Written by Afifah Adi
Edited by Aleeya Balqis
An ice-breaking session with Ms Ruzai Syarilili Aiyu on the first day | Credit: Facilitator team
GOMBAK, 11th October 2024: The Department of English Language and Literature (DELL) organised an enriching English Language Immersive Programme in collaboration with Pondok Pesantren Modern Al Ikhlash.
The programme was held from the 10th to the 20th of September 2024 at the Kulliyyah of Human Sciences building, welcoming 16 young students from Pondok Pesantren to learn English in an intensive manner. They were provided with various memorable lessons and activities to strengthen their skills in the language.
The first day commenced with an opening ceremony attended by the programme manager, Dr Homam Altabaa, along with esteemed guests Ms Ruzai Syarilili Aiyu binti Abd. Rashid, Dr Boukary Sila and Dr Wan Nur Madiha binti Ramlan. Teachers from Pondok Pesantren, Mr Maulana Rizki and Ms Zaakyah, also honoured the ceremony with their presence.
Photography session of the opening ceremony | Credit: Facilitator team
Throughout the 10-day programme, students participated in both indoor and outdoor activities scheduled for them. The indoor sessions focused on improving grammar, increasing vocabulary, and enhancing their grasp of English. Some other indoor sessions also introduced the students to the art of Islamic calligraphy, performing dramas, and the TBC website.
Dr Ziad Baydoun demonstrating Islamic calligraphy to the students | Credit: Facilitator team
Trainers Zaiti Athirah and Ha Mi Da prepared a few activities for the drama session, which required students’ full participation as they needed to act in front of others. It turned competitive as they played charades in groups and strived to guess the actions of their fellow classmates to gain points.
Drama session guided by Zaiti Athirah and Ha Mi Da | Credit: Facilitator team
A session for TBC was also included to familiarise the students with the website. Led by the club’s founding members, Nik Liyana and Siti Sarah Sofea, they began by playing What’s in Your Bag to encourage interaction. A game of charades was also played to teach the students the importance of verifying any information they received before making a news report.
The presentation focused on the TBC News section and its format, introducing the process of writing a news article. Interestingly, the students had the chance to create their own news titles based on the tale of Little Red Riding Hood.
TBC session led by Nik Liyana and Siti Sarah Sofea | Credit: Facilitator team
Meanwhile, outdoor activities included touring IIUM Dar al-Hikmah Library, visiting a few Kulliyyahs, and playing sports at IIUM Saidina Hamzah Stadium. The students also visited several places in Kuala Lumpur, such as the Islamic Arts Museum, National Mosque, and Perdana Botanical Garden.
A visit to the Islamic Arts Museum | Credit: Facilitator team
Additionally, they explored the KL East Mall and KL East Park, divided into groups, each led by a facilitator. These visits aimed to boost their confidence in communicating in English, as the facilitators engaged them in small talks about their personal interests and observations during the outings.
Photography session on top of the KL East Park | Credit: Dr Homam Altabaa
Through a focus-group discussion, many of them expressed their delight with the lessons, enjoying how the teachers integrated fun quizzes into the sessions. One of the students stated how important it is to have a balance between games and lessons, influencing them to be active in class. Some of them also reported an increase in motivation to learn English compared to the time before joining this programme.
The programme concluded with a heartfelt closing ceremony on the final day, celebrating the students’ progress and efforts. The ceremony featured speeches from Dr Homam Altabaa, Ms Zaakyah and Rosyiidah, a student representative from Pondok Pesantren.
Dr Homam presenting a token of appreciation to Mr Maulana and Ms Zaakyah | Credit: Facilitator team
A certificate presentation followed, acknowledging the students' participation along with the instructors, trainers, and facilitators’ contribution throughout the programme. Special thanks go to the instructors who worked hard to build an engaging learning environment—Ms Ruzai Syarilili Aiyu, Nurul Izzati, Hessa Kawthar, Nurasyiqah and Dhiya Damia.
Not to forget, the trainers who created exciting lessons for the students—Dr Ziad Baydoun, Dr Boukary Sila, Nik Liyana, Siti Sarah Sofea, Ha Mi Da, Zaiti Athirah, Sofea Hani and Aireen Elly Natasha.
A well-deserved mention goes to facilitators Nur Mashitah, Maryam and Afifah who worked tirelessly since day one to assist the students from accommodation to outings. As a gesture of appreciation, Pondok Pesantren presented DELL with souvenirs, expressing hope for continued collaboration in the future.—TBC
Photography session of the closing ceremony | Credit: Facilitator team
Photography session of the students and facilitators | Credit: Ms Zaakyah
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