NOORAZIALINY BT ABDUL AZIZ

Noorazialiny or Liny as she prefers to be called caught my attention when she handed me a story for the newsletter, "Quantum Quarterly". I had taught her a lesson about children with Down's Syndrome and she was moved by what she had learnt. This resulted in her penning a short story about a couple who had borne a child with such a condition; the gamut of emotions the mother experienced in raising her child and the sorrow she felt at losing the child in the end. The story sustained my interest. It was well-written with minimal errors but unfortunately she had sent it to me a bit late. Furthermore, it was 10 pages long, much too long to fit into the newsletter. Perhaps, I'd pass it on to the editor of the school magazine.
Like Ramona, Liny is also from Ipoh and Chinese educated. Both girls were from the same school, Ave Maria Convent and had known each other for ages. Unlike, Ramona, she was not a cheerleader but was in the school choir. She was also active in athletics.
She had tried to speak to me in Mandarin but I gently told her that as her English language teacher it would defeat the purpose if I were to do so. Anyway, I believe her Mandarin is much better than mine as I studied to read and write in Cantonese and not Mandarin. Many of the Chinese people say I speak Mandarin with a funny accent.
Liny tells me that she is the only one in her family who is Chinese educated. She enjoys both western and chinese music. When it comes to Chinese performers, she has a preference for S.H.E., Jolin Tsai, Wang Lee Hom and Jay Chou. She is also a fan of Dato' Michelle Yeoh, Britney Spears and Black Eye Peas.
If you look at the picture of Liny, you would definitely agree with me that this tall and slim girl is a natural beauty. Ahem! Methinks the city of Ipoh has managed to produce some good looking girls.
So don't be too surprised if you visit Sekolah Menengah Teknik Seri Manjung and happen to chance upon two Malay girls deep in conversation with each other in Mandarin. Liny tells me that there is another Form Five girl, a prefect, who is also conversant in the language. This to me is how learning should actually be, we should not limit ourselves where education is concerned. Learning another language always opens up more frontiers for us, be they physical or mental.