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Writer's picturePeter K F Cheung SBS

Aging Acumen & Language Leap


  1. FADE IN


  2. Act 1


  3. INT. LIVING ROOM - 08:45


  4. Surrounded by electronic devices, PETER taps an App.


  5. PETER (V.O): In my first Korean quiz, I was ranked 8/19.


  6. Having taped "Review", Peter checks his answers with focused attention.


  7. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Oh, I didn't get one pronunciation correctly...


  8. Checking.


  9. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Ha, through analysing the choices, I got the names of two subway stations in Seoul right!


  10. Checking.


  11. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Oh dear, an answer was wrong just because I entered a word that's already printed at the end of the sentence.


  12. Checking.


  13. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I got two more wrong answers because I didn't appreciate the contexts...I can do better.


  14. Act 2

  15. INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS


  16. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): So far, I've taken five lessons. Let me browse through the remainder lessons.


  17. We see Peter browsing Lessons 6 -18.


  18. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I believe I can manage it...They are no less difficult than the sections I'm learning in Duolingo.


  19. Pausing.


  20. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But before I prepare for this evening's Korean class, I need to maintain my daily streaks in Duolingo.


  21. Picking up his other devices, Peter begins to practise Japanese, French, Portuguese and German.


  22. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The other day, I was very happy to have learnt the German word "Das".

  23. Recalling.


  24. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): On the windscreen of my wife's New Beetle, there's a label with the slogan "Das Auto" ...Now, I know what it means.


  25. Listening to Italian words, Peter hears "Cantara".


  26. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Oh, it means to sing!


  27. A big smile spreads across his face.


  28. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I like the Italian song entitled "Cantara" a lot, but I don't know what it means until now.


  29. We see on screen that Peter has maintained his daily streaks.


  30. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Keeping these streaks going requires great discipline.


  31. Peter tapes his profile and completes it with the username "Pietro".


  32. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Yes, I'm committed to my language leap.


  33. Picking up another mobile, Peter tapes another profile and completes it with another username "Pierre".


  34. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I should have begun learning foreign languages as soon as I ceased active service 10 years ago.


  35. INT. CLASSROOM, HKUSPACE - 19:30


  36. Sitting in the front, Peter and his WIFE have their eyes focused on the big screen.


  37. PETER (V.O): I don't think I've got it...


  38. As the young STUDENTS around them are actively engaged, eagerly responding to the TEACHER's questions, Peter leans over to his wife, whispering.


  39. PETER: I've trouble in keeping up with the pace...


  40. WIFE: I know, you aren't as focused as me in learning Korean.


  41. PETER (V.O): True. In the Korean quiz, my wife was ranked 1/19.


  42. Pausing.

  43. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My primary objective of attending the class is to accompany my wife.


  44. Pausing


  45. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): My secondary objective is to have some communications with our son-in-law-to-be and his family.


  46. Later, we see students including his wife handing in worksheets to the teacher while Peter is struggling with his. Soon, his wife rejoins Peter.


  47. WIFE: Ha, the teacher has asked me to give you a hand!


  48. Later, we hear the teacher instructing the class.


  49. TEACHER: Next week, we'll do dictations again...


  50. PETER (V.O): OMG, testing my failing memory again...


  51. Act 3


  52. INT. LIVING ROOM - 20:45


  53. Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "Aging Acumen & Language Leap ..." to a draft.


  54. PETER (V.O): On professional and leadership matters, I believe I still have keen perception and intellectual sharpness.


  55. Thinking.


  56. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But I'm not so sure if I can become proficient in multiple languages.


  57. Reflecting.


  58. PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Anyhow, as an old language learner, I'm experiencing challenges and joys in the extraordinary process.


  59. FADE OUT


  60. THE END


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