I’ve been
trying very hard to vary the language and dialects which I use to communicate
with the kids. But so far, it only comes, ‘if I remember’. Otherwise it will be
only be English and Malay.
Recently I’ve
been consciously slotting in Hokkien whenever I have play sessions with them
(not too often, depending on their moods too). So whenever they did well, i.e.
fix the puzzle, arrange the items or even just sing and count, I will congratulate
them with a ‘high-5’ hand-action and then praise them with ‘clever’ or ‘pandai’ (Malay) or ‘gau’ (Hokkien).
Last night,
after fixing a puzzle on her own, AIR2 said ‘gau-lah’ and I was caught by surprise! I smiled to myself and
praised her for that too. Then she gave me a ‘high-5’.
Then I asked
AIR1 ‘Ai chiak dragon fruit boh?’ (Do you want to eat dragon fruit?) I am not
sure if he actually understood me, but at first he looked puzzled, but after I
repeated, he nodded. It’s either he understood or he just caught the key word ‘dragon
fruit’ :D
Indeed interesting
to speak and hear them speak new things in return. Here’s to more Hokkien this
weekend!
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