In my Free English Lessons section on this website, I commented on the declining standard of English here. I said that the true English-speaking generation of students, which grew up in the seventies, and have become English teachers are now in their forties. These are the ones who are proficient in English. I also commented that students who have had the privilege of learning from these teachers picked up good English skills.

Today’s column serves to highlight the fact that many of today’s teachers under 40 years old are deficient in their English skills.

Some of you know that I am a relief English teacher in a secondary school here. Well, just two weeks ago, while I was expounding the use of in the chair to a secondary three express class in a school in Hougang, some students laughed at my use of in the chair instead of on the chair. These students were adamant that I was not qualified to teach English since I had used in the chair. To them, that usage was 100-per-cent wrong.

A few went as far as seeking confirmation from their permanent English teacher that I had made a mistake, in the hope that their teacher would back them in ridiculing my English skills. They expected their teacher to agree with them and they were very happy when their English teacher supported their stand. Their English teacher is in her early thirties, by the way.

So, armed with her reply, these students confronted me the next time I went into their class. They reiterated that the use of in the chair was totally wrong and only on the chair was correct since their teacher had said so. I brought up this matter with another English teacher who is in his fifties. He agreed with my use of in the chair without hesitation.

What I wish to say is this. Students nowadays are taught by English teachers who were students of teachers accustomed to using Mandarin at school and at home, unlike the early post-independence English teachers. Such teachers acquired less-than-perfect English skills and therefore could only transfer even worse English skills to those under their charge. Therefore, the standard of English here in Singapore gets worse progressively because each new batch of students gets taught by teachers who picked up progressively worse English skills.

Coming back to my story, these students were happy to announce to me, in a defiant tone, that I was wrong, effectively telling me that I shouldn’t be teaching English since I was teaching them the wrong things. I promised them I would bring proof that I was correct. I didn’t want them to get away with having the wrong ideas. Then, I remembered that they had an English textbook with them, so, I flipped through the pages from start to finish. I found instances of the use of in the chair on pages 51, 53 and 112 (2002 textbook).

When I showed the pages to them, they were speechless. I had proven them wrong. At the same time, I had also proven their English teacher wrong. Since that day, I have had no trouble from these students, and I believe I have created doubts in them about the skills of their regular English teacher.

Incidentally, I also checked the Collins Cobuild English Usage on the use of in the chair and here is their answer. We use in the chair when the chair is comfortable. Also, we use in the armchair exclusively.

What I wish to say is this - nowadays students, rather blindly, digest what their teachers say. They debunk the knowledge of teachers who they know are not their permanent teachers. This habit leads them to being complacent, as they do not get a chance to open their minds.

Also, the whole episode goes to prove what I have said earlier - that in Singapore new batches of students being taught by less proficient English teachers acquire a lower level of English skills and in turn become less-skilled English teachers.

Recently, another official website promoting Singapore went online. On its links page, it listed several useful websites but Getforme.com wasn’t in the list as usual. Why do I say “as usual”? Because, I have trawled all Government-linked websites to look for a link to us, but only found one - and that one, at www.sg, listed us simply because we requested a link.

If I sound frustrated, it is because I am. But, not for the reasons that some of you may have in mind - ala we think we are bigwigs on Singapore and should be listed on every Government website promoting Singapore.

Rather, I lament the lack of attention by the various Government agencies in promoting made-in-Singapore websites. Here we are trying our level best to promote Singapore to everyone on the Internet, and there we have the agencies not lifting a finger to help us do our job.

We are not looking for recognition of our efforts. What we ask is that the Government agencies take the initial to list us on their Links webpage so that anyone surfing these agencies’ websites know that the Government knows we are around. Period.

It is little wonder, then that here in Singapore, we lament the loss of our local talents to overseas procuring agencies. I put it to you that if the Government agencies turn a blind eye to local talent, what do they expect such local talents to do? Be thick-skinned and come up to them to say, “Hey! I am a local talent; promote me!” ?

Now, I am not bragging that Getforme.com is a local talent. If I have given that mistaken notion, I apologise. What I do say rather is that Getforme.com has come a long way in its work promoting the island to all and sundry.

We started off with scores of pages attracting a mere 400 hits way back in end 1999. Since then, we have accummulated some 3,800-plus pages of information on Singapore. We now attract some 25,000 hits daily. That volume of visitorship in itself tells us that we are on the right track in our goal of promoting our Singapore.

But, it appears that Government agencies do not think much of us, at least not yet anyway, save for the National Library Board (NLB). Is it the fault of the people at the top rungs of the establishment? That is a question that oftentimes has popped into my mind.

I venture to say, “No! Not them.” From my readings of their speeches, I gather they have a sincere wish to make sure local talents are nurtured and not slighted by the official agencies.

How then, has this situation come about? I feel it is the people in the middle rungs of Government - those charged with the daily routine of running the agencies - who need some wakening up.

Until then, we Singaporeans will just have to get used to the idea that we are not worth anything here in Singapore until the outside world tells Singapore otherwise. Which is rather sad, because more Singaporeans will shy away from the Government agencies, and yet more will not have second thoughts about looking for greener pastures overseas.

If we keep looking outside Singapore for foreign talent, and ignore what we have within the island, we can’t very well blame our fellow Singaporeans for looking outside Singapore for an ideal place instead of within Singapore - after all, they are just copying what we are doing. So, don’t be the proverbial “pot calling the kettle black”.

What about Getforme.com then? Well, despite the official apathy towards us, we will continue to do our job here in Singapore. We will stick to our guns, so to speak, for we want nothing but to offer Singapore to the world and here at Get For Me Singapore, we believe we can continue to do that superbly.

Of late, more Singaporeans have been going gaga over a particular species of aquarium fish - Cichlasoma sp or simply Flower Horn (Hualorhan).

Also known as Feng Shui Fish, the Flower Horn has become immensely popular not only in Singapore, but also in Malaysia and Thailand. But the fish is prohibitively expensive. A young one, measuring just three cm in length, sells for around S$40. And the price goes into the thousands for an adult Flower Horn.

Yet, people have been more than willing to fork out hard cash - in these hard times - for the hobby fish. So much so, I sometimes wonder whether we are really suffering during the current economic downturn.

I am just one of these people. Last weekend, like many other aquarium fish-lovers, I flocked to some of the larger aquarium shops in remote parts of the island - Jalan Kayu & Pasir Ris Fish Farmways - to get a Flower Horn. I was quite amazed to find that some of these shops sold nothing but Flower Horns.

Indeed, it is not difficult to understand the Singaporeans’ craze for the fish. Whether housewife or the ordinary man in the street, everyone has a common aim in getting the Flower Horn - luck!

The Flower Horn is said to be the harbinger of good luck. I am not sure whether there is any truth in that statement, but I have joined thousands of fellow Singaporeans in thronging these aquariums during the weekends in search of Flower Horns for the home, or just for a closer look at them.

And I am not alone in partaking in the craze at home either - my wife, her mother and her brothers keep the Flower Horn too. Are you, like me, interested in the Flower Horn? If not, you may find yourself infected by the craze over these little things after reading this column.