Learning a new language – an attitude problem

Recently I started with learning Dutch, local language here in Belgium. Until I came here, I never had even the slightest idea of learning a foreign language. Well, most of us would probably not think of it either. What else was more important if you know English? That is the mind set of our people. But I realized as soon as I arrived here. There is more than just English in this world. And there is more world outside US, Canada or UK.

When we arrived here to work at an international company, neither did we have the necessity nor the time to learn anything. The only annoying part was when you had to sit between two Belgians or French and hearing them talk in their language. You feel like going mad. Not for the language but for running between their mouths and trying to grasp at least a word. Finally, when I left that company and joined another, I felt how difficult it is to manage without knowing the local language. First of all, it is already difficult if you want to search for a job in non-English speaking countries. People living in such countries can understand my feelings. Secondly, if you happen to be lucky, you cannot stay lucky. No matter whatever you are special at, not knowing the language is a big black mark on you.

When I shifted job, I came to work in an international IT services environment. I was feeling safe. We had a French, a Polish and a couple of locals, which enabled English to be our common language. But my happiness didn’t last for more than two years. When I was back in bench, I was always the last one to be considered for any new assignment because of my known disability. Finally, I got settled with another English speaking environment. Then I made an idea to learn French. Learnt the language for 2 years. But of course, one cannot expect you to speak like locals immediately after this. Especially, when you don’t practice at work or at home.

Soon that came to an abrupt stop, when I had to come back to India due to personal reasons. I was back in Belgium last year with another job. With the same luck this time too. But the sad story was that I began to work at Dutch (Flemish) part of Belgium. French is no good here. Then I started to study Dutch and I’m continuing now. But this is getting a little better because of the intensive training that I took plus the advantage of living in the Dutch part itself.

All through my stay here, I had seen one obvious thing. We, Indians, have this very idea of English being a superior language (of course, when you come out of India). I had seen a lot of situations where when there are more than 2 Indians in a meeting with or without foreigners, they start speaking to each other in their mother tongue (or Hindi). I don’t mean to blame it. But one should understand how difficult it is for the others to follow. Even if you are partly right, you cannot argue back saying “If they do it, why not we?”. Be a Roman when you are in Rome. Have some courtesy when you are in middle of strangers. It so happens that people here host parties, birthday functions and other occasions where they invite foreigners. And forget within few minutes and start talking in your local language. And there is a sudden silence in them. I really feel pity for them. Luckily I’m with a nice team here where everybody understands my position and speak in English during discussions. But when it comes to going out for a dinner or lunch, I choose to drop out. Not for the fact that they might talk in their native language. I don’t want to force them to speak in English, just because I’m there.

Very few Indians (may be 2 or 3) learnt French with me. It was always a problem with us during the class hours or while it comes to practicing the language. I include myself, as I also have the same syndrome. We hesitate to talk in the crowd in the new language just because we cannot tolerate making mistakes. We don’t realize that it is just learning and practicing. And you are expected to make mistakes when you speak., else there is no better way to correct it! In my impression, it’s only we, Indians or people from the Indian subcontinent, that feel making a mistake in something that you are new to, is a shame. It is a matter of your prestige and reputation. But why?! You don’t scold a child when it makes mistake talking. As a teacher, you don’t scold your students if they do a mistake. But it is something to tease and giggle when the same mistake was done by you or a colleague or a friend or a partner. Strangely, however horrible one never quits to talk in English :).

And if at all you made an attempt and landed with a trouble, you always want to cover it up. Best cover up for a mistake is nothing other than accepting it. But we don’t have that generosity. We always want to either blame others, or provide an illogical explanation where you may even not need to say anything. It is inherited from our work culture. Making a mistake at work, in India, is something to be punished, or made fun of. There we start covering it up. It is finally brought into our blood that we even want to cover up our mistakes to our kids.

It is a billion dollar question on whether this attitude would change. Few learn it easily. And a few, in a more painful way.

Endhiran, My Verdict

I’m not a Rajini fan. Let me tell that upfront. And this movie is no wonder, a block buster in Indian Cine World. As the entire blog world had already discussed the story, I’m not going to talk about that.

It was a big drama to see the movie at ours. It was no where screened in Belgium. In fact, I had plans to go to Paris if no other options were turning up. Finally, Ayngaran.nl saved me and we did a 1 hour drive (instead of 4 hours ;) ) to Eindhoven (NL), to watch it.

I watch movies quite often. Most of them are Tamil movies, with a few exception of Alfred Hitchcock’s or a real Hindi block buster. To me, it’s enough if I don’t have to think too much and just sit back and enjoy. It is more important that the movie satisfies my taste that moment. Since I don’t do any research in movies, nor my intention is to place Indian movie in Worldwood (?), my review is just from the view-point of a normal movie fan. With Endhiran, this was more than just saying “accomplished”. I enjoyed, more or less, every bit of the movie.

I had always heard from my north Indian friends that, they think Tamil cinema and especially, Rajini, as most “illogical” things. I still remember… once that when we were talking about Actor (?) Vijay, my friend asked, “Oh is it? Is he more overacting than Rajini?”. You should have seen my furious face then. J. I hope this movie had gracefully shattered those thoughts. Rajini had done his part exceptionally well. While everybody talks about the villain Rajini, my favorite is Chitti. I really wish I could have a robot like him next to me… in one word.. Sweeeeeet. Especially the scene when Chitti and Vasigaran get ready to attend Ash’s bday party. There is no wonder why still people like him. The innocence of the robot is well portrayed. And the old actor in Rajini is not dead. Thanks for the villain role to have reminded that to us!

Ash… Frankly, I don’t like her too much. Don’t know why; was never impressed with her acting. It’s very well possible for Trisha or Tamannah to have played the heroine part. Luckily not. At least for this movie, it would be hard to replace Ash (or someone of her kind). Not for acting… again. I don’t know if she had acted in the movie. But the grace and her dance went along nicely. A rich look for the movie.

My first impression of the movie itself was that, I didn’t find it in “Chennai standards”. Meaning, the locations, the characters (especially Ash and her costumes), the sets, Vasigaran’s house … nothing resembled a normal Chennai lifestyle. Of course, the exception of the train, people in the Home, etc. prevails. I myself got it confirmed with the Ash’s birthday scene. I’m not sure if regular Chennai girls dress/party that way.

The Graphics… I wouldn’t say it placed us in Hollywood… but definitely a good step in the right direction. I enjoyed the last 45 minutes. The problem with our people is that, we had got used to idea that the fight scenes should expose the hero’s talent in jumping over the walls, kicking 10 men in 1 punch or beating a train in a race. And our mindset placed us in the position that such giant human wheel or spherical human formations etc are fit for only Sci-Fi movies from Hollywood. This makes it difficult to accept, or rather only laugh, when we see Rajinikanth or Vijaykanth movie containing such fight sequences. When it happens in Hollywood, it is a “hey wauw”.. and and when it happens in Kollywood it is “graphics pa”. J I don’t know whom to blame here. Is it our conventional directors who made us think “this is heroism” or is it simply us. (My husband had the same feeling. He felt it was more graphics and sound than real action; I told him that he would have liked the movie, if it had been enacted by some Hollywood hero directed by Steven Spielberg or James Cameroon). Honestly, I appreciate all the efforts behind the art and graphic works for this movie. With an exception of very few places, it was difficult to say whether it was a set or real.

Music is of class A. No doubts. (And for all those people feeling that the BG or the songs are only of loud sound and not of any tune, you better watch Hollywood Sci-Fi movies and tell me which one had a romantic duet or a lullaby in middle of hot robot fight). In my impression, the movie has the right music that it should have for its genre.

My Takes

Ø Comedy is something that I expect from Rajini’s movies. That good part was greatly missing in this one.
Ø The mosquito scene… I’m sorry.
Ø Danny? Dummy
Ø Everybody talks about the third role. I didn’t find anything special in that. Did you? To me, it was just the scientist trying to fool his creation. What else was “interesting”?
Ø Villain character is good. But not the villain Robot. I felt that the whole team forgot that, in spite of the feelings that it has, it is still a Robot and not a man (while the rest of the Robots, accompanying the villain, acted like a Robot and not like a man J).
Ø No punch dialog Rajini… man, he rocks. To be true, the Chitti had out-witted the scientist. I felt the latter more stupid.

My Mosts:

Scenes: Places where Chitti irritates Vasigaran for Ash.
Dialog: Speed 1 Terra Hz, Memory 1 Zetta byte.

In all, a must watch if you want to see Tamil cinema getting into another dimension of good movie making.

(I wish I could also write something on the criticisms on this movie. Especially, to scold the people who enjoy scolding Sun Pictures or Rajini. I will come up with one soon).