say you miss a lot, you really do.

And as for what Joseph Germani said in his video that the typical Chinese thinks that he's being lanci for speaking English, seriously dude, when someone starts a conversation with Chinese, you continue with Chinese. If someone starts with English, you continue English. If you don't know either, then POLITELY tell the other party that you don't understand what he's saying and if he could switch it to another language. So, if someone were to start with Chinese and you continue English, I think it's reasonable people will think that you're lanci lor... it's not about whether someone can control what you speak or not, but it's just about respect. You respect another person and they'll respect you back.It's not about "I can speak what I want at anytime and by the way, you're just a Chinese loser" thing. You just have to think and understand another party. They don't speak another language as much as you do so it's completely reasonable that they're not that good with it.

So honestly, I now understand why people say that national language is what unites people. Whether you're Chinese educated or English educated, you should start mixing people from the opposite side. Sometimes, you might think that different ways of life and different cultures might make you uncomfortable and that you don't "belong" there. But why choose to think from that perspective? Everything, if turned around, could be something positive. Maybe you could think of it as learning life lessons from another side. Like, Chinese educated ones tend to be more reserved but by mixing with the English ed. ones, they can learn to be more outspoken. As for the English ed. ones, they tend to be more outspoken, they can learn to be more humble. So for those who feel that they're being "left out", what I can say is that, don't think these things as an obstacle for you. Instead, take an interest into someone else's life, learn from them and give them the respect they deserve. If you do so, you will get back the same one.

P.S If you're offended, I understand. You could drop your opinion and what you think about this topic in the comments section and see if you could convince me to change my mind about things! I'm totally open to criticism and comments! :D