 I was born in a
small peaceful village town of Tambunan, Sabah, Malaysia, - a town predominantly inhabited
by the indigenous Kadazandusun tribe. The town itself is situated at about 3000 feet above
sea level, with a mild mountain weather. It has the most variety of bamboo ranging from
the smallest "sumbiling" to the giant "poring" species (Sorry, I
cannot recall their scientific names). Bamboo is a necessity item used by villagers as
building, farming and hunting materials or tools.
I started my primary
education at Jean Emmett English School Lahad Datu in 1970 and thereafter to St. Theresa
Primary School Tambunan from 1974 to 1975. My Secondary education commenced at St. Martin
Secondary School, Tambunan and thereon to SMK Gunsanad, Keningau. I enrolled to Gaya
Teachers Training College in 1982 and graduated in 1984. I was stationed to SMK Majakir
Papar in January 1985. Here I met Agnes a sweet Sino-Kadazan lass. We were married by
April 1985! A year after, we had our first daughter and another one in December 1987. We
were young and happy then but life was quite demanding and finance was low. The urge to
search for improvement in life was the thus the fundamental aim.
I started studying part-time in the evenings after class and sat
for my STPM examination in 1987, an exam which I never attended after I quit Form Six back
in 1982. I obtained a modest result, which enabled me to qualify both for the Yayasan
Sabah and State Scholarships. My last paper was an ELTS (University of Cambridge’s
English Language Testing Service) organized by the British Council In Kota Kinabalu. By
September 1988 I was already enrolled at University of Wales, College at Swansea, U.K.
I graduated in July 1991, and started my
teaching career at St. Mary Secondary School, Papar. I taught English to fourth and fifth
formers until Jan 1995 in which I was transferred to Keningau Teachers Training College
with a new position as an English Language lecturer.
Being a lecturer is both challenging and
demanding. As a complete new comer to Teacher Education and especially TESL, I was quite
at loss and spent rigorous hours updating my knowledge on the current Teacher Education
system. I was especially indebted to my industrious and restorative colleagues who had
enlightened me on almost all aspects of Teacher Education related matters.
Due to my interest in pursuing my insight on latest TESL
Methodology, I would like to confabulate to any individual sharing the same interests and
ambition. I would especially appreciate meeting and exchanging ideas with fellow TESL
educators all around the world. I had included here my email address if in case you would
like to contact me. Adieu!
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Keningau Teachers Training College,
Locked bag 11, 89009 Keningau, Sabah,
MALAYSIA.
Email: [email protected]
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