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Cari! Malaysia's Best Blunders
My pet illustration of learning a language is learning to swim. Your coach briefs you on warming up exercises and how to move your limbs in the water. Then he goes to the other side of the pool,beckoning you to swim towards him. So you paddle clumsily, water gets into your mouth and nostrils but you reach coach! Or, if you were like me, you panic half way and dear coach has to retrieve you out of the water...Either way, it's better than clinging to the pool side forever. You will never learn to swim if you refuse to dive in.
My point is you cannot avoid mistakes. I made TONS of them and I am still prone to mistakes. But i find it helpful to laugh about them first and learn from them. The only regret is, my blunders are never spectacular enough to tickle anyone's ribs as this one:
Cari Susah
An expatriate guy was eager to show consideration to his new Malaysia acquaintances. He wanted to say in simple sentences that he understands everyone has their own problems. This was his introduction:
"Kamu ada susu, saya ada susu, kita semua ada susu!"
He had been saying this to people until he met Kenny my friend who kindly told him it should be susah instead of susu...
Siapa Siram?
I used to have headaches teaching a little girl whom I shall call Ann here. You see, she is the daughter of my mother's boss ( He's a millionaire ), thoroughly spoiled and resents correction. The problem is, she made classic mistakes of non-native speakers.
I was not surprised while we were doing a lesson on ayat pasif, she wrote " Ann disiram oleh bunga." as the passive form of " Ann menyiram bunga." However, I just had to bury my face in my palms, struggling to overcome the mirth.
With a hand still trembling from laughter, I drew a stick figure of Ann watering a flower and another picture of the same flower, enlarged and holding a watering can, watering Ann's head. She got the point immediately. I couldn't stop her laughing at herself throughout that lesson.
I am happy to announce that her ayat pasif is excellent now, so are her listening and oral skills. Sometimes, the creativity of her writings astounds even me. Best of all, she is no longer a brat. I must say it's worth cari jalan to address a blunder diplomatically.
Nak Ikut Cari?
My Cari! is not a grammar watchdog ready to howl at you for not being gramatis. You and I have enough of THAT from the education system. The purpose is to make myself ( and also hopefully millions out there ) feel better when I hear from someone who shares my weakness. We can have good laughs together and it's FUN ... to learn this way.
One little caution: I created this website primarily for young ones therefore I cannot accept contribution that is unsuitable for those below 18. Ahem!
Your privacy is my priority. I am anti-spam so I will never sell your email address to cari makan.
In the name of Malaysia law, you're made to pay for using lousy Bahasa Malaysia. A Contributed Story About Malaysia Jalan Sehala Return from Cari! Malaysia's Best Blunders to Homepage
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