Suzana has been in the Chinese education system since her primary school days. - Photo courtesy of Sin Chew Daily
In an interview with Chinese language news portal Sin Chew Daily, Suzana, now 41, shared her journey from being a student learning Chinese and understanding Chinese culture to teaching Malay to Chinese students and introducing Malay culture to them. Interestingly, Suzana's sister is also a teacher in an independent Chinese secondary school, currently teaching at Kluang Chinese High School. Suzana’s three children also attend SJKC Chi Sin.The first two to three years were particularly tough for her—getting zero on dictation tests, not understanding mathematics, and struggling to communicate with classmates. She often had to ask or answer teachers in Malay.
Many of her students find Malay difficult and are reluctant to learn, but Suzana encourages them through various methods. Suzana decided to pursue teaching in independent schools after her high school teacher mentioned the lack of Malay teachers there. She chose to major in Malay at Southern University College.