Aina Mannor

At 11 years old, living in Singapore, I was deeply fascinated by the idea of being fluent in multiple languages. As a foreigner in a new country, I longed for a genuine connection with the people around me. I decided to take a course in Mandarin at the American school where I was an elementary student at the time. After three months of daily curriculum, I was finally able to strike up a casual conversation. I have clear memories of the event. I was talking to an unfamiliar Chinese couple who were leisurely soaking in the pool next to me. After chatting about this and that, I turned around and smiled to myself, patting the water excitedly with my hands in accomplishment. Communicating with people from a culture so different was a big thing for an 11-year-old.

That experience taught me to ignore the frustrations of learning a language – when you wish you were fluent but you’re not quite there yet, when you’re not sure you’re making progress – and instead to focus on the fulfilling aspects.

Upon reflection, I came to appreciate that language learning isn’t merely about fluency; it’s about the ability to connect with others and understand their unique perspectives. This is what drove me to learn and become fluent in several languages since my childhood.

At Talkindeed, I’m thrilled at the opportunity to bring people the joy and fulfillment that comes with learning a language and developing the ability to communicate with people from all walks of life.