Blog-based online journals for English As A Second Language learners

The research on the use of blogs as online journals was carried out with a group of twenty five Form Four students in a secondary school in Kuantan, Pahang. The aim of the research is to find out the effects of blogs as a tool in developing writing in English as A Second Language. The instruments include questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and analysis of the blogs content. The research covered students’ perspectives of blogs as the medium for online journals, the effectiveness of blogs as a tool to assist students’ writing skill and to what extent blogs could help students to enhance their writing skills. From the findings, it is discovered that there is a positive impact on the development of students’ writing throughout the research as gained through the instruments. From the research, the students claimed that blogs is an interesting medium for them to write their journals as compared to writing in their log books. Blogs also could help them developed their writing skill in English Language; and through the various features in blogs, students were able to write more effectively

Breaking Language Barriers: Centre For Modern Languages Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al Sultan Abdullah Excels At HE ELCA 2023

7 December 2023, Tanjung Malim - The Centre for Modern Languages (CML) at Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) has distinguished itself by organising the participation of thirty-two students in various online competitions at the Higher Education English Language Carnival (HE ELCA) 2023

A Bibliometric Analysis and Future Research Directions on Language and Literacy

There has been considerable research conducted in the area of language and literacy focussing on themes such as reasons and factors, performance and achievements, ways, and methods for improvement, as well as risks and problems. However, an overview of a worldwide depiction of the research conducted in this area is hard to find. Thus, this research aimed to ascertain the global developments and trends in language and literacy over time by analysing three main levels of analysis: sources, authors, and documents. A bibliometric analysis was utilised to examine a final sample of 1,463 articles published in approximately the last 22 years (2000-2023). In carrying out the analysis, the bibliometrix R-Tool was used and the metadata from the SCOPUS database was retrieved. The results demonstrated an upward trend of publications with a high number of single-country publications and a fair number of multiple-country publications. The primary conclusion reveals that language and literacy can be considered a substantial field of research, and the most important themes identified are connected to five thematic clusters: (1) General development in language and literacy (2) Language and literacy in Early Childhood Education (ECE) (3) Language and literacy in English as a Second Language (ESL), (4) Issues in language and literacy and (5) Language and literacy for bilinguals. The field is also marked by constant growth; as indicated by the international collaborations, new trends and other related fields that conveyed great interest in the areas of language and literacy. These findings are crucial in informing researchers, educators and policy makers on the current needs related to language and literacy implementations, as well as potential research endeavours that are critical to the development of the field

Digitising English language learning for early childhood educators in Malaysian context: The rationale

Nowadays, many kindergartens in Malaysia are striving toward using English in their daily activities with their children and some even use English language as their medium of instruction. However, some of the early childhood educators were not well equipped with the knowledge of English language. This paper aims to report the rationale for digitising English language learning through the development of Kindy Talk Application in terms of approach, content and design. Kindy Talk Application is a mobile application for Malaysian early childhood educators to utilize accurate language in their daily routine interactions and instructional language typically used at daycare centres. This development of the application stemmed from a series of workshops with 2 modules, namely Communication English and Storytelling techniques. These workshops aimed at increasing 30 Pahang early childhood educators' professional development. To ensure the sustainability of the training, the Kindy Talk Application, which uses augmented reality technology was developed to allow users to practice the daily routine and instructional language using their mobile phones in a safe autonomous learning environment. This enhances the language proficiency and confidence of Malaysian early childhood educators

Tertiary Educators' Awareness of and Readiness to use Virtual Reality (VR) in Remote Online Learning

COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the conventional education landscape to online remote learning. However, this transition has brought about certain challenges such as low levels of student engagement and motivation, which raises the question of whether students are actually learning. Using Virtual Reality (VR) in teaching and learning (T&L) could increase engagement as it provides interactive experience that necessitates students’ online presence. Literature shows students are aware of VR benefits, yet not many tertiary educators are using VR. Thus, this study aims to investigate Malaysian tertiary educators’ awareness of VR and readiness to explore its potential in remote online T&L through a questionnaire survey adapted from previous studies that applied the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as their theoretical framework. Of 26 respondents, only 4 had VR experience in the classroom. While others lacked VR experience, their perceptions were positive, and they were aware of the challenges of using VR. It can be concluded these challenges are partly the reasons why VR is under-utilised. The findings implicate the need to train and familiarise tertiary educators in the use of VR for the continuous intention to use VR. It is believed that when more educators have more intimate knowledge of VR, the more students will benefit regardless if the classes are remote online or otherwise

Snapticon: Developing effective listening skills for group oral discussion

In many higher education institutions (HEIs) around the world, one of the popular English oral assessments for ESL learners is group discussion. In group discussions, it is vital that they have the ability to manage topics in a discussion by knowing how to initiate a topic, expand on the topic, seamlessly shift from one topic to another as well as close the topic appropriately. Students are therefore required to utilise their verbal and non-verbal skills to actively interact with all group members. Listening and speaking skills are equally important for effective communication including participating in group oral discussion. In order to help ESL learners to be active participants in group discussions, a card game called Snapticon was created. Open-ended questionnaires were distributed to 25 respondents in the study and observations were made while the game was being played. It was found from the findings that the respondents were positive as they regarded the game as interesting and fun. Therefore, it can be concluded that Snapticon has the potential to be used as a learning material to help develop ESL learners’ effective listening skills in group oral discussions. Moreover, the use of Snapticon enables learners to be interactionally competent when participating in group oral discussions

GIGVAGANZA 2 in the house!

17 July 2012. A total of 318 UMP diploma students participated in GIGVAGANZA 2 as part of their overall assessments for UHL 1412(Foundation English). This time, they were also joined by school students from around Kuantan area. There were four participating schools who had gladly accepted our invitations, they were SMK Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom, SM Sains Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Pekan, SMK Sri Pekan and SMK Gambang

Paving our path

5 June 2010. Working towards a new faculty while simultaneously planning to offer four new programmes is not an easy path. Since the very first day, everybody seemed to foresee a long and winding road that lies ahead. Nevertheless, enlightened with the belief ‘a trouble shared is a trouble halved’, every effort was executed particularly towards the completion of the required documents. Led by our visionary Dean, Professor Dr. Abd Jalil Borham and assisted by Deputy Dean of Academic Affairs, Munira Razak, the team is progressing according to the plan

Toward a new faculty materialising the move

2-3 Nov 2009. A group of CMLHS associates gathered at Bukit Gambang Resort, Gambang Kuantan to discuss details and come up with documentation for a presentation before a group of expert panelists in a workshop held at the Grand Seasons Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on 6 to 8 November 2009

The most wanted: IELTS courses

28 June 2010. ‘A Course on IELTS’ is a popular and one of the most sought after in UMP, especially among academic staff. One of the main objectives of the course is to assist lecturers who intend to sit for IELTS for the purpose of pursuing studies at postgraduate levels or for UMP job confirmation. The course is jointly organised by the Modern Languages Department of CMLHS and the Human Resource Department