It’s Teachers’ Day today, 4th September 2026. Teachers’ day used to be on the 1st of September but I can’t remember when they changed it to the first Friday of September. Anyway, my drama students gave me a Teachers’ Day gift thus I am motivated to blog today.

Way back in 2002 when I finished my National Service, I applied to be a teacher and enrol at NIE.  The trend at that time was to apply for NIE education or sign on into a uniformed group. I don’t like the regimental lifestyle, so applying for NIE seems like a good pathway. I had distinctions in Malay and English for my O levels and a polytechnic diploma holder. So I guess why not. 

I remember clearly, I applied online to be a language teacher with strong interest in the Malay language. I got a rejection email a few months after that with no reason mentioned. I remember too that at the bottom of the email says, “This is an electronic generated letter. No signature is required. Annie Yang.” But I did not give up. I applied again. A few months later, another identical rejection email. I tried again, four more times after that. On the 6th rejection email, there was a personal signature from Annie Yang.  I tried again and again. A total of 12 times. And on the 12th rejection email, with a second personalised signature by Annie Yang, I gave up. So there goes my ambitions (then) to be a teacher. 

It is said that, if things don’t happen after putting in effort, then it is not meant for you and there will be other opportunities that will be better. 

Still I was fated to teach. Not in the same capacity as an NIE trained language teacher. Somehow I ended up teaching theatre art. Honestly it has been fun most of the time. In Malay theatre, not only did I got to teach acting skills, I got to teach other fun things as well.

It was so much fun. Thinking back, I am so lucky and grateful that I did not get to become a language teacher. i don’t think I will enjoy it now. Main reason number 1, the progress and evolution of the Malay Language is not going the direction that I believe it should be going these past years and still going further and further from the Malay Language that I believe in. It’s just too bad but that’s how the way it is. Sometimes I feel that I am lucky to be a mortal and I will not be around to see the demise of this language. But the higher ups believe that this is the way to go, so… whatever…

Main reason number 2. Hmmm… They say, when you have nothing nice to say, be quiet. So I shall. Even though it is prevalent now, I am too old to argue about it. Maybe you can meet me and I say my views verbally to you. That too, if you really want to know.

Anyway back to teaching Malay theatre. Sadly, in my short 2 decades career, I have seen 3 Malay Theatre groups closed down. 3 times I saw myself jobless and looking for other doors to enter. It has come to a point where I have migrated to teaching English Drama. Though both have “acting” as a core topic, they are 2 different things. Theatre is more holistic while drama concentrates more on acting. But ok la. A job is still a job. Better than nothing, though I miss teaching Malay theatre where we could roll around practising Silat, dance and move around to the beats of the Rebana and dissecting the nuances of the Malay language in scriptwriting.

Bottom line is. I am now an English Drama teacher who is sorely missing the wholesomeness of Malay Theatre.

I hope Mr Lawrence Wong gets to see this post. 

Dear Sir, you mentioned that we should now be more ready to embrace the National Language, but schools and institutions are closing their Malay theatre groups, ie. spaces where we can practise the Malay Language and performing arts. A place where all races can practise speaking and interacting in Malay (of course you will need some basic understanding of the language). I hope this can change and we bring them back. But it is ok if it doesn’t, because as mentioned in the earlier part of this post, if it is not meant to be then something better will come. 

Nevertheless, huge thank you to my new English Drama students. Even though my command of the spoken English Language is super rusty, I have been enjoying my time here. Looking forward to more productive years as I look over my shoulders to see how far the Malay Language and Theatre has left me to head into a different direction.

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