TORONTO -- A Calgary woman who learned English by watching TV gameshows as a child has had a dream come true by appearing on 鈥淛eopardy!鈥� Tuesday night.
Kristyna Ng, who came to Canada from China as an eight-year-old, credits shows like 鈥淛eopardy!,鈥� hosted by Canadian Alex Trebek, with helping her learn the language.
Now 30 years later, she can check an appearance on the classic gameshow off her bucket list.
鈥淚t's been a very important part of my life, 鈥楯eopardy!,鈥欌�� Ng told 麻豆影视 ahead of her appearance on the show.
鈥淢y English skills were non-existent, so very, very basic -- let's say nil. It is a great tool to learn about our culture, our history and international relations.鈥�
鈥淛eopardy!鈥� was on TV five nights a week when Ng was growing up and she faithfully played along to improve her English.
鈥淲hen I first got started鈥� I wouldn't get any right but I would keep listening and practicing,鈥� she said.
Ng went on to earn a master鈥檚 degree in public administration and is now a corporate strategist for the City of Calgary.
Last spring she took the 鈥淛eopardy!鈥� online test and from that was invited to regional auditions in Seattle. She was then asked to a show taping in Los Angeles in December 2019, which aired tonight.
After a slow start, Ng鈥檚 game improved after the first commercial break when she took the lead.
Topics on the show included the Iron Curtain, pop culture, actor Danny DeVito and time zones.
Ng鈥檚 game got better when she got one of two daily doubles, but was later penalized $4,000 for 鈥渇lipping syllables鈥� in her pronunciation of the surname of Polish statesman Lech Walesa.
Going into the final 鈥淛eopardy!鈥� round, Ng was in second place with $9,200, just $600 behind the leader, only to be pipped at the post with the last question.
Ng claims winning was not the goal and getting on the show was gift enough.
鈥淣ever would I have imagined being eight years old coming to Canada, learning to speak English and then making it all the way through. This is a blessing,鈥� she said.
And being in the studio with Trebek was even better than she imagined.
Trebek, 79, has hosted 鈥淛eopardy!鈥� since 1984 and last year revealed he is battling stage four pancreatic cancer.
鈥淲hat an inspirational story and an inspirational Canadian,鈥� she said.
鈥淗e was so humble, so genuine.鈥�
To prepare for the show Ng studied subjects she considered her weaknesses: sports, music, opera and American history. And she knew she had to be fast with the buzzer.
鈥淢ost of the contestants know most of the answers most of the time so this (clicker) was make it or break it,鈥� she said.
She credits 鈥淛eopardy!鈥� with broadening her general knowledge, too.
鈥淚t really allows me to be a more global citizen beyond just speaking English,鈥� she said.
鈥淭o know that I could come here as a first generation immigrant and integrate into society and be a fully participating Canadian and to appear on the show with one of the greatest Canadians of all time is a miracle.鈥�
Ng, a seasoned traveller, revealed on the show that she has visited around 80 countries, with Egypt her favourite so far.
