Found in Translation
- Peter K F Cheung SBS
- Jun 7, 2024
- 3 min read
FADE IN
Act 1
Sitting at a desk with a textbook, a notebook and mobiles scattered around him, PETER is in thoughts.
PETER (V.O): Should I carry on revising my Korean? Or should I go to sleep now?
Taking another look of the stuff on the desk, Peter places them neatly and exits.
INT. BEDROOM - 07:00
Peter's eyes flutter open.
PETER (V.O): Alright, time to get back to learning languages.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I don't want to break my streaks. I aim to finish my daily practices of foreign languages other than Korean before 10:00.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): For the rest of the day, I'll focus on Korean. I've a 3-hour Korean class tonight and dictation is one of the action items.
Act 2
INT. STUDY - 07:15
Via the Duolingo App of his mobiles, Peter does his daily practice.
PETER (V.O.): I like to start off with Portuguese and Spanish. Then, Italian, French and German. And then, Japanese and Korean.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Initially, I got confused as to which language I was learning. Now, I don't have the problem.
Recalling.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Decades ago, someone told me that every German spoke English...
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Now, I realize that English is quite like German.
Peter taps highlighted words and phrases from time to time.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): For any new words or phrases, I just tap on them to see the translations.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I find the logic, customs and beauty in the languages.
It's Korean time.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Apart from written assignments, I need to submit an oral assignment to the teacher before noon.
Referring to a textbook, Peter works out answers in worksheets.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): But I've problems in understanding the questions.
As Peter taps Google Translate and uses its camera functions, we see translations on screen.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Technology can be a useful tool.
Anxiously checking the time, Peter recites a string of words about things in a study in Korean.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I think I can pronounce the words reasonably well.
Having recorded himself speaking Korean, Peter submits his recording online.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): In fact, it was an assignment that I'd have submitted last week.
Tapping Google Translate, Peter types: Assignment not submitted last week. And immediately we see the translation in Korean.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): I haven't learned the phrase in Korean yet, but I can still practise my typing in Korean.
Peter then adds his remarks in Korean to his earlier message to the teacher.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Done! But I still have written assignments to do.
INT. LIVIING ROOM - 12:00
Appearing, Peter sees his WIFE doing the written assignments diligently.
PETER: Darling, can you help me with something?
WIFE: I won't let you copy my answers!
PETER: Understood. But I've no idea what the last page of the worksheet is all about...
WIFE: Just wait. I'll translate them for you when I've finished mine.
Later, Peter approaches his wife again.
PETER: Can you translate it for me now?
WIFE: Yes, they're the summary of what you've learned in doing the exercises!
Act 3
INT. STUDY - 21:30
Peter inserts an AI drawing entitled "Found in Translation ..." to a draft.
PETER (V.O): As I'm not translating poetry, I won't get lost in translation.
Thinking.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): The translations via Google Translate or the Duolingo app or my wife facilitate my language learning.
Reflecting.
PETER (V.O) (Cont'd): Found in translation, I'm determined to learn languages to fuel my lifelong curiosity.
FADE OUT
THE END
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