Jayne Whyte's Portfolio

It is a very very funny experience learning a new language, I so much love languages, cultures and meeting people. I guess that was motivated my studying Sociology and Anthropology at the university. The real act of learning is quite an experience, a very interesting one for me. Years ago at secondary school, (and guess who was my principal-Hajia Hajo Sani-I still look up to her though) being in the midst of northerners, I found myself learning the Hausa language. And you know the thing they say about learning a language-you learn the curses first!.

One day during school hours, I shouted to a fellow student some words that I stupidly put together “Barkin Kama Duri Saniya” meaning-“your mouth is like the buttocks of a cow” and i started singing “Berom su na chi gindin gere”. Yeeeee!!! she screamed. I am going to report you to Senior Mariam (-who was the labour prefect then) and she reported the incident better than CNN, BBC or my local champions NTA could. But luckily for me senior Mariam called me and invited her fellow classmates who asked me to repeat what I said, I did and they all laughed. I guess laughing at me was enough punishment- and I was told never to repeat that particular statement again.

Another funny incident happened in a local catholic church where I had my university education, I love singing-well, I sing through my nose-but I don’t care. I sang as loud as I could “Udo diri chineke n’elu kasie elu, otito diri madu n’ile ha na so chukwu (meaning-“Peace to God in the highest and glory to men of goodwill”). Well the heavens almost opened, not until it heard what i was singing. Anyway, when the lady sitting beside me gave this stern look, I had to listen to what the congregation were singing and then I learnt it-at least after embarrasing myself.

It is so amazing that after all the funny incidents in my trying to speak a language, I still show so much passion in learning more. The more languages I speak, the closer I am to people from other cultures and the more embarrassment I will be associated with…….well, I don’t mind.