School Guide

Bahasa Malaysia: Not As Scary As You Think

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Nov 19, 2014
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When the Malaysian Ministry of Education first announced in 2007 that the Bahasa Malaysia subject was to be made compulsory for it’s citizens including international school students, parents were concerned and rightly so.

Parents unanimously agree that their children benefit from the emphasis on English use which is the teaching medium in International and most private schools. Children from Chinese schools, be it private or vernacular especially have to juggle more than two languages with said addition to the syllabus.

Bahasa Malaysia being a fairly new language is still constantly being shaped by many aspects including technology and cultural shifts. It is understandable that children and parents who grew up with the older languages such as English and Mandarin are more fond of the languages’ sound grammatical structures.

The world is fast becoming a polyglot melting pot and everyone should try to keep up. Living in Malaysia, of course knowing the local language and nuances would profoundly help one’s social skills.

1. If you can be anything, be water

The wise, the swift Bruce Lee

In Bahasa Malaysia, there is an idiom which says: Masuk kandang kambing mengembek, masuk kandang lembu menguak. (Bleat when in the company of goats, moo when you’re around cows).

Or in the wise words of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, “Become like water, my friend.”

Humans are creatures that can get used to anything, we are built to adapt. When both parents and children can accept this fact, learning anything becomes possible and easy. If you are not a Bahasa Malaysia speaker yourself, you can turn this into an opportunity to learn together with your children. Doing activities together is so much fun!

But are there any tips on making the adaptation process even less difficult?

2. Life is a game

sitcom-fresh-off-the-boat-flashcards

A definite selling point for Bahasa Malaysia is that it uses Roman alphabets identical to English. Many words are also similar with only minor changes in the spelling. For example bicycle is "basikal" and chocolate is "cokelat".

Encourage your children to design their own flash cards for a start. You can either draw or paste a picture of different common objects and write it’s name in both languages at the back. Another alternative is placing the picture on both faces of the card with the two different words on opposite sides.

Take turns sharpening the vocabulary of you and your children with the “Word Train” or “I Spy” game while driving to work. Not only does it help them get excited for school, it also reduces the stress caused by traffic.

3. Seasoned travelers

pasar-malam-kampung-house

It is undeniable that language and culture go hand in hand. Malaysia is very well known for both it’s nature and colorful characters.

For your next holiday, try planning a visit with your family to village homestays endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism. Being immersed in the fresh air, beautiful greenery and friendly kampung folk will make you even forget that you’re still learning the language. Showing that you have made some effort to study Bahasa Malaysia will definitely result in appreciative cheers.

Get to know your neighborhood better and scout for nearby night markets, better known locally as pasar malam. Haggling for the price of things in the seller’s own mother tongue is a foolproof way to get a bargain. From spices to sandal, the options are endless. Make sure to stay civil and polite.

4. Eat your own words

family-menu-special

Ask any Malaysian overseas about the one thing they miss, and the unanimous answer would be food. It is also the best motivation to improve your Bahasa Malaysia. Children and adults alike can enjoy guessing the meaning of menus in local restaurants. Get ready to share a laugh together when all of you realize that masak lemak cili padi does not mean “cooking rice chillie’s fat”.

For the more budget savvy, a cookbook in Bahasa Malaysia goes a long way. Decipher the ingredients and cooking instructions from the recipe with your loved ones. Start with local recipes that seem similar to what you’re used to like soup or jellies. It’s like a science project that fills your mouth and mind at the same time!

5. Sing it, Say It

Go to a karaoke parlour or browse through YouTube for songs you can sing together. Many independent vloggers and commercial local media have attempted to translate songs that are popular in English to Bahasa Malaysia. These include Disney classics such as Reflection from Mulan (Bayang), Let It Go from Frozen (Bebaskan) and You’ll Be In My Heart from Tarzan (Kau Di Hatiku).

Movies by the legendary P. Ramlee  not only have simple yet interesting plots to follow, they also feature music that you can sing along to such as “Kami Penyamun” from Nujum Pa’ Blalang. To enrich your idiom bank (very useful for essay writing!), try Gurindam Jiwa sung and acted by the late Noordin Ahmad and Latifah Omar.

Chances are you and your children will continue to sing to the music without realizing it.

Next step: Malaysian Idol?

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