20 juni 2009 01:30

Learn More Languages, Kids Told

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Children should learn more than two languages so they can market themselves better in the global arena, says Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) chairman Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Rosmah, who is the wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, said she strongly encouraged children to take up other languages besides their mother tongue so they would have an edge on the international level.

“Otherwise, we will only be able to succeed in our own country,” she told a press conference to launch the “Caring & Sharing Night” organised by the SJK (C) Khai Chee here yesterday.

Rosmah, however, stressed that children should be conversant in their national language as they were Malaysians. She mentioned, too, that her own children were conversant in other languages apart from Malay and English. Rosmah then invited her son Norashman Razak, 18 and daughter Noryana Najwa, 20, to speak a few words in Mandarin and Arabic respectively.

The siblings took turns to introduce themselves and expressed their delight in visiting the school, leading to applause from the audience. Norashman and Noryana studied the languages at Georgetown University in the United States. They are now back for a two-month break to visit their family. Lim Beng Hean, the school`s board chairman, said the “Caring & Sharing Night” would be held on Aug 19 at the Berjaya Times Square Hotel. It plans to raise RM1mil to purchase the land adjoining the school for its development. Some RM50,000 from the donations would be given to Bakti to be distributed to national and vernacular schools throughout the country.

The Bakti choir, led by Toh Puan Ena Ling, will perform that night.

Source: http://thestar.com.my (20 June 2009)

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