Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

VIslanders should learn Mandarin – Lorna Smith, OBE

Mrs. Lorna Smith, OBE has added her voice to the clarion call made previously by several other members of the National Democratic Party (NDP) for Virgin Islanders to increase their knowledge in foreign languages. Photo: VINO/File
The call follows a similar appeal made by former legislator Mrs. Eileene L. Parsons during an NDP radio programme broadcast last year. Photo: VINO/File
The call follows a similar appeal made by former legislator Mrs. Eileene L. Parsons during an NDP radio programme broadcast last year. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – As the Virgin Islands moves to deepen its relations with the Asia/Pacific region, one more voice has been added to the call for Virgin Islanders to increase their knowledge in foreign languages.

This time, Mrs. Lorna Smith, OBE has added her voice to the clarion call made previously by several other members of the National Democratic Party (NDP).

During a promotional briefing and MOU signing between the Virgin Islands and Shenzhen and Qianhai Authority, Hong Kong at Treasure Isle's Verandah on January 10, 2014, Mrs. Smith extended a challenge to Premier Dr. the Hon. D. Orlando Smith in requesting that he encourages the Ministry of Education's involvement in having Mandarin taught in schools.

“I hope you will encourage your Minister of Education to have more BVIslanders learn Mandarin,” Mrs. Smith said, “I say to everybody, it is the language to know.”

Mrs. Smith also expressed hope that there was a recognition of the importance for the Territory to have some simultaneous translation as it moves into the ‘big league’ internationally.

The call follows a similar appeal made by former legislator Mrs. Eileene L. Parsons during an NDP radio programme broadcast last year.

“I spent some time in the Bahamas at the Bahamas school, they were then trying to get visitors from Germany, from Italy and Spain [and] what they did was they sent some of their hotel people to those countries (they called it total immersion) and they got them to go there and learn at least the rudiments of the language,” she had said.

Mrs. Parsons also said if the VI is having persons coming from places such as Italy, Germany, Spain and Brazil, then it was important to let the VI’s service people know that they have to be able to say something in the languages of the visitors.

“This is something maybe [Education] Minister [Hon. Myron V.] Walwyn we could insist now, that the children not only take Spanish for passing, but be able to take Spanish to speak,” she added at the time.

19 Responses to “VIslanders should learn Mandarin – Lorna Smith, OBE”

  • next (12/01/2014, 09:12) Like (11) Dislike (5) Reply
    Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
    • PAM (12/01/2014, 13:21) Like (17) Dislike (3) Reply
      Learn Mandarin? Is this supposed to be a joke? They can't even speak or spell proper English yet. Sit down.
    • PAM (13/01/2014, 09:20) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      We should be learning Spanish or French as a second language in school. We meet so many on earth who speak those two languages. In my entire life, I have yet to meet a person who speaks Mandarin. Just because they want to look good to their new friends from Hong Kong doesn't mean this will be beneficial to our children. Yes Mandarin is a widely spoken language but it should be a third language in school.
  • boyo (12/01/2014, 09:14) Like (19) Dislike (4) Reply
    Unfortunately, many people here should work on their English before they take up a foreign language.
  • Kingfish (12/01/2014, 09:29) Like (16) Dislike (5) Reply

    She should be encouraging Virgin Islanders to learn English.

  • question (12/01/2014, 09:37) Like (10) Dislike (12) Reply
    when will some of deeds people retire and give the young people a fighting chance?
  • wow (12/01/2014, 09:45) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yall got jokes.
  • ? (12/01/2014, 10:15) Like (24) Dislike (2) Reply
    Ayo always ready to bend over backwards for everyone else, except your own. Tell them learn English.
  • languages/chool (12/01/2014, 10:57) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
    Moving into the big league internationally! Watch out UK and USA we are on our way to riches never seen before. Better than a golden goose, now we have the golden dragon.
  • Whatever.... (12/01/2014, 11:33) Like (12) Dislike (3) Reply
    Teach Mandarin in our schools? Are you serious?
    The NDP stupidness gets better and better each and every day....
    • Stupidness? (12/01/2014, 13:38) Like (12) Dislike (4) Reply
      If I can clearly recall, a promising VIP candidate Zoe McMillan made an appeal last elections to have mandarin taught in our schools. I remember this because I thought it was a brilliant idea. Don't label progressiveness as stupidness!
    • D Historian (12/01/2014, 21:56) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      I am amazed at the backward thinking of most of these commentators: please check ASCD and you will find that the U.K is about to do the same. As an educator I applaud this suggestion.
  • Qwert (12/01/2014, 12:26) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I agree with you "?", then and only then can we be able to better integrate with others. I mean if they are going to provide me with Rosetta Stone to learn Mandarin, I'm down.
  • Concern 1 (12/01/2014, 13:20) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I think we are making a joke of the ability to speak/use a foreign language. English as a target/foreign language is also important. You may say it is my language and I know it well enough but if you are to go into the mechanics of the language you will be surprised you don't know anything at all.So like wise I will encourage anyone to go learn a foreign language as it has long term benefits. it will even help you to appreciate your own language and culture. However, learning it at a tender age is a plus as children are like "sponges" they grasp it quicker and even better than we adults. Even though I am fluent in English, French and Spanish I wish I knew more languages and as you go about learning them you find so many similarities/differences as they all from one big family, yes they are all entwine. So make the sacrifice and learn a foreign language or even more. Blessed
  • roy (12/01/2014, 13:25) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    @ question..see what we mean, you all can't even spell the English words so how are you going to handle another language? DEEDS instead of writing THESE. Don't worry, we won't jack up their language because we can't even master ours.
  • teacher john (12/01/2014, 18:34) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    More political chatter tell us the true cost of the Asia office and the true value of your consultancy
  • Mrs.D (13/01/2014, 09:10) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    How about they learn standard English First?
  • shaw (13/01/2014, 11:46) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Does Lorna speak Mandarin?


Create a comment


Submit comment

Create a comment

Submit comment
Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.