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Selamat Datang!

Of late I'm upto something worthwhile. Learning German. Learning something new always has its pleasures which I cherish. Like French(during TCS training) and swimming. But learning languages gives you a real kick as in when you start noticing the words in that language especially in movies, you start jumping up and down with joy. You turn to your next seat neighbor and say.. "You know what? Sprachen Sie is German" and he might turn around and give you a cold stare or at best say "Is it?". But what the heck, you still enjoy the moment. Coming to language classes there are always opportunities of humour where you can't just control laughing. Few categories of students:

1. Initial enthus:
These guys just are so much enthued about the language that they keep asking the teacher- What is this in French? What is that in German? At first the teacher is also excited about the student's curiosity but after a while, she gets irritated and starts saying - "We'll come to that Kumar. We'll be covering it soon". Needless to say they are the ones who point out obvious differences in the language in comparison with English. Whenever the teacher writes a new word on the board - they burst out and mispronounce it (Dei avangala pesa vidungada!). To me these guys are at best a pain in the ass.

2.Children of Wren and Martin:
For these guys, the world revolves around the order of Subject, Verb, Objects, Common Nouns, Proper Nouns, Present Continuous, Participles and Articles. (Idhellam enakku Englishlaye theriyadheda). The teacher might argue - English is not German, but this grammar guru of English is never satisfied. He is specially the one who runs and asks questions to the teacher after the class.

3.The US dude
He is the one who puts an accent in every word he talks. Not only in English, but he takes it to the language he learns. "Tu est" becomes "Tchchyyyyyuuu Yeh" and he brings in the style factor. Blame it all on the BPO call center trainings. Senthil Palanivel from Aminjikarai picks up the phone and says "Hi there! This is Shaun Paul. How can I help you"? Anyway, these guys contribute to the much needed fun in class.

4.Tam/Mallus et al
Waat is praaajact in Franch Maam? Waat is maadyool in German? (Dei modhalla Englisha ozhunga pesungadaa). I love these guys. The best stuff is "Un conversation entre Shiju Appukkuttan et Saravanan Pichaimuthu". I almost fall laughing off my chair listening to their dialogue, thankfully the class comes to an end.It gets even funnier when your friend sitting next to you starts laughing as well - the laughter chain reaction starts off. Even when the class is silent and serious, you both erupt laughing.

On a serious note, learning new stuff is good for your brain. It's scientifically proved that it kicks off new neurons and helps you make new associations or something like that. All the best.

PS: What's Selamat Datang?? (Ask someone who has flown with Malaysian Airlines.
If you don't find anyone, I assure you it's not that interesting though and you may choose to Google instead)