Humans have a unique way of conveying their thoughts and feelings. Through the dialect they learned in their community, they are able to express themselves coherently. Since language is the most powerful tool for verbal communication, learning a different language is like engaging yourself with another culture. You get to speak without a barricade and you get to establish a strong bond with who you are talking to.
If learning our dialect, mother tongue, or universal language is hard enough for us, then imagine learning around 10 or more languages – it will make you insane!
Meet Thuch Salik – the Cambodian boy who uses his knowledge on different languages to sell souvenirs like fridge magnets, bags, fans, flutes and postcards to tourists at Ta Prohm temple, Siem Riep, Cambodia.
His techniques of selling help him earn their daily living. And when customers don’t know how to use souvenir instruments like the flute, he teaches them free-of-charge.
However, Salik’s mother Vanna wants him to focus on his studies more so he could reach his goals. She hopes that Salik would get a proper education since she, herself, was an orphan and failed to finish school.
The boy can speak more than 12 languages such as Cantonese, Mandarin, Malay, English, Thai, Japanese, Korean, German, French, and Spanish. Based on the South China Morning Post video, he can also speak Filipino!
In fact, he knows how to say, “Ate maganda, bili isa wala pera, wala jowa, wala anak.” (Hi there, pretty lady! Buy this item, even though you have no money, no current relationships, and no children)
Watch the video to see him speak different dialects:
Because of the tourists who come to visit their town, he got to learn different languages and use it as his technique to entice customers to purchase.
If this kid put a lot of effort to learn these languages, we can too! Give your brain a boost and learn international dialects, establish newfound friendships and explore other cultures.
But of course, when you adopt a different culture and language, you should never forget your identity as Filipinos.
InqPOP!/Nicole Ortega
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