By Tan Ee Loo

PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: Starting a new school in a foreign language is usually fraught with anxiety and fear.

This was, however, not the case for Korean pupil Kim Ye Rin.

Looking calm and fresh, the Year Six pupil at SJK (C) Chung Hwa (formerly known as SJK (C) Damansara) could not contain her excitement as she began her first day of school in Malaysia since her family moved here last September.

"I enjoy learning Chinese (Mandarin)," she said yesterday.

Ye Rin, 12, was the among the 100 pupils to start the new academic year at the school since the Education Ministry allowed the reopening of the school to house an under-enrolled one from Parit, Perak. Ye Rin's siblings, Ye Jin and Young In, who are also studying at the school, have been attending Chinese (Mandarin) lessons at a language centre in Mont Kiara.

"The Kim family is very passionate about the Chinese education. Hence, they chose to send their children to SJK (C) Chung Hwa after taking into account the history and location of the school," said Serena Tan, the children's Mandarin language teacher who acted as the interpreter.

Ye Rin's class teacher, Yap Bee Loo, said the children were able to quickly accustom themselves to a new environment.