This Father’s Day, 34-year-old Benjamin Lee Chin Yang and his three-year-old son, Teddy, are capturing hearts by breaking cultural barriers over a plate of roti prata.
Through viral videos, Mr Benjamin documents a unique bonding exercise: teaching his young Chinese son to order food at local hawker centres using Tamil.
What began as a casual observation of Singapore’s diverse coffee shop sounds has evolved into a meaningful lesson in confidence, empathy and multicultural connection.
Wanting to push Teddy out of his shell, Mr Benjamin turned public dining spaces into a classroom. Rather than focusing strictly on linguistic perfection, the exercise was designed to build the toddler’s social assurance.
“Singapore is a multi-racial society. I want him to grow up understanding that different languages and cultures aren’t something foreign. They’re actually part of our everyday lives,” Mr Benjamin said.
The process behind the lens requires immense patience. Benjamin prioritises authenticity and fun over internet fame, operating under a strict “no force” policy, under which Teddy is never pressured into performing.
Behind every brief snippet are hours of chaotic bloopers. Benjamin studies the phrases online and consults friends to ensure accuracy, humorously noting that Teddy often picks up the correct pronunciations faster than he does.
When it came time to practice at a local prata stall, even though Benjamin felt anxious about inadvertently being disrespectful, Teddy approached vendors with fearless confidence, greeting them with “Hello, Annae!” (elder brother) and ordering in Tamil.
The immediate, warm reaction from the stall owner validated the effort. “If you speak to someone in their own language, they open up, and it just makes the whole interaction more sincere,” Mr Benjamin noted.
The videos have since resonated far beyond Singapore, drawing heartwarming engagement from Malaysia and India. Tamil parents have expressed gratitude, while non-Tamil families have been inspired to introduce their own children to neighbouring cultures.
Teddy’s mother Magdelene Hang, 33, watches their growing bond with immense pride.
“Seeing him learn simple Tamil phrases in such a fun and innocent way has been really heartwarming,” she said. “It reflects what makes Singapore special, being surrounded by different cultures and languages from a young age.”
Ultimately, Mr Benjamin hopes these archived moments will serve as a lasting reminder of love and curiosity for his son. Equipped to cross cultural boundaries confidently, Teddy grows up learning the art of building bridges with people from different backgrounds.
Kaamini Hashwin
