Building cultural interaction with foreign students

Students and teachers from Hong Kong Methodist College

UTAR Centre for Extension Education (CEE) cordially welcomed a group of students and four accompanying teachers from Hong Kong Methodist College to Sungai Long Campus on 19 April 2019. The visit was part of their educational and cultural exchange programme to experience and explore the Malaysian culture.

The students learning Malay language under the guidance of the instructor Kalai (right)

The one-day programme started with a presentation on Malaysian culture by CEE Senior Instructor Raiza Azni binti Suhainih to provide the visiting students a better understanding of the country. It was followed by a teaching session on the conversational Malay language by CEE Instructor K Kalai Mathi Kernagaran. During the language learning session, the students were enthusiastic about learning the native language although it was not a language that would roll off effortlessly from their tongues.

Raiza introducing the traditions of the multi-ethnic to the students

The students and Lee (fourth from left) with the multicultural outfit

A cultural exhibition was set up outside the classroom to introduce the various Malaysian cultures to the visiting students. The exhibition, displaying traditional music instruments and household items of Malaysian ethnic groups, allowed the students to understand more about the customs and traditions of Malaysia. They were given a chance to wear colourful traditional outfits and to try their hands on making delicious local foods such as Malay cuisine onde-onde and Indian cuisine chapatti. Besides, they also tried out the traditional games such as batu seremban, congkak and bottle cap, as well as took part in making traditional crafts such as anyaman and wau. The students were also taught to perform traditional dance, where they were divided into two groups to learn Malay and Indian traditional dance respectively.

During cooking demonstration 

The students trying their hand at making onde-onde and chapatti

The students were served with local dishes 

The students making anyaman and wau

The students showing their creative wau

The students playing congkak and bottle cap 

Students learning Malay and Indian traditional dance

One of the visiting students, Xing Hoi Mei Melanie, said this was the first time she had been to Malaysia. “I knew not much about Malaysia but I like the food and culture here. I am glad that I have the chance to explore a different culture and make new friends with different nationality,” she said.

Another 16-year-old student, Marcus Cheng Pak Nam, said that he joined the exchange programme to meet people and to broaden his horizon. He commented that the relationship between the ethnic groups was good and the people in Malaysia were friendly.

Sophia Zhao Song Hua, also 16 years old, was impressed with the local food and multilingual of the country. When asked about the trip, she said, “This cultural exchange programme has given me the opportunity to learn the culture of the local community of Malaysia. I have also learnt a new learning method and I have gained a better understanding of the diversity of Malaysia.”

From left: Melanie, Sophia and Marcus

Their accompanying teachers, Head of Extra-curricular activities committee Lee Wai Sze and committee member Choi Ka Hung, also shared their views and experiences in Malaysia. When talked about how the programme benefits the students, Lee said, “I expect them to open their eyes wider, deepen and broaden their scope of knowledge and horizons, experience a different culture as well as respect the multi-culture and the tradition of other people.” She wanted the students to experience different things other than their own country and hoped that they would be more alert to the things around them.

Lee also expressed her thoughts on learning beyond the classroom, saying that the students, through such programme, will develop new skills and upgrade themselves. Moreover, she wanted the students to think out of the box and move away from their comfort zone.

Choi, on the other hand, said that the country was similar to Hong Kong and it was an interesting country that he would explore more. “Our school trips are not only to Malaysia but also to other countries like New Zealand, Canada and Taiwan,” Choi explained, adding that such educational trips can broaden their global vision and absorb the knowledge of diversified cultures.

He also mentioned that one of the ways to learn the culture was language. “If you want to join and experience the culture, the language is the way to approach,” he said. He commented that the way Malaysians speak and think was interesting, and most importantly, students take initiatives and actions to learn. 

The students and their handmade crafts

Lee (left) presenting a token of appreciation to Raiza