A Malaysian advantage

“BOSS, kopi bing satu, tapau” is probably one of Malaysia’s most widely heard phrases.

Living in Malaysia calls for the common encounter of people “rojak-ing” different languages into one sentence.

It is as if every word is a puzzle piece that fits perfectly into the puzzle despite being from different puzzle sets – that is what I think would best describe multilingualism.

As a multilingual who can speak six languages – English, Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese, French and Korean – people often ask me if I had attended classes for all those languages. The answer is no.

The only languages I have learnt in classes are English, Malay, Mandarin and French.

As for Korean and Cantonese, my “classes” are none other than the television shows that I have enjoyed watching since I was a kid.

By watching these shows, I eventually picked up some basics and a variety of vocabulary, allowing me to now easily understand and converse in these languages.

From my experience, watching dramas, and reality and variety shows is an engaging and effective way to learn foreign languages.

Amid all the joy of being multilingual, there is always the question that many individuals ask themselves, “Is a multilingual a master of all trades or merely a jack-of-all-trades, master of none?”

Lifelong: There is no end to learning any language, says Hoi Kei.

This is because getting confused with several languages is a common occurrence as we tend to think in a different language apart from the one being spoken. The confusion usually arises during switches between languages in the same conversation.

This is usually done unconsciously by many multilingual individuals because it is more of an instinct than a planned action.

It may be the norm for some, like how Malaysians “rojak” their words. For others, these switches come with a change of topic or context.

For instance, since my first language is English, and I studied in a government school where Malay was widely spoken daily, I would usually make mental lists and think about important matters in English and speak in Malay instinctively while working on assignments with other people.It is also common for us to dance between personalities as we switch languages. This is perhaps influenced by the learning environment and experiences that vary for every language spoken by a particular multilingual person.

For example, I speak in a higher pitch in any language other than English, creating a bubbly and outgoing personality.

English, on the other hand, being my first language and the one which I am most comfortable with, allows me to be more confident as I speak, which usually gives off a more composed and mature aura.

There is no end to learning any language. In fact, there is no finishing line in learning as we live. Every day is a new opportunity for everyone to learn and create something new.

The Romance languages we know of today, like French and Italian, were once known as Vulgar Latin or otherwise broken Latin.

Now, however, these languages are spoken across the globe and are some of the most highly demanded languages in the world. This is a clear precedent for how every language grows continuously with time and is an endless journey filled with discoveries every day.

Learning a new language is like embarking on a new adventure, and it is an experience that must be satisfied for everyone who wishes to be able to communicate effectively in one.

Hoi Kei, 20, a student in Kuala Lumpur, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team.

1. Look for a photograph in today’s copy of the Sunday Star newspaper. Cut it out and paste it in your Star-NiE scrapbook. Then, name all the items that you see in the photograph. How many items did you manage to name? Could you name them all in English? As you carried out this activity, did some words come to you first in another language?

2. Now, look for another photograph in the newspaper. It must show at least one person in a Malaysian setting. If you were to ask this person for directions, which language do you think he or she would be able to use most comfortably and effectively with you? With an activity partner, do a role-play using the language that both you and this person in the photograph would be able to use to good effect with each other.

Since 1997, The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme has supported English language teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide. Through Star-NiE’s teacher and student workshops, annual contests and monthly English language resources for classroom use, participants of the programme reportedly showed marked interest in the language and progress in their proficiency. Now in its 25th year, Star-NiE is continuing its role of promoting the use of English language through a weekly activity page in StarEdu. These activities are suitable for use individually and in groups, at home and in the classroom, across varied proficiency levels. Parents and teachers are encouraged to work on the activities with their children and students. In addition, Star-NiE’s BRATs Young Journalist Programme will continue to be a platform for participants to hone and showcase their English language skills, as well as develop their journalistic interests and instincts. Follow our updates at facebook.com/niebrats. For Star-NiE enquiries, email [e-mail].