Page 16 - 022021 PULSE@FASS e-Bulletin

Issue no. 2 | 2021

BY YAP SHEAU WEI
GURU CEMERLANG BAHASA CINA
CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL PETALING JAYA
DEPARTMENT OF CHINESE STUDIES (1998-2001)

I graduated from the Department of Chinese Studies,
Universiti Malaya in 2001. I then followed the path of an
educator and became a secondary school teacher.

I have always believed that my time studying in the
department provided me with the most valuable
experience of my life. The Department of Chinese
Studies is not only the oldest Chinese Department in
Malaysia but is rich with plenty of academic resources. My first year at the University in 1998
The Unforgettable

Memories of a FASSian

More importantly, the relationships we forged between grades and pointed out important aspects of academic
students and lecturers, and with other students as well, learning that I should be aware of. I would not have
remain a special memory for me. obtained my honours degree without her guidance.

My bond with the department was forged even before I Also, there was Dr. Fan. She took care of both our
enrolled myself into the university. In secondary academic studies and well-being. Students like me
education, a Chinese language teacher who inspired would often come to her office for tea and even went to
my passion for the Chinese language was an alumna of her house for dinner. One time before midnight, she
the FASS’s Department of Chinese Studies. Also, my drove us from her house to Prof. Datuk Dr Lim Chooi
Form Six Chinese language teacher was a student of Dr Kwa’s house for durians. Dr Seng Yan Chuan was
Fan Pik Wah, who would later encourage me to apply to another lecturer who often worried about students not
the department. being able to fulfil our basic needs. I vividly remember
how she allowed me to tutor her children to ease my
Today, I long for the days as a student of the financial burden while I was studying.
Department of Chinese Studies. One of the main
reasons is the enthusiastic laoshi in the department. Apart from the hectic class schedules, we also
Their doors were always open and they would always participated in a great variety of activities. The
be there when you needed them. I admired Dr Cheng department offered many academic and non-academic
Geik Nai the most as she paid extra attention to my programs for us. We held academic seminars with the
“I long for the days as a student of the Department

of Chinese Studies. One of the main reasons is the

enthusiastic laoshi in the department. Their doors

were always open and they would always be there

when you needed them. ”

16 | Pulse @ FASS