“Mom, I’m speaking English right now”
The other day, my eldest daughter Hikari (7) and eldest son Zen (5) were playing in the living room. As they built something with blocks, they naturally chatted in English. But in an instant, Hikari switched and said, “Mom, I’ll explain this in Japanese now.”
I was so struck by how effortlessly she switched that I couldn’t help asking, “Right now, are you thinking in English or Japanese?” Hikari simply replied, “I’m not thinking about it. I just decide when I speak.”
That feeling of “just deciding when I speak” is exactly the skill I see children at international schools in Malaysia naturally developing every day.
An Environment That Nurtures a Language “Switch”
It’s been three and a half years since we moved to Penang. At the school Hikari and Zen attend, lessons and even break-time conversations are mostly in English. However, I often see Chinese kids mixing in Cantonese or Mandarin, and Malay kids using Malay when talking with friends.
One day, Hikari said, “At school, the rule is to speak English, but during breaks, I talk with my friends in a secret language.” That “secret language” turned out to be English mixed with Malay words or Cantonese greetings. Through play, children are practicing choosing the right language for the person they’re talking to.
This is a much more advanced cognitive process than we adults might imagine. Brain science research shows that children who regularly switch between multiple languages tend to develop stronger executive functions (like planning and attention control). When Hikari said she “wasn’t thinking about it,” it was proof that this process has become automatic.
Choosing a Language Sharpens Your Thinking
If we had stayed in Japan, the process would probably be “think in Japanese, then translate to English when needed.” But children at international schools in Malaysia first decide “which language to use” based on the situation, and then start speaking.
For example, when Zen is playing at the park. If a Malay neighbor asks, “Apa khabar?” (How are you?), he immediately replies in Malay, “Khabar baik” (I’m fine). Right after that, he’ll switch to Japanese to talk to a Japanese mom friend at the same playground, saying, “Hey, look at this!” This speed of switching isn’t just language ability—it’s “situational judgment” itself.
I’m confident this skill will be invaluable no matter what field they pursue in the future. In business, people who can instantly read the other person’s position and culture and choose their words accordingly are truly valuable.
How Parents Can Support
Still, as a parent, I do worry sometimes. Especially about maintaining Japanese. At home, we basically stick to Japanese. However, if Hikari and Zen start speaking in English, I don’t force them to switch back.
What’s important is not to pressure them with “you must speak Japanese.” Language is a tool for communication, so I feel that creating an environment where children can choose the language they’re most comfortable with ultimately promotes overall language development.
We also considered sending them to a Japanese supplementary school, but for now, we’ve decided it’s enough to read Japanese picture books on weekends and watch Japanese TV shows together. Rather than forcing “Japanese time,” increasing natural opportunities to encounter Japanese seems to be less of a burden for the kids.
The “Language Sense” That Only Penang Can Foster
Within Malaysia, Penang is especially rich in multilingual environments. On this island, where Chinese, Malay, Indian, and expat families (including Japanese) all mix, it’s normal to hear three or four languages in the streets. Children are constantly choosing “which language to speak” not just at school, but in daily life.
For example, when ordering at a food court. If the vendor is Chinese, she’ll say “Kopi, please” in Chinese; if Malay, “Kopi, please” in English. Hikari can now judge which language will work just by looking at the person’s appearance and vibe.
This “power to choose a language” goes beyond mere language ability—it cultivates an attitude of trying to understand others and a proactive approach to communication. The benefits of education migration aren’t just about tuition fees or curricula. Lately, I feel that the greatest value lies in naturally acquiring these invisible, “living skills.”
(Exchange rate as of May 7, 2026: 1 MYR = 39.79 JPY)
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