Mandarin is a language that many Malaysians have picked up, regardless of their race. Given Malaysia’s reputation as a melting pot of cultural diversity, learning each other’s languages can be incredibly useful in many ways, especially when interacting with someone who speaks the language fluently.
In a recent video posted by @tyrayang, she attends a networking event in Kuala Lumpur on June 6th, where she meets an entrepreneur from Singapore, Mr. Raymond.
He was amazed by her fluency in Mandarin!
During the event, Tyra Yang is seen receiving a signed book from Mr. Raymond. As she thanks him for the book, she surprises him by speaking Mandarin, immediately impressing him.
Speaking to WORLD OF BUZZ, the 31-year-old shared that Mr. Raymond is a Singaporean entrepreneur currently living in Melbourne. She mentioned that he had written a book about the art and practice of neighbouring.
“The book is about civic engagement and volunteering for the local community. It was a networking event, and since I’m a Business Coach and Entrepreneur too. We got to know each other at the event where he gave me his book as a gift.”
She mentioned how Mr. Raymond was shocked and excited to find out that she could speak fluent Mandarin to which they continued to bond over their shared interests.
She was the only Malay student among her batch in Chinese school
Tyra Yang shared that she has been learning Mandarin since she was 8 years old. She attended a Chinese school in Kepong, where she was the only Malay student among her batch of 40 students per class.
“I remember starting to speak Mandarin fluently when I was 8. Due to the environment and community, I had to learn to speak Mandarin to survive and communicate with others. That’s how I learned.”
She advised newcomers looking to learn Mandarin, emphasising that practice and passion are key to mastering the language.
“Sometimes, environmental pressure forces you to learn. I had a friend who moved to Shanghai with no knowledge of Mandarin. Surrounded by Mandarin speakers, he pushed himself to learn so he could communicate with the community.”
You can watch the full video down below:
Watch on TikTok
Learning a new language can be enjoyable. It’s even more rewarding to see the surprise on people’s faces when they realise you can speak it!
Also read: Impressive M’sian Polyglots Speak 6 Languages Each Including French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian & More!
