19-6-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) In a remarkable display of linguistic dexterity, a video showcasing two young Malaysians effortlessly conversing in nine languages has taken social media by storm, garnering widespread admiration and praise from netizens across the nation. The viral clip features Dhivenya from Penang and Thomas from Kuala Lumpur, two language prodigies who have harnessed their passion for learning to master an impressive array of tongues.
Dhivenya, the woman behind the viral sensation, shared the captivating video on her Instagram account on June 2, where she and Thomas seamlessly switch between Chinese, English, Malay, Tamil, Cantonese, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Italian, leaving viewers in awe of their remarkable linguistic prowess.
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The video quickly ignited a frenzy on the internet, with netizens not only expressing their admiration for the duo’s language talents but also engaging in heated discussions about their learning methods. Some even offered minor corrections when the polyglots employed certain languages, further fueling the online conversation.
Thomas revealed that he initially only knew Mandarin but realized the importance of English at the tender age of 15. Undeterred, he embarked on a self-taught journey, honing his English skills through YouTube videos, ultimately transforming it into his second language.
Thomas also shed light on his multilingual journey, recounting how he learned Cantonese by immersing himself in Hong Kong movies as a child, though he only began actively speaking the language at 18 when he entered the workforce. Growing up in the multicultural melting pot of Kuala Lumpur, he quickly mastered the dialect.
During the 2020 pandemic, Thomas dedicated 61 days to learning Dutch through books and television programs, and spent nearly six months mastering French, further expanding his linguistic repertoire.
Dhivenya, on the other hand, currently boasts proficiency in six languages: English, Malay, Tamil, French, Spanish, and Italian. She attributed her language acquisition to the opportunity of living in France, where she attended French classes almost daily for a year, laying a solid foundation for her to later explore Spanish and Italian with relative ease.
“Learning multiple languages will help improve my career prospects. I am planning to learn languages such as German, Chinese, Hindi, and Arabic,” Dhivenya shared, underscoring her unwavering commitment to continuous linguistic growth.
