Originally posted by dangerboi:
Are you stating that the origin of English is in England? English came from Germany. Half of Britons have German blood. You're right that Singapore isn't a native english speaking country. However, you're wrong that english came from England. English is actually a German language.
learn something everyday
go malaysia or indonesia, its better to learn and use bahasa malay. more useful and for practicality.
Originally posted by FireIce:大�
which is like...... wish u success.
Actually '대박' ["daebak"] is the colloquial Singapore English equivalent of "piang eh~ / walao", or what you would say "damn epic siah"...
Haha but I get your drift. Thanks for the congrats though.
Originally posted by mancha:You received A1 for English in the GCE'O' levels.
That should indicate that you are indeed proficient in the English Language.
You should check if the Korean authorities recognise the certification.
oh!
BTW I do not think Singapore have the status of Native English Speaking country. Singapore is not like Australia or New Zealand. What with Malay as a national language, English as a working language, and Mandarin as the preparatory language for the future rise of China, it is a mess here.
Yes. I checked earlier today. Singapore is indeed not considered a 'Native English Country', or at least by the South Korean Ministry of Education.
The ten countries they consider nationals to be 'Native English Speakers' are the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Jamaica, Ghana, South Africa and Ireland. How the heck Nigeria, Ghana and Jamaica got in that list I have no idea.
Originally posted by gorgorlokaychyong:Sorry to disappoint you, the fact is Singapore is not a native speaking country. Native speaking countries are Australia, New Zealand, and of course the place of English origin England.
We were under the British rule once upon a time but this did not make us a native English speaking country.
The fact that you scored distinction A1 in your GCE "O" Level may put you in a very good position for entry to the uni. You may want to find out directly from that uni you want to go on whether they accept distinction in the English language for "O" Level.
Thanks for the insight.
Personally, I would also want to go for the TOEFL/TOEIC tests just in case. I mean, for me, English (written or aural or whatsoever) isn't really a problem. I guess I will just see this getting another paper qualification. Ain't that troublesome either. For the TOEFL iBT I believe I can attain a 100 over 120.
Originally posted by dangerboi:
Are you stating that the origin of English is in England? English came from Germany. Half of Britons have German blood. You're right that Singapore isn't a native english speaking country. However, you're wrong that english came from England. English is actually a German language.
It's true that the modern English Language is a West Germanic language by virtue of linguistic transfer. But I guess we can leave that argument elsewhere...
hey there! PLEASE GO FOR YOUR TOEFL/TOEIC TEST!!!
i had met with the same situation as u a while ago. i was accepted by a few UK universities but due to singaporeans not being recognized as native english speakers, the condition is that i have to go and take the IELTS (which is also a form of english proficiency test).
But due to time constraint, I had to give up the chance to go overseas as i couldnt make it for the uni orientation day.
telling them u got A1 for O level is useless. As some universities recognize more of the english proficiency tests result than O level which u took some time ago. (mine was 5 years ago)
so please dont follow my footsteps! please go for the test as soon as possible!
Originally posted by DylanZuckowski:hey there! PLEASE GO FOR YOUR TOEFL/TOEIC TEST!!!
i had met with the same situation as u a while ago. i was accepted by a few UK universities but due to singaporeans not being recognized as native english speakers, the condition is that i have to go and take the IELTS (which is also a form of english proficiency test).
But due to time constraint, I had to give up the chance to go overseas as i couldnt make it for the uni orientation day.
telling them u got A1 for O level is useless. As some universities recognize more of the english proficiency tests result than O level which u took some time ago. (mine was 5 years ago)
so please dont follow my footsteps! please go for the test as soon as possible!
Thanks for your advice...
That brings about another problem. I don't want to apply to Yonsei University - Underwood Int'l College after getting my Diploma, and then ask for a stay till 2014 to accommodate my NS obligations, as it won't look good on me. The TOEFL test is only valid for 2 years upon receival of test results. So do I only take the TOEFL test when I'm serving my second year of NS? I fear NS would somehow 'corrupt' my standard of English, and I'm sure that fear isn't without grounds. After all, your vocabulary gets very 'advanced' after NS...
well if u want to apply only after your ns, then do your toefl during second year of your ns, since it is only valid for 2 years. anyway, doing it now is redundant too, since by then it would be "expired" and not recognized.
but then if its me, i would apply to the uni after my diploma, and tell them i want to defer my commencement on whichever year i finishes my ns. i dont think it will look bad on you, as ns is practised in south korea too.
i would want to set my future path right before doing ns. ultimately, the standards of acceptance of universities usually becomes higher as the years go by.
In paper may be yes. In reality no waaay.
Originally posted by DylanZuckowski:well if u want to apply only after your ns, then do your toefl during second year of your ns, since it is only valid for 2 years. anyway, doing it now is redundant too, since by then it would be "expired" and not recognized.
but then if its me, i would apply to the uni after my diploma, and tell them i want to defer my commencement on whichever year i finishes my ns. i dont think it will look bad on you, as ns is practised in south korea too.
i would want to set my future path right before doing ns. ultimately, the standards of acceptance of universities usually becomes higher as the years go by.
I guess I would do the TOEFL twice, once at the end of this year so I can use the results if I need to apply next year, and once during my second year of National Service which would likely be used for Yonsei UIC.
In South Korea, their NS can be done at the age of 28, so most students going to Unis/Colleges there serve their national obligations after completion of their academics. That is why I mentioned about not deferring for Yonsei UIC.
why dun u enquire from the korean embassy or the uni?
Originally posted by Bio-Hawk:In paper may be yes. In reality no waaay.
I checked. Singapore is NOT considered a 'Native English Speaking' country.
So in either case, Singaporeans are not considered 'Native English Speakers'.
Originally posted by Rooney9:why dun u enquire from the korean embassy or the uni?
I did.
Both of them gave round-about replies. But anyways, I got the understanding that Singapore is not a 'Native English Speaking' country.
Problem now is the admissions to Yonsei UIC is a bit troublesome. I need to know exactly which certificate or papers I need to present to them. Yonsei UIC Admissions Dept still hasn't replied to me on what exactly are the requirements for entry. And before you ask, no, the college website doesn't provide those.
Originally posted by Fryderyk HPH:I did.
Both of them gave round-about replies. But anyways, I got the understanding that Singapore is not a 'Native English Speaking' country.
Problem now is the admissions to Yonsei UIC is a bit troublesome. I need to know exactly which certificate or papers I need to present to them. Yonsei UIC Admissions Dept still hasn't replied to me on what exactly are the requirements for entry. And before you ask, no, the college website doesn't provide those.
I am sure you will get to Yonsei if you want to. Be prepared for a loong hard study time.
Originally posted by Fryderyk HPH:I did.
Both of them gave round-about replies. But anyways, I got the understanding that Singapore is not a 'Native English Speaking' country.
Problem now is the admissions to Yonsei UIC is a bit troublesome. I need to know exactly which certificate or papers I need to present to them. Yonsei UIC Admissions Dept still hasn't replied to me on what exactly are the requirements for entry. And before you ask, no, the college website doesn't provide those.
lol just give them all, from PSLE all the way to your diploma cert and transcript. if u got other certs, by all means mail to them lol.
Originally posted by Fryderyk HPH:I guess I would do the TOEFL twice, once at the end of this year so I can use the results if I need to apply next year, and once during my second year of National Service which would likely be used for Yonsei UIC.
In South Korea, their NS can be done at the age of 28, so most students going to Unis/Colleges there serve their national obligations after completion of their academics. That is why I mentioned about not deferring for Yonsei UIC.
well if you think that the money is worth spending on 2 TOEFL tests, and it will make things easier for u, then by all means go for it.
i dint know about the age limit for south korea ns.
what i did for my uk uni application is that, i scan all my certs and put them into a cd-rom, then i mail to the universities.
Originally posted by Bio-Hawk:
I am sure you will get to Yonsei if you want to. Be prepared for a loong hard study time.
I think considered the fact I want to go to a Uni in Korea, I've already prepared to lose 4 years of my 'social' life.
You do know how the Korean education system is, yah? It's über competitive, way more than Singapore's...
Originally posted by Rooney9:lol just give them all, from PSLE all the way to your diploma cert and transcript. if u got other certs, by all means mail to them lol.
Yup, I definitely would send in all the relevant certs.
why u want to study at a korean uni?
Originally posted by DylanZuckowski:well if you think that the money is worth spending on 2 TOEFL tests, and it will make things easier for u, then by all means go for it.
i dint know about the age limit for south korea ns.
what i did for my uk uni application is that, i scan all my certs and put them into a cd-rom, then i mail to the universities.
I've already booked my initial TOEFL test which would be at the end of the year.
I don't think I need to sit for the SATs, right?
Originally posted by Rooney9:why u want to study at a korean uni?
I explained it in my first post.
I do have family (relatives) there.
Fry, do come here to update us whether your application is successful.
Wish you good luck.