Pointing at food items in the hawker centre because I don’t know how to say their names in Chinese. Stuttering when Chinese tourists ask for directions at the MRT station. Mixing in English words while speaking in Mandarin with elders. 

Like many young Singaporeans, I am appallingly bad when I have to use Mandarin. I find it difficult to speak in my own mother tongue despite 12 years of language classes. When surrounded by Mandarin speakers, my anxiety levels spike and I whip out my dictionary app.