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Club Med


English Patient

Schoolboy Dimitrije Mitrovic baffled his family and teachers in Serbia when he woke up speaking only English - despite never being taught a word of the language.

Mum Dragana says her son simply got out of bed one morning at the family home in Nis and began talking to her in perfect English.

Dimitrij - now 11 - is so word perfect that his family, friends and even his teachers can no longer understand him.

"One day, when he was only three years old, he just got out of bed and started to talk to me in English. I know some English so I could understand a bit but he was soon so good I had to get a translator to speak to him for me," explained his mum.

By the time he was five, Dimitrije was reciting entire Harry Potter novels to his pals in English and now he rarely speaks his mother tongue unless he has to. "I dream in English, speak it, and if stub my toe I'll curse in English too," he said.

Baffled medics believe Dimitrije may have acquired some sort of autistic talent for the language.

"He is absolutely normal in every other way and a very nice young boy. He just seems to think he's English," said mum Dragana.

English language expert Professor Tatjana Paunovic from Nis University explained: "It's fascinating. We have talked to him for an hour in English and he speaks the language better than we do - like he was born speaking it."

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Write your comment to this article here

  • Ong wrote on 25. 04. 2012 from yieuLayOMkUTSwl about "English Patient ..."

    Hi Britta,I think I might get the title of newest American in Vienna. 20 days here so far! I am maeirrd to a Bosnian but we didn't like there so we are checking out Austria. He had lots of family here! I speak almost no German but learn quickly. I know Spanish and Bosnian. I would love it if you could share your list with me. I want to get a jump start since I have heard over and over how hard it is to get a job here. Thank goodness for people like you who share their experiences. Austria and North Dakota are too darn similar so far!

    Reply

  • Judith Brownlee wrote on 24. 11. 2010 from Colorado, USA about "English Patient ..."

    Which kind of English? Australian? British? American?

    Reply

  • Paul Von Ward wrote on 19. 10. 2010 from Atlanta, GA - USA about "English Patient ..."

    The expression of a language not acquired by normal means, as in this case, is very consistent with several similar cases identified by the project known as the Reincarnation Experiment. The most plausible explanation for the acquisition of such skills is an inherited legacy from someone's previous lifetime (indicated by recitation of particular books). It is likely that he has also acquired other traits from the previous personality.

    Reply

  • Terry Mayer wrote on 18. 10. 2010 from USA about "English Patient ..."

    It is not amazing. It is the display of a recent past existence. Some cycle sooner than others. Sometimes, before the record is completely inaccessible to re-live components of it. Any of us may access our records, but it requires an electron, or great magnetic disturbance that upsets one's equilibrium. A severe illness resulting in high fever and delirium may induce the condition of memory, also.

    Reply

  • Joshua wrote on 18. 10. 2010 from Las Vegas, NV about "English Patient ..."

    That is simply amazing. I am in utter disbelief.

    Reply




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expert  talent  Professor  Dragana  Tatjana  stub  English  University  acquired  family  curse  autistic  medics  Paunovic  teachers  fascinating  talked  baffled  Dimitrije  unless


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