I have a friend on Twitter, a fellow Kpoper who wants to learn another language first (since she's still learning Korean, she had to only pick one). She wants to learn either French or Japanese, so I gave her the idea of learning both at the same time... Since it saves time. But I think both languages are one of the hardest languages in the world so it will take so much time.
I also am learning foreign languages, like Korean and Tamil. I considered to take Mandarin Chinese last time, but realise that it's too common. I also considered in taking German, but it's hard! Come to think of it, all language that we don't speak are hard. I was trying to be good at one thing and realised that I was wrong that it would take you a short while to master the beginner level. It took me forever to actually remember the Korean alphabets!
Indonesian! The simplest yet hard. I don't know how to explain it straight, but yes. Malay and Indonesian aren't that hard because everything is almost the same. I used to speak in the language with the housekeeper and thrilled because she taught me so much! I even taught her English in return, like she wants me to. Haha. After she left for her country, I did not speak the language for years until I faced difficulty in reading and writing the language to the native. Ah, how hard was my life at that point, you'll never know.
I am already fine in English already, but still have room to brush up. Malay was just OK enough, since I only can get B in it. Arabic? I slept in the class last time. Just realised how much language has contributes towards individuals, community, nation and the world. Now I'm regretting in sleeping in Arabic class. All I know was "My name is..." in the language. (I did oral in for Arabic, and failed it badly)
However, I still wonder since I was a kid if aliens have a language and accents. Haha. Nice.
Malay and English comes at ease to people who really do understand the concept and reason why we need to learn it. Let's take the students in my class. Not all of them are a fan of English. Speaking in English with them is hard enough. Writing essays is easier with me giving them clues. Oral exams cannot be presented if I don't give theman idea for their material. Exam papers would be blank if I don't give them the answers. Who is to blame? Teachers for using the wrong method? Parents for not being able to make a great exposure? No, we need to blame ourselves not being able to learn by ourself. We have to be a step ahead from anyone. Being one or two steps ahead is a kick start to become a person with wide knowledge.
I'm not saying everyone, since there are people who are good at it, or much more advanced than I am. My friends are really good in English and to be compared with my writings, I am still nothing. How about Malay? Everyone in Malaysia should know, understand and can speak Malay. To all who doesn;t speak in the language is too bad; probably living under a rock. Malay should be spoken all the time, since whe are living in a country called MALAYsia. And to our friends who are staying in other countries, permanently or not, you should know the language too and practice them all the time. We are Malaysians and breed in Malaysia. We should be proud and maintain our identity.
So, language is important iin daily life and communicating will be much easier with it. Things will get much harder when we grow up and we will regret it. You don't need to learn so many languages like French, German, Korean etc, but it will become a handy if you do. English and especially our mother-tongue Malay is enough already.
I'm not saying that I am perfect. It occurred to me when my classmates called me "Budak Terrer B.I" (That Kid Who's Good in English Language). I don't want to be label that. I only want to be a Malay friend who can communicate in both Malay and English and still learning Korean and Tamil. I will not be able to speak those language if i don't motivate myself to learn. And yes, I am still learning Malay and English... That's why I'm still going to school, doing school works and do oral exams! :D
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