iNtErEstiNg gAmE~

played this particular game in my "Culture, Cultural Adjustment & Identity" class some weeks ago.. we were discussing about bilingualism and how it affects our brain.. meaning to say, whether studying 2 languages at the same time or studying them one after another is better..

for example.. in singapore, we study english and chinese at the same time.. and probably for someone in say.. japan.. where they studied japanese language first when they were young and only studied the english language later in their teenage years.. which method of studying makes the brain more efficient and effective in remembering the vocabulary of the language?

so our tutor picked a few of us to play this game.. this is how it was played.. first she picked 7 different items: hat, stapler, pencil, pen, water bottle, marker and a duster.

and then she picked 2 students with 2different backgrounds..
merel, who studied the dutch language and english at the same time and Lee, who studied Korean first then English.

then, each of them had to do 3 test.
Test number 1: say the names of these 7things in one language (e.g: all in english)..
Test number 2: after tt, the sequence of the objects are changed and they have to say it again in the other language (e.g: all in korean).
Test number 3: Then lastly, the sequence have to be changed once more, and they have to say it this time in alternating language, (e.g: korean,english, korean, english.korean,english, korean)

For test1 and 2, those who studied the languages one after another took a shorter time, as expected. But surprisingly, those who learnt 2 languages simultaneously took a longer time for test no.3 because supposedly, the area in the brain in which the two languages overlap are greater than someone who learns the languages at different time. Hence, when you have to say it in different language, you have to filter out and since this area is larger, you take a longer time.

Steph sabo-ed me and told the teacher i would like to try the game so there i was standing in front of the items.. but wait.. i had a problem.. i din know the words for stapler, marker and duster in chinese!!! u know.. i always thought my level of chinese is quite good, well.. until now.. i was kinda ashamed when i asked my tutor if i could change some items because i do not know their names in chinese.. but, how many of you know the names of those in chinese? not many of you know too right? cuz we usually say their names in english.. =p

so in the end, my 7items list was like this: scarf, watch, comb, hat, pencil, pen, water bottle.
I took 3.4Secs for test1 (in english), 4.1Secs for test2 (in chinese) and 5.4Secs for test3.
I was the fastest among all for test3 liao (which kinda contradicts the theory that the timing for those who studied 2languages at the same time should be slower.. haha.. well.. her theory always contradicts..) well.. fastest until Tino played as well.. damn! haha.. how abt you all? Can you beat my timing? give it a try.. its really fun! But do note you are not supposed to know the sequence of the items b4 ur time starts.. because then you can prepare in your brain.. which is cheating!

oh btw, i do know now that stapler is called 订书机(ding shu ji), duster is.. 黑板擦(hei ban cha)? marker is dunno liao.. 马克(ma ke)? wahaha..

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on another note, just to inform any1 who cares.. i'll be back in Singapore on 7th of August~ =)

well.. not tt im dying to go back.. i guess i will miss this place alot.. *sigh* many nice memories.. many nice friends whom i will not see once i return, and the independent life which was full of freedom..

well.. since there's no running away, i shall make full use of the time i have here now.. so b4 i go back.. i am going to conquer MT FUJI!!! yeah! then NIKKO!! and lastly.. HOKKAIDO!

oh, and you do know i have limited time here in Japan, so do let me know what souveneirs you want.. if you do not tell me.. don't complain or regret it when i pass you yours~ =p