40 Years In & Out of Jail, Ex-Gangster Struggles In English-Speaking Singapore
At 16, Jimmy, who grew up in a “bad kampong”, was in a gang. At 18, he went into prison for the first time, and that became a recurring thing over the next 40 years of his life.
When he was released most recently at the age of 58, Singapore felt like a foreign place to him, with signs, notices, magazines and workplaces almost all in English. Back in the gangs, speaking English would have gotten you labelled “arrogant”, a show-off; business was done in Chinese dialect or Mandarin.
Now, he just wants to leave the past behind and feel accepted and respected in society. And especially, he wants to be able to join the English services at his church and sing the hymn Amazing Grace in English.
Over 12 weeks, Jimmy was given free one-to-one coaching as part of CNA’s #WriteOfPassage Project. (watch the 3-part series https://cna.asia/2Zdg626 ). We follow up with him a couple of months later, In this digital exclusive, to find out how his improved English skills have benefitted him.
00:00 A feared gang leader in his past
00:32 English was shunned in his circles
01:17 Embarrassed by his poor English today
02:35 Progress in lessons
03:42 Using new skills at work
03:59 Better at fitness workouts
04:42 Singing Amazing Grace in English
Watch how other adult Singaporeans overcome illiteracy, in the full series of Write of Passage here:
Part 1: https://youtu.be/EbUNOJWlLuY
Part 2: https://youtu.be/R-KFZrOo2Rc
Part 3: https://youtu.be/2vOfJZBdvAA
Also watch:
Mum Learns English To Help 11-Year-Old Daughter With Spelling: https://youtu.be/QB2DSu9g-dc
Finding Out I've Dyslexia At 40- And Learning To Overcome It: https://youtu.be/_eZQAcfeZlU
Dingyao Learns English: https://youtu.be/_kHk5DBaPj8
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