Как изучаете языки?

Внимание: это мое первое письмо на русском языке!

Как вы знаете, малайский мой родной язык. А я также знаю английский (C1) и арабский (B2). Я начал изучать русский с июля 2017 года. 

У моих друзей такие вопросы: 

«Ван, как изучаете языки? Для меня, это очень трудно!»

«Я хочу учить английский, чтобы когда приеду в Лочдоне, буду поговорить с лондонцами без проблема!»

Как учу языки?

1. По-моему, практиковать - это самое главное, даже если знаете только 100 слов. Можете начать с удобними вопросами, например по-английски: «Hello friends! My name is Wan. I am 21 years old. I am from Malaysia and studying in London. I love reading books.». Может быть, что у вас есть друзья, которые знают английский)).

2. Мне нравится посмотреть на видео на Ютубе; будь то на малайском, английском, арабском или на русском. Посмотрю на себе 5-6 раз за одно видео. Кстати, самый интересный русский мультик для меня - «Маша и Медведь»! Мне кажется, что у вас есть английский фильм, который он вам нравится?

3. Когда-нибудь, путешествю во страну, где на этом языке говорят. Например, в Испанию, если изучаю испанский.

Спасибо и до свидания!

Wan Amirul

City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

Tengkolok di Siberia (Pemilihan bahasa Rusia sebagai bahasa keempat)

Bismillah. Penulisan pendek sahaja kali ni.

“Wan, kau belajar bahasa Rusia sebab nak kahwin dengan orang Rusia kah?”

“Bahasa Rusia susah dan mencabar!”

“Nanti waktu Piala Dunia 2018 kau temankan kami boleh? Kerja kau ‘goreng’ je orang Moscow dan Saint Petersburg bila kami nak beli barang.”

“Kenapa bahasa Rusia? Kenapa tak pilih bahasa Perancis, Sepanyol atau Mandarin?”

Ayat-ayat di atas hanyalah beberapa persoalan dan respon yang sering aku terima apabila aku memutuskan untuk belajar bahasa Rusia pada awal tahun 2017 dahulu. Niat asal aku untuk belajar bahasa Rusia hanyalah untuk aku mencari sesuatu yang boleh dibuat secara produktif di London memandangkan aku menghadapi sedikit tekanan ketika musim sejuk dan faktor-faktor lain sepanjang November 2016 hingga Januari 2017. Tidak akan ku ceritakan secara terperinci kerana itu bukan tujuan penulisan ini dibuat.

Kembali kepada belajar bahasa, bukankah tidak lengkap pembelajaran sesuatu bahasa jika kita tidak kenal budayanya? Maka dari hari ke hari, aku cuba mempelajari budaya Rusia dan ini membawa kepada sebab pertama aku belajar bahasa Rusia iaitu:

• 1.       Persamaan budaya

Berbanding dengan masyarakat Eropah yang lain, masyarakat Rusia masih lagi mengekalkan hubungan kekeluargaan yang erat seperti masyarakat Melayu. Contohnya, peranan nenek dan datuk dalam sesuatu keluarga. Nasihat-nasihat yang diberi selalu dijadikan teladan untuk generasi seterusnya. Mereka juga membuka kasut sebelum masuk ke dalam rumah, seperti masyarakat Melayu. Walaupun

• 2.       Cabaran bahasa Rusia

Sebenarnya bahasa Arab jauh lebih sukar daripada bahasa Rusia. Bayangkan selepas 3 tahun belajar di SAS dulu baru dapat bercakap dengan fasih. Tapi tak dinafikan bahasa Rusia juga cukup mencabar sebab perlu belajar kaedah tatabahasa baru, bina semula kemahiran komunikasi dan lain-lain. Maka, seperti juga cabaran dalam belajar bahasa Rusia, begitu juga cabaran dalam kata kunci ketiga, iaitu:

• 3.       Jelajah rentas Siberia

Saya bukan kaki travel dalam erti kata bermusafir terlalu kerap, tapi sekali saya travel memang akan explore habis. Jelajah rentas Siberia merupakan jelajah yang sangat menarik – boleh mengambil masa 18 – 20 hari dari Moscow ke Vladivostok. Mana tahu bertemu jodoh dapat buat kawan baru, warga tempatan, dan lagi menarik sebab kita boleh bercakap dalam bahasanya bukan?

• 4.       Networking dalam kerja

Bab networking rasanya tak perlu tulis panjang lebar kot. Semua dah tahu dalam kerjaya nanti pasti kita perlukan network yang luas. Dan tak semua orang mampu bertutur dalam bahasa Inggeris.

Jika anda diberi pilihan untuk belajar bahasa baru, apakah bahasa tersebut dan mengapa?

Wan Amirul

17 Zulhijjah 1438 (08/09/2017)

Kulim, Kedah, MY

Why Learn Malay? (Mengapa Belajar Bahasa Melayu?)

(While I was writing this post, I was actually listening to non-native speakers delivering their public speech in Malay. Read more about the competition here)

As you guys may aware, my native language is Malay. Being a fan of languages, I researched on reasons I should learn other languages, of which I have summarised here.

Moving on to some reasons why you should learn Malay, so what defines the Malay language? 

It is an Austronesian language and it is spoken mainly in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Southern Thailand and Singapore. Different conventions exist in terms of defining Malay but I'd rather not elaborate in this article.

Reasons to learn Malay

1. Moving or travelling to Malay-speaking countries "Malayophones"
   
   
   Whether you'll be studying, working or even travelling to Malayophone countries, knowing some Malay is a bonus point. On a side note, immerse into more dimensions of Malaysia by staying in a homestay and mix with the locals!
   
   
   Don't forget to check out some cool Malaysian food as well :)
   
   

   

   Paddy fields, 1 mile away from my hometown
   near the AOR airport!

   

   Had my "cendol" - a dessert- 20 hours
   before my first flight to the UK

   
   

   

   Homemade "lemang" - glutinous rice cooked in bamboo sticks.
   Lovely, isn't it?

   
   
2. You've found (or looking for) your other half here
   
   
   Welcome to the club! (read: Malayophone family). With more people travelling and lower communication barriers thanks to the Internet, more people found their significant other at the other parts of the world, including Malaysia. Well, knowing your spouse's language and understanding his/her culture even more - it's just interesting, right?
   
3. Malaysian friends and connections
   
   
   Speaking of perspective, believe it or not, we Malaysians are impressed when we know that you can speak Malay. even a bit. And to me, it doesn't really matter whether you're speaking fluently or not because being fluent is a skill that needs practice through speaking, especially with the native speakers.
   
   
4. "I just enjoy learning languages!"
   
   
   Yes. And that's because languages connect people!

Bonus Tip:

Learn a Malay dialect. While it's more leaned towards spoken form than written, you can blend in more with the locals especially in some parts of Malaysia such as the states of Kelantan and Kedah. I'm sure Malaysians are well-acquainted with Mat Dan, who is originally from Bristol, England but currently residing in Malaysia and he speaks with a dialect spoken in Terengganu, a state on the east coast of Malay Peninsula.

Hit me up if you're planning to visit Malaysia soon! If you need to practise your Malay, or just want some tips on visiting Malaysia, contact me through italki and I'll be really happy to help you. (click here to sign up - no affiliation, just awesome)

See you later!

Wan

25 Ramadan 1438

Kulim, Malaysia

Transaksi Tanpa Tunai Rentas Sempadan

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Penulisan ringkas ini ditujukan untuk pelajar Malaysia yang pulang bercuti dari pengajian di luar negara dan juga warga Malaysia yang melancong di luar negara.

Transaksi Tanpa Tunai Rentas Sempadan - merujuk kepada cara mendapatkan kadar tukaran mata wang yang baik bagi transaksi kewangan tanpa tunai "cashless" yang tidak melibatkan mata wang tempatan. Contohnya, membeli barangan di Lazada Malaysia (dalam Ringgit) menggunakan kad debit UK atau menambah nilai kad Oyster di London (dalam Pound British) menggunakan kad debit Maybank.

Tips cukup mudah, iaitu: Pilih MATA WANG NEGARA BERKENAAN ataupun "continue without conversion". Kadang-kadang akan ada pilihan untuk membolehkan transaksi dijalankan dalam mata wang pengeluar kad (contohnya: pilihan untuk dicaj dalam Ringgit di UK atau dalam Pound di Malaysia) - abaikan sahaja. Hal ini dinamakan penukaran mata wang dinamik (dynamic currency conversion) - kadar tukaran yang dinyatakan sebenarnya ialah sekitar 5% daripada google rate, sedangkan bagi transaksi tanpa penukaran "without conversion" ialah sebanyak 0.5%, dan jika ditambah dengan caj bank (seperti kebanyakan bank UK), pun sebenarnya 3% maksimum. Masih lagi menguntungkan.

Untuk pembacaan lebih lanjut tentang dynamic currency conversion, boleh baca di sini (dalam bahasa Inggeris).

Berikut contoh bagi memudahkan kefahaman:

Pengeluaran wang dalam RM menggunakan kad debit UK.
"Continue Without Conversion" - hanya £21.78 tidak termasuk caj bank.
Jika ditambah 3% caj pun masih lebih baik, £22.43.

Untuk PayPal, pilih "Your card issuer's rate",
anda akan dapat tukaran wang yang lebih baik.

Transaksi dalam tiga mata wang berbeza.
Mata wang asal kad ini ialah Pound Sterling.

Kesimpulannya, jika anda berada di mana-mana negara, sentiasa gunakan mata wang negara berkenaan sebaiknya. Jika di Amerika Syarikat, gunakan USD. Jika di Arab Saudi, gunakan Riyal Saudi. Dan seterusnya.

Sumber pembacaan:
1) Why It Pays To Settle Up in Local Currency when Holidaying Abroad? (thisismoney.co.uk)
2) Using Plastic Overseas? Always Pay in Euros (even when it says 0% commission) (moneysavingexpert.com)
3) Here's The Simple Rule You Need to Know When Using a Foreign ATM (TransferWise)

Wan Amirul Wan Shamsir
20 Ramadan 1438

Euro Trip - Easter 2017: Reflections

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

One of the hot topics discussed among Malaysian social media users is overseas students' travels, especially those in the UK and Ireland. They were divided on this issue; some supporting it and others against it. While this issue has become a debatable topic, let's consider some of the key factors that explain the "behind the scenes" of their journeys before moving on to a few vital aspects that need to be considered before undertaking a Europe trip.

Behind the Scenes

1. Visa-free access
   
   According to the Passport Index, holders of Malaysian passports are able to travel to 156 countries without the need to apply for any visa in advance, with 119 of them without any visa at all which include the European Union countries and the United Kingdom. In comparison with other ASEAN countries, only Singapore and Brunei have this privilege while Thai and Indonesian passport holders need to apply for a pre-arrival visa for travel to the EU.
   
   Once I posted a photo from my recent Europe trip on Snapchat, to which a fellow international student in my university replied: "Do you need a visa?". So I responded, "Well, Malaysians have visa-free access to the EU." - shows how strong a Malaysian passport is.
   
2. Strong currency - compared to those coming from Malaysia
   
3. Cheap flights and transportation
   
4. Efforts to save $$$ for the trips

Budgeting For Amsterdam-Brussels-Paris trip (6 days 4 nights)

1. Accommodation = 23.00 € per night X 4 = 92.00 €
2. Food = 13.00 € per day X 5 = 75.00 €
3. Transportation = 48 + 25 +  19 + 12 + 8 + 6 = 118.00 €
4. Attractions = 50.00 € (varies according to plans)
5. Miscellaneous = 100.00 €

Total = 435,00 EUR (approx £375.00)

Bonus Tips for Language Enthusiasts

Learn some basic French (A2 is highly recommended). Like seriously. French people tend to use their language a lot and are very proud of it.

On Pickpocketing and Europe Travel Scams

On a serious note, please take extra care when in public, use common sense and try to blend in with the locals (in terms of clothing).

Adios Amigos

Wan

27 Sha'aban 1438 (24/05/2017)
City of Westminster, London

Review: Monzo Prepaid Debit Card

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Last week, I travelled out of the UK for the first time since my arrival. While we were advised to buy 250.00 € minimum for our travel expenses, I did the same. The only difference is that I loaded a sum of sterling into my Monzo debit card which had made my travel more cashless than before.

Wait, Monzo? What's that?
It is an app-based bank established in 2015 and is based in London, United Kingdom. Therefore, it does not have any physical branch unlike major high street banks. Previously known as Mondo Bank, its main product is the prepaid contactless debit card and it works by topping it up using existing debit card or by UK bank transfer through Monzo app which can be downloaded from Play Store or App Store (note: app-based, hence not possible when using PC). As of April 2017, its banking restrictions were lifted and we should see it rolling its full current accounts, faster payments services and proper debit cards in the meantime.

Signing up is simple; you have to download the app and fill in your personal details. To be eligible, you have to be a UK resident. For initial top-up, it has to be at least £100 (you can always withdraw it later of course) and is done through existing debit card or by UK bank transfer. Once the deposit is cleared, you'll be put into their waiting list which will be around 1-2 weeks before the debit card is posted to your address. You should change the PIN and the card is then ready to use!

UK and International Usage: Monzo vs Mainstream UK Banks
No significant differences are observed when using the card in the UK as most of the ATMs (cash machines) here do not charge for debit card transactions, regardless of the card issuer. Monzo's card is also contactless (limited to £30 per day) and can be used just like other contactless cards, including Transport for London services.

However, there are few major differences when comparing these cards in terms of non-sterling transaction charges. Monzo did not charge anything for non-sterling transactions, but it is not the case for major banks, where the latter usually charge around 2-3% for that purpose. In addition to that, Monzo uses MasterCard exchange rate which is in most cases better than normal currency exchange shops (mark-ups of about 1%).

The Pros (as at 18 April 2017)

• Trackable previous transactions on the Monzo app
• No non-sterling transaction charges making it an option for young people who prefer to go cashless
• Transparent - exchange rate is always displayed for non-sterling transactions
• User-friendly application
• Reasonable MasterCard exchange rate
• Non-Monzo users are able to transfer funds to Monzo accounts by using monzo.me link
• Efficient customer services

The Cons (as at 18 April 2017)

• Not always possible to transfer funds back to other UK current accounts, you have to retrieve cash and transfer it straightaway
• Monzo's team is still working on some features such as current accounts and Apple Pay - it might take some time
• No online banking on PC (but understandable since it is an app-based bank)

Using the card in local currency vs GBP (card issuer's currency)

Here's a rule of thumb: when using Monzo or other cards abroad, make sure it is charged based on local currency and not card issuer's. There are two situations which I'll explain below will help you understand the previous rule better.

Situation 1: Using Monzo (UK-based card) in Malaysian ATMs (say, Maybank). Let's say you want to withdraw MYR 700 from Monzo card. Some ATMs will provide a dynamic currency conversion (DCC) where it provides its own exchange rate, for example "You may be charged in GBP, 700 MYR = 120 GBP)". The subliminal issue in the DCC is it includes hidden mark-ups by the ATM provider, making ATM's exchange rate worse than MasterCard's. So it's always better to continue without conversion and let your card be charged in Malaysian ringgit instead of pounds sterling in this case.

Situation 2: Using Maybank (Malaysian-based card) in Spain. Always prefer to be charged in Euros instead of Malaysian ringgit (MYR) to reduce losses on your part caused by DCC which I had explained above.

In conclusion:

When in the UK, choose GBP (British pounds)

In Malaysia, choose MYR (Malaysian ringgit)

In Saudi Arabia, choose SAR (Saudi riyal)

In the EU, choose EUR (Euros)

In Russia, choose RUB (Russian rubles)

Verdict

Monzo is really useful to the extent that my friends are considering signing up for the account too! Even though there are areas that need improvement, I believe Monzo as a startup can progress further in the future considering high demand from tech enthusiasts, especially young people.

Gallery

Initial sign up page

Transaction records

Budgeting section

Non-sterling transactions

Sterling transaction

That being said, Monzo had played a role in changing people's spending behaviors while travelling abroad. So what change are we able to do in order to make this world better?

Adios amigos.

UPDATE 19/4/2017: The stand-alone prepaid debit card will eventually be phased out and will be replaced by current accounts after banking restrictions were lifted on April 7.

Wan Amirul Wan Shamsir

21 Rajab 1438H

18/04/2017

City of Westminster, London, GB

Personal Reasons to Learn Five Languages

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

History has shown that great leaders, scholars and personalities of the world had acquired proficiency in many languages. They were polyglots, in short. For example, Sultan Mehmed II rahimahullah of Ottoman Empire speaks seven languages including Turkish and Arabic (see here and here). The esteemed Shaykh, Dr. Muhammad Taqiyuddin al-Hilali rahimahullah, the translator of the interpretations of the meanings of Qur'an, also spoke three languages (Arabic, English and German - further info here). 

One of the benefits of being a polyglot is you can literally travel to more places with lower communication barriers. In some of the countries, English proficiency rate is smaller than in Malaysia therefore we cannot expect majority of their people to understand English as much as we understand it. We can therefore speak in their language without needing an interpreter. On the other hand, if you're kind of person who want to build international connections, should your non-English friends or your coursemates happened to visit Malaysia, you can explain the beauty of this country in their language. You can also teach them basic phrases in Malay too!

Now I will explain my personal reasons to learn five languages below.

1. Malay
   
   
   It is my native language which comprises of several dialects spoken in various states of Malaysia. Most of them are mutually intelligible though. Since I was born and raised in Kedah, I naturally picked up the Northern Malay dialect from my conversation with family members.
   
   
   Through 11 years of school, I had to learn formal Malay which is used in writing and official purposes. This has helped me gained proper pronunciation for standard Malay in the first place. I rarely use formal Malay in conversation except in debating, public speaking or writing articles. 5 years of schooling in Putrajaya had made me used to the colloquial Malay dialect spoken in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Truth to be told, some people even thought that I hailed from Klang Valley, judging from my normal Malay accent which I use daily. However I do converse in the Northern Malay dialect when I speak to friends from states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and north Perak, apart from close relatives.
   
   
   I believe that knowledge of the formal form of a language will aid in protecting it from being overshadowed by the colloquial dialects. No doubt, dialectal differences in Malay is unique and I love it! If you ever heard of Daniel Tyler (Mat Dan) who is originally from Bristol, United Kingdom, you'll come to know that he actually speaks Terengganu Malay and just recently got married to a local girl there. But don't get me wrong. Standard Malay is there to facilitate communication between people of various states in Malaysia (theoretically). In practise however, as I said above, natives can understand other natives even if they speak with a heavy Kelantanese or Kedahan accent.
   
   
2. English
   
   
   English is taught alongside Malay in Malaysian public schools during 11 years of schooling. As a lingua franca, it is widely used throughout the world, especially when it is the official language of the UK. It made sense for me though to practise and sharpen my English skills before starting my studies here six months ago. Apart from that, communication barriers are lowered by learning this language.
   
   
   Since I'm used to the American English, it was a bit difficult to understand British English. However, as time passed, I slowly acquired some British accents through series of conversations with the locals and watching relevant YouTube videos such as Papa Teach Me and English with Lucy. My advice for those who want to improve their conversational English is to speak with the natives because eventually you will imitate the way they converse, their accents, stresses in words etc.
   
3. Arabic
   
   
   Language of the Quran and the main language spoken in the land of Two Sacred Mosques, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
   
   I started learning Arabic in 2009 during my high school days. My initial aim of learning Arabic was to facilitate communication with Saudis during Hajj and Umrah. In the long term, however, it has also facilitated my memorization of The Glorious Quran, though it is possible to memorize it without having a working knowledge of conversational Arabic (except in reading rules) just like what happened to one of my juniors in KYUEM who has memorized the Quran by heart.
   
   I have two friends in the university who are native speakers of Arabic, Abdulrahman bin Nasser al-Abdulla and Muhammad bin Abdulaziz Aal Nasser who are from Doha, Qatar and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia respectively. Once I spoke with the latter after I finished with my Business Law examinations last January. That was my first time speaking Arabic with him. After I finished my words, he went on to ask me, "Are you from Riyadh? Because your accent sounds like someone from Riyadh!" while I've never stayed in any of the Arab countries before. It has motivated me to progress further in learning this language.
   
   [p/s: I speak with local Arabs with a mix of formal Arabic (75%) and colloquial Arabic spoken in Saudi (25%)]
   
4. Modern Hebrew
   
   
   In early 2015, I was triggered by a long message that was viral in Malaysia stating words which are translated into Hebrew as such and such. As I learned the basics, however, I know this is not true at all. This is because Hebrew and Arabic came from the same language family, the Semitic family, so both have to share common characteristics. Its grammatical structure is also quite similar to Arabic. Since I'm not really that committed in learning this language while struggling with my A-Levels, my knowledge of this language is still at the absolute beginner level. However, I am able to at least introduce myself by stating basic facts about me in this classical language.
   
   
5. Russian
   
   
   Massive country, long history, beautiful people. One of the languages of the United Nations, I decided to learn this language just recently to learn more about their culture, of which some I can relate to myself (e.g. family oriented person). I am planning to explore Russia one day on Trans-Siberian trip, so it would be sensible for me to learn their native language. Who knows I'll meet my other half during this trip? Maybe. Nonetheless I'm gonna work on myself first right now.

The struggle is real, guys

Okay so that's all for my latest blog post. If you have any questions regarding learning languages or related issues, please drop your comments below. Till then, adios!

Wan Amirul Wan Shamsir

18 Jumada al-Akhirah 1438

17 March 2017

Bayswater, London, GB