PapiMami

Friday, January 07, 2005

Learning New Words

We have been teaching Yiyi new words every day. Now she can say duck as 'duck-duck', moon as 'moo', star as 'ste', tree as 'ti', flower as 'fa' (Cantonese), and many more simple 1-syllable words.

But she has a way to memorise these words...

One day....

Papi : Yiyi, look at this. *holding a Malaysian currency note*

Yiyi : *look*

Papi : Agong. (Referring to the picture of the Malaysia's first YDP Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman)

Yiyi : Agong.... Agong....Agong.....Agong......

Papi : Yes, Agong.

Yiyi : Agong.... Agong....Agong.....Agong......Agong ....Agong....

And she can go on, and on, and on....

Yesterday......

Mami : Yiyi, what is this? *holding a picture education book*

Yiyi : *look, puzzled*

Mami : This is a bug. Can you say 'bug'?

Yiyi : Bug!

Mami : Yes, so clever.

Yiyi : Bug...bug...bug...bug...bug...bug...bug...

Mami : This is a cake. *point to a picture of cake* Can you say cake?

Yiyi : Bug...bug...bug...bug....

Mami : No, this is a cake. Cake.

Yiyi : Bug...bug...bug...bug...bug...bug...bug...bug...bug...bug...

And she went on and on and on,...

We have even teach her how to 'gong xi, gong xi', and we are now teaching her how to say 'Gong Xi Gong Xi'. Whenever she heard a Chinese New Year ads on TV, she would hold up her hands, clasps it together, and wave them up and down, which would sent GrandPa and GrandMa laughing out loud..

Maybe later I will teach her to say "Uncle, Hong Bao Nah Lai" ;)

gong xi : a Mandarin greeting in Chinese New Year to congratulate or to wish one's well. Normally, one would hold a fist on the left, and the right palm covers the fist, and then wave both hand up and down.

Hong Bao Nah Lai : Mandarin meaning 'please give me an ang pow'.