AUG 2, 2004
CALLIGRAPHYMalay girl wins award for Chinese calligraphy
RADYIATUL Mardyiah Othman could not recognise a single Chinese character when she started Chinese calligraphy lessons, but that did not stop the 11-year-old from winning a silver award in an international calligraphy contest last month.
And the Lakeside Primary pupil managed that after barely six months of lessons.
She joined her school's Chinese calligraphy club in January this year because she was interested in learning Chinese, and was encouraged by her school. She and her brother, Rahman Syukri, 10, are the only non-Chinese members.
Her father, Mr Othman Nontak, a taxi driver, told her to grab the chance 'to learn more about Chinese culture', said Radyiatul, who speaks English and Malay.
She and Primary 4 pupil Goh Lin Long won silver awards at the Peace Cup Painting and Calligraphy Artistic International Allied Exhibition 2004, held by the Culture Bureau of Zhengzhou, China and Blagovescensk, Russia.
This is the first time the school has taken part in the contest, in which children from eight countries, including Korea, Australia and Japan, participated.
The school also picked up a bronze award and five consolation ones at the competition.
Teacher Ma Shaowen, who is in charge of the school's calligraphy club, said that Radyiatul had to remember the Chinese characters by heart as she did not understand the language. But she added that Radyiatul is enthusiastic and hardworking, and has improved very quickly.
The youngster goes for two-hour lessons at the school once a week and also practises for up to an hour at home every day.
She wrote 'zhong zu he xie' - meaning 'racial harmony' - in her winning entry.
The Primary 5 pupil, who also has an older brother in Secondary 1, said she can now recognise simple Chinese characters like that for 'hua' (flower), and say a few simple phrases like 'zao an' (good morning).
Radyiatul said she does not find it difficult writing Chinese characters as her teacher explains what they mean.
Asked how her friends reacted when they heard she was learning Chinese calligraphy, she said: 'They were surprised because they think Malay people can't do Chinese calligraphy.'
Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.
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