Urdu²

I grew up in a household where everyone spoke Urdu, but when I was 6 years old I didn’t, which made me feel disconnected from my family. It felt as if a part of me were missing.

It’s not as if I didn’t understand or know anything at all, I was just shy, afraid I would say something wrong or someone would make fun of me. Although people talked to me in Urdu, I used to reply in English due to nerves.

That is when my father realised, and began teaching me.

It started small; words, everyday questions. Urdu stopped becoming about memorising relentlessly, it became about taking it slow and actually understanding what I was saying.

My dad always encouraged me to speak, even when I made mistakes. I stopped worrying, feeling as if I had to be perfect, boosting my confidence.

Urdu filled the gap in my life. I stopped hesitating before speaking to anyone, and Urdu began flowing naturally.

After my journey, my dad realised there must be more kids that were in the same situation as I was, and that is when Urdu² began, a father teaching his daughter Urdu.

I am now 12 and speak much more confidently, understand more and enjoy speaking with my relatives. I’m still learning Urdu, but don’t feel embarrassed to speak it.

Learning Urdu doesn’t mean just memorising difficult grammar rules and vocabulary for a test, but to actually have confidence to speak it without it feeling daunting.

My story shows that if you want to learn, perfection isn’t key, persistence is. Keep learning, keep practicing and keep speaking.

Eshaal