VIDEO: Watch the moment Sydney found out she had won
23 May 2024
At the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today, Sydney Engelbert thought she was there to collect her own trophy for regional winner of the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards, Southeast Asia & Pacific. However, when she took to the stage, Sydney learned that she has also won the global title for the Dedicated Teacher Awards with more than 66% of the public vote. What a fantastic achievement for this English teacher who began teaching just five years ago. Watch the moment Sydney found out she had won in the video above.
Sydney works at Keningau Vocational College, Sabah, on the island of Borneo, and followed her parents and other family members into teaching. She was born and grew up two hours away from the school where she teaches in a small village called Tambunan, one of the most rural areas of Sabah. As a child, she watched English cartoons, not only to entertain herself but also comprehend the dialogues, using them as a tool to learn the English language. Both the rural nature of her island home and the desire for effective communication went on to influence Sydney’s work as a teacher.
Sydney pursued her tertiary education at an education university in West Malaysia and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL). In 2022, she co-pioneered an online exchange programme with several vocational schools in Southeast Asia. Through the programme, students engage with peers across Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Indonesia allowing them to travel without stepping outside their classroom. This virtual exchange has not only enhanced their language skills but has also fostered cultural empathy and a deeper understanding of our interconnected world. Within two years of starting, the programme has benefitted almost 400 students and 50 teachers from participating schools.
Opening doors to a world beyond the valley
Sydney was nominated for the awards by the Head of Research and Innovation at her school, Dr. Sirhajwan Idek, who said: 'Having worked with Sydney since 2019, I can vouch for the transformative impact she has had on our students. I am immensely proud that Cambridge has recognised her dedication to teaching with this prestigious award. Her unwavering commitment to not only improving English language proficiency but also enhancing cultural understanding through this online exchange programme is absolutely awe-inspiring. She has not just taught; she has opened doors for our students to a world beyond this valley, igniting in them a passion for learning and connecting with others globally.'
Kanjna Paranthaman, Cambridge’s Regional Director for Southeast Asia & Pacific, said: 'Sydney is a very well-deserved global winner of the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards title for her work in expanding the international experience of students from the comfort of their own classroom. At Cambridge, we believe that the role of a school is not only to pursue academic excellence but also to motivate and empower students to be lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and productive global citizens. Sydney’s programme aligns perfectly with this as a teaching approach.'
In addition to a regional prize of £500 worth of books for her class, Sydney can now take part in a course of her choice on Cambridge’s Enrichment Professional Development programme as the overall winner.
The 2024 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards saw a record number of nominations from people wanting to thank a teacher: 14,840 nominations across 141 different countries, topping the previous record by over 1,000 nominations.