EXE Camp 2.0

Following their well-received EXtra English (EXE) Camp in April this year, the Department of Languages and Linguistics (DLL) of the Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS) looked to repeat their success with the “EXE Camp 2.0” at UTAR’s Kampar Campus on 5 September 2015.

Reaching out to neighbouring schools, EXE Camp 2.0 saw the active participation of over 70 secondary school students from SMK Methodist (ACS) and SMK Seri Kampar.

The participants, comprising Form One and Form Two students, underwent five intensive sessions, where they learned new vocabulary about dancing, read about floods and other natural disasters, and listened to documentaries about birthday celebrations around the world.

15 UTAR English Education (ED) undergraduates facilitated the learning sessions, along with a few student assistants. Delighted to be part of the EXE Camp 2.0 task force, First Year ED students Audrey Maxime Antoine and Dalvinder Kaur said teaching the participants was a novel experience. “English teaching with real students has given me a glimpse of how it is like to be a teacher. I’ll definitely improve myself in my presentation skills,” added Dalvinder.

Echoing the duo’s sentiments was Second Year ED student Choong Juen Li. “Being hands-on during the sessions has boosted my confidence in leading a class. I’ve learnt that I need to improve on my time management when giving lessons,” Choong said.

Participants Hanis Nurain Bt Roslin and Sitiwan Nurainatasa thoroughly enjoyed the one-day enrichment camp because of the enthusiastic tutors and their exuberant approach in teaching. “Learning English is so much enjoyable and fun with the activities such as dancing and others,” remarked Hanis.

EXE Camp 2.0 came to an end with DLL Head of Programme for BA (Hons) English Language, Joanna Tan Tjin Ai encouraging the participants to participate in future English camps and also to actively use English in daily conversation.

Participants and the ED students during the ice-breaking session

The participants dancing during the Teaching of Vocabulary session

Participants in class

Group photo of the participants and the facilitators