by Hanifa K. Cook | Nov 12, 2008 | Environment, Language, Learning Skills
I started speaking Bahasa Indonesia in the early ’90s. Back then, I worked as a personal assistant in an international company and the regional marketing manager only spoke English. I was also work as trainer. Then after I got married, my husband was posted to...
by Hanifa K. Cook | Nov 10, 2008 | Environment, Language, Learning Skills
If something so natural as speaking takes 2 years for a child to do, speaking a foreign language may take a longer time for an adult. Unless you understand the power of speech your mother tongue has given you, your hidden potentials will remain untapped and unused....
by Hanifa K. Cook | Nov 9, 2008 | Childhood, Language, Spanish
Spanish and ‘Batu Lesung’? Over the weekend, I reflected on my childhood learning experience. I took a picture of this pounder (‘batu lesung’) which most traditional Malay families use to prepare spices. It is made of granite stone, carved into a bowl which we use as...
by Hanifa K. Cook | Nov 6, 2008 | Language
Lingo means dialect or jargon. To understand the lingo of a certain language means to be immersed the culture and practice of the community; otherwise, you will feel lost in translations. I have been speaking at least 3 – 4 languages for the past 40 years. One...
by Hanifa K. Cook | Nov 5, 2008 | Music
Music is created to help people communicate with one another by an expression of words that come from the heart. Children can relate to music much easier than adults because they are spontaneous with their responses to experiences with the environment. When I use...