MyEldest & RoundBoy at the computer
I overheard my children mentioning the word ‘invulnerable’ as they were playing a game on the computer last weekend. [NB: Normally, while one child plays, the others watch and/or coach and/or intervene if help is needed.]
I asked them if they knew what invulnerable means.
Their answer?
“Impenetrable.”
I almost choked in my effort to hold back laughter and amusement. Then I decided to probe just a bit further, “But what does ‘impenetrable’ mean?”
They replied: “You know, like when you try to shoot something tapi dia tak kena (but it doesn’t get damaged).”
Their command of the English language — for non-native English speakers — just continues to astound me.
How do we do it?
- Conversing with them in English 90% of the time;
- Reading to them from since they were babies;
- Watching English-language documentaries with them on Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, and TVIQ;
- Using new words every chance I get in our daily conversations (and explaining to them what it means in simplified terms, if I have to); and
- Lots of new reading material for them to read by themselves — usually books which we borrow from the National Library.
In contrast, their Malay is so bad, they don’t even know what pucat means. *sigh*
pucat [pu-chat]
adjective: pale
I think they mean a little something like invincible…Glad you have the chance to improve their English.
I think you should send them to a tuition centre to improve their Malay. They are Malaysians and they should know their mother tongue. Then it’s a perfect balance.
although i don’t talk to her in english, just somtetimes, my daughter’s english vocabulary is also amazing. i think she gets it from watching TV and reading books. i think reading books is very important to deepening one’s vocabulary.
They are so handsome though ::DDD
Haha…they are Americanised Malaysians. I really LOL at your last sentence. Your eldest is soooo handsome, and RoundBoy’s cheek is sooo chubby.
Ay, parang yung anak ko pala. She pronounce “papaya” as “pe-pey-yah”.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Mimi and to your family!
The irony of it all: my Malay is better than my children’s!