Pratham, the Englishman

Ok unlike other Indian Parents, we DID NOT START SPEAKING to Pratham in English. Actually even when we were off on our recent trip to California, we did not think that we should teach him conversational English either. But the little fellow has picked up English so well… We are sure he will be perfect by the time he reached the primary section(ie grade 1 – 4 for non Indians to understand)

Today as he lisps and speaks his baby sentences, we only sometimes not not correct him (yes two nots there).

His first English sentence was “HAPPY NEW YEAR” this was taught by Kris for the New year 2009. But the teaching ended there when he shyed out and didn’t say any word to the aunties and uncles he met around the time.

But today his English is as fluent as it can be allowed.

Like the other day he asked me “ Mama, are your listening? Or are your hearing?”

Or then his favourite phrase now “ Don’t tell me Wrong!!!” he says this when we try to tell him that he did a wrong thing!

When I get him home on the scooter and overtake a four wheeler(say car) “ Mama, Our Scooter is First, Scooter is a Winner, Car is Second”

When he wants to request us anything ” Papa I Ask you to give me ----“ or “Mama can you please make me some omlette” (that she prepares well) or “ Papa Can you please repair my building block” (Yes Papa can mend anything!)

OR when he doesn’t want to wake up in the morning “ I (am) not going to school today!”

On the road he identifies the Stetter, the Tanker, the Tipper, the Bulldozer and the tempo. And yes he loves Cranes!

One more thing, The moment he steps out of the house, he speaks only in English! Now, people would think that he has been instructed to do so, but friends, no, we have not.

The moment it is someone who is not a family member , the prattle with them is in guess what – English. (Its so funny to see him speak to the house maid in English, while she talks to him in Kannada)

Well, its not just us, but many other “Aunties” and “Uncles” agree that Pratham’s English is far much polished than any other child at his age. I will update this post with more English lines from him.