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Language is a funny thing in Malaysia. We effortlessly mix Malay, English, Mandarin, and Tamil in daily conversations, yet some languages are still seen as belonging to specific racial groups.
That’s why when Teacher Jaslene, a Malaysian Indian woman, started speaking fluent Mandarin on TikTok, people were shocked.
“Wait… you can speak Mandarin?!”
“Your Mandarin is better than mine!”
“Trilingual queen!”
These were just some of the reactions flooding her comment section after her videos went viral.
But for Kanageswary a/p Muniandy, better known as Teacher Jaslene, speaking Mandarin is second nature. It’s the language she grew up with, teaches every day, and one that shaped her journey in ways she never imagined.
However, while she no longer teaches Mandarin, she still uses it daily at her homework daycare class, where many of her students come from Mandarin-speaking schools.
But how did she become so fluent? And what does she think about the reactions she gets? We sat down with her to hear her story.
Jaslene’s Mandarin journey didn’t start off with TikTok. In fact, it started way back in 1989 when her father made an unusual decision.
Instead of sending her to a Tamil or national school, he enrolled her in a Mandarin kindergarten, followed by SJKC Bukit Batu, a Chinese primary school. “I think that one decision single-handedly changed my life,” she said.
At home, things were just as multilingual.
“My dad speaks a little Mandarin, and all my siblings went to Chinese vernacular schools too, so I was constantly surrounded by the language.”
From student to teacher: Living her childhood dream
Unlike many people who stumble into the teaching career by accident, Jaslene always knew she wanted to be a teacher.
“I had amazing teachers who inspired me—Teacher Betty, Teacher Hajariah, Teacher Hou. I still remember their names, and I wanted to be like them,” she recalled.
Today, she’s living that dream by teaching English and Bahasa Malaysia at ACE Education Centre in Klang, where she runs a homework daycare class.
While she no longer teaches Mandarin as a subject, she communicates with her students in Mandarin to help them understand better, as most of them come from Chinese vernacular schools.
“They’re like family to me now. The best part of my job is seeing them grow, succeed, and coming back to visit me after graduating,” she shared while beaming with pride.
But while her students adore her, the outside world still reacts in disbelief when they hear her speak Mandarin.
‘You can speak Mandarin?!’
Despite Malaysia’s multicultural society, most people don’t expect an Indian woman to speak Mandarin fluently.
“It happens all the time,” she laughed. “People assume I can’t speak it, and then their jaws drop when I do.”
This reaction speaks volumes about how Malaysians still associate certain languages with specific races.
“I think it’s because it’s still not very common. And some people are just taken aback because I speak Mandarin fluently without an ‘Indian accent’.
“While the reaction to my fluency has been positive, it also raises deeper questions about race, identity, and language in Malaysia,” she added.
One of the most common misconceptions Jaslene encounters is that Mandarin should only be spoken by Chinese people — a belief she strongly disagrees with.
I think people should be proud when their language is embraced by others,” she said. “Language brings people together, just like food! Why should we limit it?”
Beyond her personal experience, she believes that Malaysian schools should encourage cross-cultural language learning rather than keeping students within their racial comfort zones.
We’re lucky that in Malaysia, anyone can enroll in a Chinese vernacular school. My dad’s decision to send me to one completely changed my life. If schools like SK (national schools) and Tamil schools offer Mandarin as an additional subject, it would be so beneficial for students,” she said.
At the same time, she acknowledges that racial divisions still exist.
“A lot of students still prefer to mix within their own race, unless they can all communicate in the same language,” she noted.
Dealing with online fame (and haters)
Going viral on TikTok has been fun, but like any social media figure, not everyone has been kind.
“I get negative comments, but I just block and move on, especially if they use foul language,” said Teacher Jaslene with a shrug. “I don’t want my students to see that kind of negativity.”
But overall, the support she received has been overwhelming. “I love engaging with my followers, especially those who are inspired to learn Mandarin themselves,” she said.
What’s next?
With her growing TikTok presence, Teacher Jaslene is excited to share more content ranging from language tips to behind-the-scenes moments in the classroom.
If she could give one piece of advice to her younger self, it would be this: “Be wiser. Be kind. Help others whenever possible.”
If you’re looking to learn from Teacher Jaslene herself, she can be contacted via here:
📍 ACE Education Centre Klang
📍 30A, First Floor, Persatuan Kim Mooi Klang, Jalan Bukit Kuda, 41300 Klang, Malaysia
📞 016-2808178 / 014-3828483
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