What The Kids Are Into These Days

Now that they are older, though, they can go to school on their own.)

Where do you eat lunch? What is your favorite food?:

At home. We really like the fried chicken our mom makes. (When Trân and Trúc mention this, they both look really excited as if they are imagining their mom's chicken right now.)

What language do you speak at school? How do you say "Hello" in your language?:

At school, we speak Khmer and Vietnamese. (Vietnamese is the common language in schools and workplaces in Soc Trang and around Vietnam. However, since many Khmer people live in Vinh Chau and throughout what is now southern Vietnam, schools also offer Khmer classes. According to Trân and Trúc, they are the only Khmer-speaking students in their class, so they don't attend Khmer language classes. Trân and Trúc said this is okay, though, because their sister, mother, grandmother and most of their aunts, uncles and cousins all speak Khmer.)

To say "hello" to someone the same age as you or younger in Khmer, you can say សួស្តី (pronounced sueuh-suh-dye). To say "hello" to someone who is older than you in Khmer, you can say ជំរាបសួរ (pronounced chum-reep-sueuh).

To say "hello" in Vietnamese, you can say xin chào (formal), just chào or alô (informal). 

What are some common kids' names at your school?:

Đạt, Khang and Trang. (Trang is often a girl's name, whereas Đạt and Khang are often boys' names. There are Vietnamese and Khmer names like Thành that are associated with any specific gender.) What are some common kids' names at your school? 

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