For the Love of Languages

Today is Thursday again and what does Thursday brings me? Early this morning I had scanned my brain to see my schedule for today. Yes I remember thursday means I have an English class to teach. I love teaching English especially to my Form 1 classes. You see some of them were so engrossed with my teaching that their jaw dropped and mouth openened. At that moment you know that you are a good teacher and you feel the pleasure of teaching. Its funny though, I discovered that I enjoy teching English more than Bahasa Malaysia. Its not that I like Bahasa Malaysia less. it's my 'mother tongue'. It's just that I found Bahasa Malaysia is harder to teach! Of course I love teaching the classic pantuns, the simpulan bahasa and perumpamaan and the essays. Other than that am not so good in my teaching of Bahasa. That reminds me, I should go and do a crash course with puan Adibah Amin. She is reputed to be a very good teacher of both English and Bahasa Malaysia. She has published several books on both subjects.
I have to end here, its nearly time! I am off to my English class!Cherrio and remember to always be good to your mother whoevever and whatever you are!

For the love of languages

It is Thursday and I have an English class to teach. I love teaching this subject and I also teach Bahasa Malaysia and public speaking. I have long ago realised that I love languages including Arabic. When I read the Quran, I very much wanted to know the meaning of the verses. Then I had the chance to learn Arabic when we had classes for my Yana then 11 years old and Aly then was 1o years old. We (5 children and me) did the classes at home .We had Ustazah Naemah who came to the house twice a week, because we were sending Yana and Aly to Sudan. (Yes we did send 11 yo Yana and 10 yo Aly to Sudan) It was interesting learning the language with the children. I still remember Husna (then 6 yo), the youngest would run into the kitchen and brought items for the ustazah say the arabic words for those items. And when it was tea time, the children wold say to the ustazah " turiidusyyai?" Ustazah would answer, "Naam, Ana Uhibbusyyai wa kaksan wa biskaawit" And we all laughed and enjoyed the tea and the arabic conversation. It's not to wonder then, that we had learned arabic very fast in that manner.Nowadays I could grasp the meaning of some familiar words in the Quran and that would make me excited enough to carry on reading. Unfortunately the Arabic classes lasted only for 2 years (1 year before children went to Sudan and 1 year after). After that it was difficult to continue with the classes due to many reasons.
However, all is not lost! Since we have founded our own school, I could always sit in the classes with my students. But I have yet to do that. The actual reason is that I have become 'lazy' because there is no 'classmate' or 'sparring partner' to spurr me on. Nevertheless I will learn Arabic seriously in near future. To do that I will have to call ustazah Naemah again.