Aussie Wakes Up From Coma Speaking Mandarin | SBS The Feed

Summary

The speaker recounts a remarkable personal journey after waking from a coma, where he unexpectedly speaks Mandarin. His fluency improves dramatically, leading to participation in language competitions and representing Australia in China. His story is one of resilience and the unexpected benefits of a brain injury, showcasing the power of positivity and the potential for personal growth.

Takeaways

• 😨 The individual suffered a memory loss following a car accident where a truck crashed into the side of the car they were in.
• 🏥 They were in a coma for over a week, and the outcome was initially uncertain.
• 🗣️ Upon waking from the coma, they began speaking Mandarin, a language they had studied in high school but only to a basic level.
• 👨‍⚕️ The first person they spoke to after waking was a Chinese-looking nurse, which might have triggered the use of Mandarin.
• 📈 Their Mandarin skills improved rapidly, becoming more fluent and quick in their internal monologue.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 The individual's parents were surprised and initially frightened when their child spoke to them in Mandarin.
• 💌 They wrote a message in Mandarin expressing love for their parents, which their father had to translate.
• 🏆 The individual's Mandarin skills became a platform for recovery and led to participation in language competitions, representing Melbourne and then Australia.
• 🎓 After rehabilitation, they pursued further Mandarin studies at Melbourne University and quickly progressed.
• 🌏 The experience of representing Australia in China was described as amazing and tiring, highlighting their youth among competitors.
• 🗣️ Despite not considering himself fully fluent, the individual is capable of conversing in Mandarin at a level that allows for hosting a TV show and building relationships.

Q & A

What significant event from the narrator's past is mentioned in the script?

The narrator was in a car accident where a truck crashed into the side of the car they were a passenger in, resulting in a coma for over a week.

Why did the narrator start speaking Mandarin after waking up from a coma?

The narrator began speaking Mandarin after waking up from a coma because the first person they spoke to was a Chinese-looking nurse, and their internal monologue became Chinese.

How did the narrator's Mandarin skills develop after the coma?

The narrator's Mandarin skills developed rapidly after the coma, to the point where they could speak fluently and even represent Australia in a Mandarin competition in China.

What did the narrator write to their parents in Mandarin during their recovery?

The narrator wrote 'I love my mum, I love my dad, I'll get better' in Mandarin and gave it to their parents.

What was the narrator's initial reaction to their own Mandarin fluency after the coma?

The narrator was surprised and amazed at their own Mandarin fluency after the coma, considering it a fantastic recovery and a sign of overcoming challenges.

How did the narrator's Mandarin skills affect their family dynamics during recovery?

The narrator's Mandarin skills initially frightened their parents, who then felt the need to learn Chinese to communicate with their child.

What was the narrator's approach to continuing their Mandarin education after rehabilitation?

The narrator decided to take a unit of Mandarin at Melbourne University, which led to quick progress and participation in language competitions.

What was the narrator's experience like representing Australia in a Mandarin competition in China?

The narrator found the experience amazing and tiring, being one of the youngest contestants, but it was a validation of their recovery and language skills.

How does the narrator's Mandarin proficiency influence their personal and professional life?

The narrator's Mandarin proficiency has become a significant part of their identity, leading to opportunities in hosting TV shows and fostering positive relations between China and Australia.

What is the narrator's self-assessment of their Mandarin fluency?

The narrator does not claim to be completely fluent but acknowledges being fluent enough to converse with friends, host TV shows, and engage in basic manners.

What is one humorous anecdote the narrator shares about their Mandarin skills?

The narrator humorously mentions that their name 'Ben' means 'stupid' in Chinese, leading to amusing introductions when they first meet Chinese people.