Student Engagement in Online Language Learning: A Study at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia

Online learning is essential to the learning process in this pandemic era. It is heavily included into the educational process for Malaysian pupils. Studying the effects of this online education, particularly at the postsecondary level, is equally fascinating. The implementation of online learning has been successful due to a select few elements. The perception of the pupils and their involvement in the learning process are among the variables. 233 undergraduate students from various academic levels participated in this study. The respondents were given a set of questions in order to gather information about their opinions and level of interest in learning English through online courses. Results indicated that they had a highly favourable opinion of English online classes and that they were very involved in them. Implementing the online courses presented some difficulties, including gaps in the technology, a lack of documentation, and the teaching methodology. In order to guarantee the optimum outcome and satisfaction with the learning process, blended learning is advised. Keywords: online learning, engagement, perceptio

Flexible working: effects on women’s work-life balance, lifestyle and health

Flexible working arrangement is a future work trends in response to growing concerns for evolving workforce demographics and retaining women in workforce. However, there are limited studies that actually compare the perception of women who worked conventional hours and flexible hours on WLB, lifestyle and health. Thus, this study aimed to examine perception towards WLB, lifestyle and health between women who worked in conventional working hour and those who worked flexible working hour. This study used survey data from 177 respondents (98 flexible working women; 79 conventional working women) from four companies which offer both types of working arrangements. Despite consistent empirical support on the positive effect of flexible working on leisure and health, t-test result indicates that only WLB balance is affected by flexible working hour. Contrary to previous understanding on WLB, women working in conventional working time perceived high level of WLB compared to those who worked using flexible working time. This finding necessitates further replication with more data. It also implies that WLB is a complex phenomenon which needs to be studied further

A ROAD NOT TAKEN: A BREAKTHROUGH IN ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES VIA PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING

Problem-based learning (PBL) is purported to empower learners by encouraging them to take a deep approach to learning and become more confident and self-directed in their learning. This paper explores lecturer and student experiences of a first year undergraduate English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course that uses the PBL approach. The learning was grounded in genuine situations of practice in which high degree of team work and collaboration was eminent. In particular, this paper presents a PhD ethnographic case study that focuses on higher education student experiences of learning English in a PBL environment. A particular community was established in which lecturers and students interacted to negotiate and construct new understandings and develop life-long learning skills. Data on the lecturer and student experiences were gathered from classroom observations, a focus group, and student/lecturer interviews and access to student reflective journal entries. Students welcomed and valued the opportunity of the new found learning territory of taking more responsibility for their learning and the freedom of action and thought. During the course, participants achieved new insights into themselves as language learners despite finding it challenging, particularly in the initial phase when they were confronted with learning in a different mode. They became very involved in the course because they were genuinely enthused and interested in the learning process. This is seen as crucial and significant for developing the necessary competence in mastery of the English language in higher education. It is also useful in suggesting that PBL is viable as an (optional) subsequent teaching strategy in the Malaysian or similar context

Communication satisfaction among academic staff in Malaysian public universities

Communication satisfaction is of dominant position in any organization as it contributes to the effectiveness and success of an organization. The communication satisfaction of an organization may affect the atmosphere in the organization which either encourages or hinders horizontal, upward or downward communication among the employees. In organizations with defensive climates, employees have the tendency to abstain from communicating their needs, as they become very cautious in making statements, and may have low level of motivation. Organizations with understanding atmospheres inspire active participation, healthy exchange of information and constructive problems resolves. The objective of the present study is to investigate the major hindrances and problems of communication satisfaction among academic staff of Malaysian public universities and its impact on management function and organizational communication. This study is expected to investigate communication satisfaction among academics with supervisory role in the respective university. It aims to determine the patterns of communication system in universities, to analyze various challenges to the communication and to suggest ways of improving communication system. This research study would foster the knowledge and understanding of improving of communication satisfaction in academic organizations particularly tertiary institutions and would help improve productivity and harmonious working environment adopt better process and programs in order to overcome

A STUDY OF STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE PBL ENVIRONMENT AND LEARNING MOTIVATION IN THE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION CLASS AMONG UNDERGRADUATES OF FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, UNIVERSITI TUN HUSSEIN ONN MALAYSIA (UTHM)

Problem based learning (PBL) is claimed to be one of the best methods for interactive learning, and more effective than the traditional teaching and learning methods. However, there is still a limited empirical evidence of the effectiveness of PBL across various courses and learning disciplines. The aim of this study was to identify students' perceptions of learning environment and motivation in Effective Communication classes using a PBL approach. Twenty five students participated in this single case study. Students were given four treatments and answered questionnaires in gauging their perception and motivation on the PBL approach to learning. Results indicated that these students who attended PBL classes have a positive perception of learning environment after attending the course. However, there is no significant difference on students' motivation at the beginning and at the end of the course

Training needs analysis on Indonesian construction workers competency in Malaysia

The growth of construction industry in Malaysia is stimulated by various mega infrastructure projects. Due to this, the competent construction workers become the catalyst in realizing the goals. Using mixed method approach in explanatory research, this study aimed to analyze the training needs based on 300 Indonesian construction workers’ competency. Findings showed that there are sig-nificant differences between knowledge and skills possessed by the Indonesian workers, based on two types of training; theory and practical. However, the training on skills is considered critical as it is a need for the Indonesian workers to fulfil the job requirements in Malaysia

The Impact of Information Technology Investment on Firms Performance

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between information technology investment and firm’s performance among Malaysian PLCs.  Design/methodology/approach: , The analysis employed panel data approach in which it relied on annual report of companies listed in Bursa Malaysia. This study covered a period between 2009 and 2012, therefore only companies listed within this stipulated period were included in the analysis. Findings: Results of the regression estimation of the dependent variables, based on random effect model shows a high significant on return of investment score. The control variables of firm size and industry did not have a statistically significant influence on the test results. However, IT investment is statistically not significant with return on asset, as there is no relationship between IT investment and ROA. Research limitations/implications: First, this study is using a limited sample data as an established large sample data set in relation to IT investment information in PLC’s is still unavailable. Secondly, this study is unable to investigate a time lag effect due to the limited information available in the annual reports. State your limitation here. Thirdly, the IT investments are divided into two asset classes, but there is several ways to characterize the ?rm’s investment allocations. Practical implications: This study substantiates the need for PLCs to increase their IT investment as the company grows. Information technology strategies need to be developed at par with company’s future direction.   Originality/value: This study is one of the first empirically studies done in investigating the relationship between IT investment and firm financial performance in Malaysian PLC’s which is using the public listed companies’ secondary data. Paper type: Research pape

EXAMINING THE CLARITY OF EXPRESSIONS IN DESCRIBING THE BLACK WOMAN’S OPPRESSION IN KENNEDY'S “FUNNYHOUSE OF A NEGRO”

Purpose of study: This study tries to figure out whether Adrienne Kennedy’s play “Funnyhouse of a Negro” was direct and clear or indirect and implicit when she expresses a black woman’s struggle with identity. Methodology: This study adopts a mix mode approach of Martin and white (2005) attitudinal category of Appraisal theory so as to analyze, frame, and to answer the research questions by which is proposed for this full research paper. Main Findings: The inscribed instances have exceeded the invoked ones in the whole corpus of “Funnyhouse of a Negro”, concerning how did Sarah; the protagonist, as well as her split figures, have portrayed her white mother and a black father. The outcomes suggest that Kennedy was very clear and direct to deliver her moral judgment to her audiences/readers regarding the status of African American women in American based on analyzing the discourses of the main characters in the play. Implications/Applications: Therefore, this play has gained very much respect and admiration from critics, readers, and audiences because of the playwright’s direct descriptions of Sarah and her parents in the American arena as well as her attempt to form new status as an individual human being who have a right to live such as any white American civilian. Originality/Novelty of Study: The appraisal approach is a fairly new extension in the area of Systemic Functional Linguistics. It has been applied mainly to non-fictional discourse, particularly to certain texts with an argumentative task such as journalistic and political speeches. There is an increasing interest in the utilization of this theory to the analysis of literary texts, involving narrative fiction (Alsanafi&Mohd Noor, 2019). The researcher does not find any study employs Appraisal category to discover the clearness of expressions to describe woman’s oppression in Adriane Kennedy’s “Funnyhouse of a Negro”

The Relationship between Organizational Communication and Employees Productivity with New Dimensions of Effective Communication Flow

Effective organizational communication can lead organization in asuccessful way, only if exists. Without proper information and planning anydeliberated decision cannot occur. There is a vast literature on organizationalcommunication and productivity of employees. However this research looksover the influence of effectiveness of internal communication on employees'productivity. The core concentration in this study is level of communicationin organization and how employees perceive communication, and what arethe effects of internal communication on their work capability. The focus ofthis study is on the relation of employees' efficiency in organizationalcommunication with the support of effective communication, as compare toprevious study that only concentrated on organizational communication andproductivity. Therefore after recognizing the effectiveness ofcommunication the employee's productivity flourishes in organizationalcommunication. Flow of effective communication in organizations developsthe strong bonding between staff and management, then employees gettrusted, that make them more productive

The relationship between organizational communication and employees productivity with new dimensions of effective communication flow

Organisations can be run successfully, only if effective organisational communication takes place. A decision, whether strategic or operational, cannot be made without communication and the necessary information. There have been extensive researches on the relationship of organizational communication and productivity of employees’ in the past. However, this study examines the impact of Effective internal communication on productivity of employees’ in organization. The main focus of this research is the organizational communication level of employees behavior towards productivity which is deemed important to investigate their level of effective internal communication and employees’ productivity. This is a distinctive study, as the previous researches focused only on the relationship of organization communication and the productivity of organization, but this study focuses on the link between Organization communication and employees productivity with the help of effective communication. Once the effective communication is identified then the organizational communication and its relationship with the employees’ productivity is ascertained