Learning grammar the ‘Monster’ Way ‘Monster Back to School-Parts of Speech Board Game’ / Angeline Ranjethamoney Vijayarajoo and Roslina Mohd Jani

Learning grammar can be difficult for learners but this can be changed through interactive activities. Language games are an excellent way to make learning grammar fun among learners Although the use of language games is not a new tool in the teaching and learning of grammar, employing the right game for a specific grammar item is vital. Hence, this study aims to experiment, using a language game - ‘Monster Back to School -Parts of Speech Board Game, in efforts to enhance the learning of the parts of speech more effectively. This game is designed to provide practice in identifying the parts of speech in the English Language, from word level, through sentence level to making decisions on whether the parts of speech have been correctly identified. By playing this game, it is believed that learners will be able to engage and learn grammar in a fun-filled way. Methodology comprised quantitative and qualitative methods, using a questionnaire and interview, with the participants, who were college students. The results of the survey demonstrate the effectiveness of the game in the identification and learning of parts of speech. The pedagogical implications are that suitable language games can enhance grammar competence

The effects of utilizing selected popular songs in developing language skills of english language students / Nora Md. Salleh , Roslina Mohd. Jani and Mahdalela Rahim

This study aims to find out the effects of utilizing selected popular songs in developing students' language skills in English language classrooms. The main focus of the study is to utilize the songs in the skill of writing, particularly in the writing of argumentative essays and aims at providing variety to the present classroom teaching and learning. Argumentative essay writing is one aspect of writing taught in BEL 250 for Semester Three Diploma students of UiTM. This study also tries to determine students perception of the use of popular songs in the classroom. The study showed that teaching English language using popular songs as lead in activities give a positive effect in enabling students to write argumentative essays. There is also a positive effect on students' personal interest, opinion and attitude towards the use of popular songs as a teaching material in ESL classrooms

'Parts of speech' - 'drop a card' board game / Angeline Ranjethamoney Vijayarajoo … [et al.]

Learning grammar can be difficult for learners but this can be changed through interactive activities. Language games are an excellent way to make learning grammar fun among learners. Although the use of language games is not a new tool in the teaching and learning of grammar, employing the right game for a specific grammar item is vital. Hence, this study aims to experiment, using a language game - ‘Parts of Speech’ - ‘Drop a Card’ board game, in efforts to enhance the learning of the parts of speech more effectively. This game is designed to provide practice in identifying the parts of speech in the English language. By playing this game, it is believed that learners will be able to engage and learn grammar in a fun-filled way. Methodology comprised quantitative and qualitative methods, using questionnaire and interview, with the participants, who were college students. The results of the survey demonstrate the effectiveness of the game in the identification and learning of parts of speech. The pedagogical implications are that suitable language games can enhance grammar competence

Poetricks a game to engage Malaysian secondary school ESL learners in understanding poetry / Angeline Ranjethamoney Vijayarajoo … [et al.]

Studying literature can be challenging for ESL learners. With the new cycle of poems introduced by the Ministry of Education in 2015, the teachers responded with great concerns over how to teach their students, who found poetry difficult and boring. Furthermore, the teachers found poetry less favourable compared to other literary genres. In order to fill the gap of a better understanding of the poems, in more engaging ways, the researchers designed a board game. The compulsory (new) poems for Forms Four and Five were used. 20 students and 40 teachers participated in this study. Data comprised the responses of the students and teachers, to the questionnaire and interview after the game. The game sessions were videotaped. The analysis of the data showed that the participants responded positively to the game. Hence, this game served as a supplementary tool in the teaching and learning of poetry in more engaging ways

Probiotic properties of antimicrobial-producing lactic acid bacteria isolated from dairy products and raw milk of Sabah (Northern Borneo), Malaysia

This study aims to evaluate the probiotic properties of the antimicrobial-producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from cow and goat milk, and various types of cheese. The isolated strains were biochemically characterized by sequence of tests namely Gram staining, catalase test and carbon fermentation. The agar well diffusion assay was performed by utilizing the Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644 and Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 13933 as the indicator microorganisms prior to biochemical and physiological tests to assess the beneficial properties of the strains. Results showed that 5 out of 20 isolated LAB strains were the antimicrobial-producer indicated by the formation of inhibition zones against the L. monocytogenes ATCC 7644 and L. monocytogenes ATCC 13933. All five strains were able to utilize glucose, and also tolerate various concentrations of NaCl and wide range of temperatures. Strains CCB1, GB3 and CB3 showed positive proteolytic activity, while CCB1, GB3 and CA1 were able to hydrolyse starch. Other than that, isolates CCB1, CB3 and CA1 showed ability to deconjugate bile salt in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Moreover, CCB1, GB3 and CA4 were susceptible to ampicillin, tetracycline, ceftriaxone, penicillin G and chloramphenicol. However, most of the strains were resistant to norfloxacin, amikacin, colistin sulphate, streptomycin and nalidixic acid. Lastly, all of the five isolates were tolerant to bile salt and phenol as no growth inhibition was observed. The newly isolated LAB strains with valuable features might offer an unfolded potency that are beneficial for applications in food industry

Resolving conflict of law issues in parental child abduction: Mediation as an effective mechanism

Abduction often involves the parents of the child. After a marriage is dissolved most parents will fight to have custody of the children. The party that is unable to lawfully obtain custody of children sometimes resort to abduction. Abduction of children is an issue that raises concern due to its effect on the child. Abducted children are sometimes even taken outside the country of abduction to another country by the non-custodian parent in order to prevent tracing and punishment. These attributes of abduction have a far reaching negative consequence on the child. The sudden separation of the child with his environment and the attempt to hide the child negatively affects the child physically and psychologically. The paper examines the position of parental child abduction under the Malaysian law and the approach of the courts in dealing with the matter. The paper also briefly discusses the position of child abduction under the international law and shariah and suggests mediation as an effective means to resolve the disputes involving parental child abduction. Doctrinal methodology is used in the paper in arriving at the findings of the wor