KUCHING –As part of giving back to the community and to promote education among the younger generation, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus recently conducted an English workshop for 160 students from SMK Lundu and SMK Sematan.
The one-day “English Exam Technique Workshop for Current SPM Students” was conducted by lecturers from Swinburne Sarawak’s School of Language and Foundation.
Topics for the day included reading, summarising, and writing skills as well as understanding the SPM literature component including short stories, drama and the novel.
The workshop also touched on study skills and general test taking strategies, important elements for the students who will be sitting for their SPM exam this year.
To encourage and motivate the students, Swinburne foundation student Sharon Leku Singa was interviewed live in front of the secondary school students and teachers Oprah Winfrey-style by Christina Yin, associate head of the School of Language and Foundation.
Sharon, who scored an A+ for English in SPM, shared how she overcame the challenges of learning the language.
Prizes were awarded to students who had the best performance in the Pre and Post Tests at the workshop. Mohamad Safiq bin Abdul Hasin, 17, of SMK Lundu was awarded the top prize.
Jaqulyne Low Chui Ling and Mohd Norazwan were tied in second spot while Lydia Emak won the prize for the student who improved the most.
“The workshop was fun and the lecturers were really good. I think I’ve learnt a lot today. I used to have my own way of doing a summary but today I learned a new skill,” said a beaming Safiq who hopes to be a teacher.
“I think English is very important, especially when we go abroad. Even in Malaysia it is important,” said the science stream student who reads English newspapers and books to improve his command of the language.
They received their prizes from Professor Helmut Lueckenhausen, the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, of Swinburne Sarawak who encouraged the students to keep practicing in order to improve their English.
Also present at the closing of the workshop was Azmi Bin Haji Bujang, Director of the Lundu District Office, who sponsored transportation for the two participating schools.