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The Lingo Kid

Look at what this kid has managed to learn from this one spot in the street, with no schooling, just out of sheer necessity (and then some)!

Here is another video with him younger and there are others as well:

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48 Comments and 8 threads

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  1. dsfoto says: 20
    June 8, 2009 at 10:26 am

    Simply Remarkable Thank You Teacher your avid student loves and respects you :smile:

  2. okay4now says: 19
    June 8, 2009 at 9:00 am

    Respecting everyone, is a good starting point for this world of ours.

  3. gfexplorer27 says: 18
    June 8, 2009 at 6:53 am

    OK, I’ll bite, I would like to know the word [peacock].

  4. Evan Owen says: 17
    June 7, 2009 at 8:45 pm

    Fantastique! Increíble! Wunderbar! Ardderchog! Amazing! :grin:

  5. leonard says: 16
    June 7, 2009 at 4:57 pm

    Good Day HotForWords…

    [colony] like alaska was :cool:
    :shock: Legal Definition
    United States Federal statute is probably the best legalistic definition of colonia, particularly for a discussion of US colonias. The code defines a colonia as a community that (1) is in the state of Arizona, California, New Mexico, or Texas; (2) is within 150 miles (240 km) of the U.S.-Mexico border, except for any metropolitan area exceeding one million people; (3) on the basis of objective criteria, lacks adequate sewage systems and lacks decent, safe, and sanitary housing; and (4) was in existence as a colonia before November 28, 1990. [10]

    [edit] Federal agencies
    It is unclear how the federal statue influences federal agencies’ definition of colonia. Each interested agency seems to define the concept for itself in spite of commonalities between definitions.
    :oops:

    :wink: :razz: :roll:

    [escort] or [EsKimo] of 3 continents :smile: :mrgreen:

  6. quiggles says: 15
    June 7, 2009 at 2:43 pm

    Dear Marina,

    Thanks so much for these great videos! Amazing people like this young linguistic wizard are one of the reasons I adore India and keep going back. The hanging gardens he mentions are probably those near Malabar Hills in Mumbai; a ritzy Bollywood enclave which makes the plight of children like your friend so heart breaking. That he has found such obvious joy in his talent for language is itself a miracle.

    Namaste, Q :smile:

    p.s. Enjoy the Laker game!

  7. matalexwolf says: 14
    June 7, 2009 at 6:31 am

    Incredible !!! When I visited Ankor Wat in Cambodia, there were so many kids and adults who could speak many languages as with this clever chap. Spent time teaching some of them English too because they were so keen to learn. They gave me Ankor history lessons in return, plus met all the family, friends and neighbours. Tried loads of yummy foods and tea, the whiskey looked, heavy so passed on that :)
    For three years now, I have sponsored a girl £10 per month. This has helped her to buy a bicycle, so no more walking eight miles to school!! Gives her paper, books and pens. She is saving up to go to the US to get her degree one day. Wants to be a doctor. I hear back from them occasionally, and she is doing really well, Geeking it!!!
    Worth a mention maybe, as a result of Land mines, £8 gives a child a prosthetic limb for six months (which enables them to walk!!) £16 gives an adult a prosthetic limb for life!!!! £1 goes a veeeeery long way, changes lives. So many bright people in need of assistance. Spending £3 on a pint of beer has not tasted as good since that tour!

    If you are feeling it, http://www.cambodiatrust.com/ – you really can change some ones life so DO IT!!!!! :grin:

    • hotrocky says: 14.1
      June 7, 2009 at 10:54 am

      This kid is magnificent! Hope the CIA doesn’t recruit him and ruin his life!

    • hotrocky says: 14.2
      June 7, 2009 at 10:55 am

      By the way, thanks for the link. This looks like a very good place to donate to.

      • matalexwolf says: 14.2.1
        June 7, 2009 at 12:08 pm

        hey hotrocky :)
        Thanks for taking notice! This trust do amazing work, I saw some of what they did when travelling through Cambodia. Money is used to train locals so as to be able to support and provide for their own. The centres are a real mind opener. Seeing people, young and old, given the chance to walk again was a real tear jerker for me. The look on their faces was priceless. Never seen a little bit of money go such a long way before.

        The importance of languages becomes surreal when the young are able to do as with Lingo Kid, in order for them to survive. Puts me to shame with my pigeon French and tongue twisting Thai!

        Be well, M:)

    • buzzword says: 14.3
      June 7, 2009 at 12:24 pm

      nice link. good cause. the world issue of land mines is a serious one. i’ve taught lots of kids who are immigrants to the u.s. cambodians being among them. the more people i meet from around the world the more complex my understanding of global politics become. i really respect your commitment to contributing to the well being of the girl you mentioned, good work.

      • matalexwolf says: 14.3.1
        June 9, 2009 at 7:12 am

        Hey BW,
        Thanks for your kind words :smile: Wish I could give more money and sponsor more children however my leap of faith is causing many cash-stration issues!!! One day, it will be possible to help more.
        You sound like you do amazing work helping so many, I admire that a greatly. Must be very rewarding for you.
        Having travelled, I too feel perplexed by global politics (or is that global religious politics?). It’s all fear and power where ever you go. Some countries have no real value for people at all. The UK govt. littered Cambodia with land mines which are still causing death or injury to so many. What I did notice most of all when with those effected, they only want to be given the opportunity not a short term charity hand out, so as to better them selves and others. The opportunity to walk again, read, study to get an education that can change their lives dramatically. They are all the same as you and me, just want independence and a better life. If more westerners did sponsor these children, the minimal costs invested ‘will’ be priceless in seeing what you have done in helping someone to change for the better.

        Be well M:)

  8. bsomebody says: 13
    June 7, 2009 at 5:07 am

    This was a very good M’Lady. Thanks for sharing such a cool snapshot with us. (And I was worried that all of that Hollywood garbage might take away your edge.)

    :cool:

  9. suprstock says: 12
    June 6, 2009 at 7:35 pm

    [blowing smoke up your a**]word/ phrase request please…

  10. stigmatasaurus says: 11
    June 6, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    Remarkable! But I’m afraid he sacrifices clarity for speed, like any good salesman.

    • hs4mm says: 11.1
      June 6, 2009 at 5:59 pm

      “… sacrifices clarity for speed … good salesman.” — so you would buy from a salesman you could not understand? Anyway, this guy is clear about what he is selling and the asking price; he is not selling the service of a tour-guide for the hanging gardens.

      • stigmatasaurus says: 11.1.1
        June 6, 2009 at 6:34 pm

        …true, true. One wonders, though, why he isn’t already at a telephone order “Fulfillment Center.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LImhTTFu4b8

        • hs4mm says: 11.1.1.1
          June 7, 2009 at 6:01 pm

          Good observation. I did not mention the following earlier because I did not want to dampen people’s admiration for this kid (Ravi) by drawing attention to negative things.

          The grandmother has been doing the same thing for over 45 years; and if one goes back to the Hanging Gardens 40 years from now, there is a good chance they will see this kid still doing the same thing. Why?

          I make some a general statements below; there always are exceptions.

          An American sees himself as an independent being who is free to define, seek and achieve his own happiness. This knowledge is a precondition for initiative and growth.

          An Englishman thinks his life belongs to the King; and if he achieves success by his own efforts, that is not good; success is only when something is given to him by the King (such as a knighthood). An Indian doesn’t even know that he has a life he can live on this earth — he sees himself as a pawn of the Gods, with nothing to do on earth except to pray to his God for boons.

          People living in Bombay can communicate orally in multiple languages from among Marathi, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, English, Farsi etc. Indians rarely interact with each other as equals — in most interactions, one person is the master and the other is the slave, and the language used is that preferred by the master. (A guy might be the master in one interaction and the slave in another — that’s why he would need to be able to converse in multiple languages.)

          (Speaking of stagnation, I once saw a TV show (maybe by National Geographic) in which they showed places in Africa where people engaged in agriculture using methods of biblical times!)

      • greatestpotential says: 11.1.2
        June 6, 2009 at 7:26 pm

        “I can sell anything on the planet (even other planets).”~ Captain Jack

  11. Jeorney says: 10
    June 6, 2009 at 2:18 pm

    I once learned a language BEFORE I knew any other to refer to – just out of sheer necessity!

    Oh, and you did too.

  13. hs4mm says: 8
    June 6, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    A Russian came to the bay area about 4 years ago; she went to an interview at a gym for a fitness instructor without knowing any English — and got the job because of her qualifications (and she maintains her own body very well; she is good looking too). She learnt English while conducting fitness classes and while instructing private clients. She now has a pretty good command of the English language.

  15. pennsyltucky9 says: 6
    June 6, 2009 at 11:04 am

    That’s amazing! Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

    It just goes to show that adversity can be overcome by the will to succeed combined with imagination, perseverance, and a positive attitude. Very cool, Marina.

    BTW, the word “shear” should probably be replaced using its homonym, “sheer.” Since it’s modifying “necessity,” the idea of “steep and difficult” is probably preferable to the idea of “cut off or trim away.” Just my $0.02, of course. :smile:

    • Marina says: 6.1
      June 6, 2009 at 2:53 pm

      Good catch pennsyltucky9! I’m still trying to master this darn English!! :-)

      • Chemikal says: 6.1.1
        June 7, 2009 at 5:16 am

        We all are trying to master it…
        English really is the “darnest” thing.
        As Ravi said, “now for after bigger I’m English little, little, little… Hallo, you want, one dollar, one dollar?… Little, little, I start like this…” :-)

        It’s funny, because when I say the phrase “master English” it sounds just normal, but when you say “master English” I think of whips and latex suits. :D
        When will you make a video showing us how you’ve mastered English, in the sense described above?
        It’s worth asking, even though the chances of that ever happening are little, little, little.

        Are you a fan of fans? Indian air conditioning is cool. :-)

      • Evan Owen says: 6.1.2
        June 7, 2009 at 8:52 pm

        Англиский — это очень трудно язык! :wink:

  16. wonkerine says: 5
    June 6, 2009 at 10:28 am

    a remarkable mind…hopefully he has access to proper schooling…he seems to have immense potential.

  17. matsrg says: 4
    June 6, 2009 at 9:38 am

    I agree, good job, Marina :grin:
    Best regards,

    MatsRG

  18. leonard says: 3
    June 6, 2009 at 9:28 am

    I like learning… :razz: 39 Steps [All Roads Lead To] Babylon [1988]
    …the new york dolls kick ass…

    :smile: good job, MARINA

    :smile:

  19. hs4mm says: 2
    June 6, 2009 at 9:22 am

    Lots of chaps like this in India, since way back when.

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