Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Spotty showersNews
Mikhail with mum, dad and cousin Mohsin Khan
Meet the whiz kid
Shelina Begum28/ 6/2004
IN many ways Mikhail Ali is like any two-and-a-half-year-old; he
adores the Teletubbies, delights in playing with other children and
sometimes drives mum and dad up the wall.
But Mikhail has another more extraordinary side. Though he's barely
out of nappies he can count up to 100, spell simple words and even
surf the net.
In fact his parents Oldham-born Shamsun and Tahir Ali are convinced
they have produced a boy genius.
The little whiz kid can write the alphabet in upper and lower case,
he recognise which letters are vowels, he adds any combination of
numbers up to 12, read simple signs, can spell words such as apple
and ice-cream and uses the Internet to browse his favourite sites
which included CBeebies.
Said Shamsun: "At round about one-and-a-half Mikhail seemed to be
very slow in staring to talk so we bought books and started
teaching him letters and numbers. He started picking it up really
quickly.
"I just thought he had a great memory.
"He then started reading numbers to 100 and can even read them
backwards. He spells words, that he doesn't even know the meaning
of.
"When he started nursery it came to our attention that he had
mastered words that other children didn't even know about. That's
when we realised we had a very bright child.
"He's not much of a chatterer either, but when he's not talking he
is learning new words and working out how to spell all the
time.
"When we are driving he starts reading signs on the motorway, he is
just not happy if he's not reading and spelling and counting
numbers."
Mikhail is far advanced than children his age who are just
beginning to learn the alphabet while most children starting
primary school are still learning how to add.
Shamsun and husband Tahir who run an Internet marketing company
said they don't know who Mikhail gets his talents from.
Said Tahir: "His teachers are amazed at his abilities.
"I like to think he gets his talents from me, but I believe he has
learnt a lot from practicing daily as well as being naturally
gifted."
Mikhail's parents are constantly buying him new games and CD-Roms
for his computer to keep him entertained.
"He likes educational games, but once he's mastered them, he wants
something a bit more challenging, but fun at the same time," said
Shamsun.
"Even though he loves learning he still likes to play with other
children.
"At the moment we just want him to learn at his own pace and as for
the future we don't have any plans for him."
The couple also have a four month-old daughter, Tasmin, but say its
too early to tell if she will follow in her brainy brother's
footsteps.
Got an opinion you want to share?| Card | BT Fee |
| Virgin Credit Card | 2.98% |
| Capital One Low Rate Balance Transfer | 1.7% |
| Capital One Low Rate Platinum | HASH(0x143c7914) |
| Capital One Fixed Rate Card | 0.0% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| Platinum Exclusive Loan | 7.8% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 8.6% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 8.7% |
| Lloyds TSB | 8.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
5.50% |
|
PRINCIPALITY BS e-SAVER |
5.35% |
|
ANGLO IRISH BANK Easy Access Account Issue 2 |
5.25% |
|
FIRST DIRECT Everyday e-Saver |
2.75% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER Online Tracker |
4.75% |
|
BRADFORD & BINGLEY eSavings 6 |
4.60% |
|
SAINSBURYS FINANCE Internet Saver |
3.50% |
|
ALLIANCE & LEICESTER eSaver - Issue 2 |
5.00% |
|
POST OFFICE Instant Saver |
3.75% |