Lately, I’ve been seeing something really inspiring on TikTok, students from Sabah taking on the challenge to speak in English. Watching them, I felt a strong sense of pride and connection. Why? Because once upon a time, that was me.
I grew up in Borneo(Pendalaman Sarawak to be specific), where speaking English fluently wasn't always the norm. Many of us were shy or afraid of making mistakes. English sometimes felt like a “big city” language, something for the textbooks, not our everyday conversations.
But deep down, I knew that learning to speak English would open up more doors for my future and it truly did.
How I Learned to Speak English
Let me tell you this: I wasn’t fluent overnight. In fact, my English journey was full of mispronunciations, awkward pauses, and moments where I wished I could disappear after saying something wrong. But I never gave up.
Here’s what helped me:
✅ Practice with friends who already spoke English even if just simple conversations.
✅ Watch English movies and listen to how the actors talk. Subtitles were my best friend in the beginning!
✅ Repeat and mimic what I heard this helped me sound more natural over time.
✅ Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. This is the biggest lesson of all.
Why Do We Need to Learn to Speak in English?
Bahasa Malaysia is our national language, and our native dialects like Kadazan, Dusun, Iban, Melanau, and many others are our pride and identity but English is a global key.
Here’s why it matters:
Education: A lot of higher education materials, online courses, and university programs are in English. If you’re dreaming of studying abroad or even learning new skills online, English is your door.
Career Opportunities: Many jobs today, especially in international companies, require you to speak or write in English. Even local companies are starting to use more English in meetings and documents.
Global Connection: The internet, international news, and social media are mostly in English. If you want to connect with the world, English helps you to understand and participate better.
Personal Growth: Learning a second language boosts your brain. It improves memory, problem-solving skills, and even helps in learning other languages more easily.
Confidence & Communication: When you can speak in English, you’ll feel more confident in interviews, presentations, and when travelling. It gives you the courage to step outside your comfort zone.
Why It Matters for Us in Borneo
Some people might say, “Why should we focus so much on English? Isn’t our own language enough?” Of course our native languages and dialects matter, they are our identity, our heritage. But being able to speak English adds to our strength, not takes away from it.
Whether you're from a small kampung in Sabah or Sarawak, your voice matters. And your voice deserves to be heard in Bahasa, in your native dialect, and yes, even in English.
To All the Brave Students on TikTok
You are AMAZING.
I know it's not easy to put yourself out there, especially on the internet. But your courage is inspiring others including me, a working mom from Borneo who once struggled to say a full sentence in English.
So keep going.
Don’t worry about your accent. Don’t wait for perfect grammar. Just keep talking, keep learning, keep shining.
Kita Boleh!
To my fellow Borneo people, students, moms, dads, everyone, you can speak English too. All it takes is the willingness to learn, the bravery to speak, and the mindset that mistakes are part of growth.
Start today. Start small. One word, one sentence at a time.
From one Borneo heart to another, I believe in you.
Love,
Aya of Borneo Working Mom 🧡
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