Author: Dr. Cheong Kar Mee
Company: Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka
Profession: Education Industry
Position: Chinese Lecturer，Corporate Mandarin Language Accredited Trainer
From a Small-Town Girl to a Chinese lecturer and Corporate Mandarin Language Accredited Trainer— How Mandarin Shaped My Life
My name is Cheong Kar Mee, and I come from a small town. Losing my father at a young age left me feeling as though a piece of my life was missing. At that time, I had little expectation for the future and no grand ambitions. I simply lived each day as it came, following an ordinary routine.
Everything changed when I was in my first year of secondary school. That was when life brought me a teacher who would change the course of my life — Madam Tan Lew Fan.
Madam Tan Lew Fan recognized my talent for the Chinese language. In class, she would often ask me to read passages aloud and encourage me by saying with a smile, “You read like a news presenter.” Those simple words of encouragement sparked my passion for learning Chinese. Determined not to disappoint the teacher who believed in me, I worked hard and eventually achieved an outstanding result (A1) in Chinese in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM). More importantly, a seed of ambition quietly began to grow within me.
During my secondary school years, I wrote an article entitled “My dream of going to university” for the school magazine, expressing my aspirations for university life. Years later, that dream became a reality when I was admitted to the Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
From my bachelor’s degree to my master’s degree and eventually my doctorate, I have taken one step at a time, remaining committed to the field of Chinese language education. Along the way, I often heard people say, “There is no future in studying Chinese.” Instead of arguing with them, I chose to work quietly and let my achievements speak for themselves.
Today, I am a university lecturer and a Corporate Mandarin Language Accredited Trainer. Over the years, I have trained learners from a wide range of professional backgrounds, including lawyers, engineers, corporate executives, journalists, accountants, artists, insurance professionals, political figures, state government officials, and Royal Malaysian Customs officers.
Being able to help professionals from different fields enhance their competitiveness and broaden their international perspectives through Mandarin is one of the greatest achievements and sources of fulfilment in my career.
Beyond teaching, I am also passionate about writing. To date, I have published four books on Chinese language learning and research methodology. Among them, Mari Belajar Mandarin 来学中文 received the National Book Award (Anugerah Buku Negara) and was awarded a writer’s grant of RM25,875 by the National Library.
These recognitions are not merely acknowledgements of my efforts; they have further strengthened my commitment to promoting Chinese language education. In addition, I am currently preparing two new books focusing on workplace communication and Mandarin for sales professionals, which are expected to be published in early 2027.
To make Mandarin learning more accessible, I will also be launching three copyrighted Mandarin Micro-Credential courses through the university in 2027. Through online learning, these courses will enable learners to develop their Mandarin skills regardless of where they are or when they choose to learn, opening up greater opportunities for their future.
Many people believe that Mandarin is difficult to learn. I, however, firmly believe that Mandarin is more than just a language — it is a key that can unlock the door to a wider world.
As China continues to play an increasingly important role in the global economy, proficiency in Mandarin is no longer simply a language skill. It has become a valuable international competitive advantage.
My dream is not merely to teach more people how to speak Mandarin. I want to help more people gain greater choices in life through Mandarin — to connect with China, expand their professional horizons, and pursue their dreams on the international stage.
Looking back on my journey, I have come to deeply understand that while we may not be able to choose where we come from, the direction of our lives can be transformed by a great teacher, a single word of encouragement, or even a language.
Mandarin is not merely my profession. It is the force that transformed my life.
I hope to continue passing that force on to others — helping more people see a wider world through learning Mandarin, and enabling more dreams to take flight because of the power of the Chinese language.