AWARD-WINNING SUCCESS FOR UMPSA STUDENTS AT FLC 2025
JOHOR BAHRU, 14 May 2025 – Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) students proudly secured two awards at the Festival of Languages and Cultures (FLC) 2025, organized by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Held at the Raja Zarith Sofiah Library, the event gathered global language educators and students to celebrate the theme “Celebrating Languages Across Cultures.”
The two-day festival was represented by two language teachers Jamilah Bebe Mohamad and Amir Haikal Imran Ahmad Ashaari from the Department of Foreign Languages, Centre for Modern Languages (CML), along with five undergraduate students.
One of the standout moments came from Ahmad Fauzan Ahmad Faizul, who captivated the audience with his original storytelling piece, The Tales of the Cursed Sisters, based on a Thai urban myth. His compelling performance enhanced with props and makeup earned him the Best Storytelling Performance award, outperforming over ten other participants. He credited the English teacher, Amy Zulaikha Mohd Ali for her coaching and support, as well as other teachers who contributed to the preparation and creative staging.
The second award came from the Hangman Challenge, a dynamic multilingual game that tested cultural awareness and vocabulary skills. The team, comprising four members—Luqmanul Hakim Azizuddin, Nur Zarifah Hana Mohd Hanafi, Siti Nur Zulaikha Zaidi, and Mis Faezah Ronnie—secured the first place by accurately identifying culturally significant words such as sushi, croissant, and Pad Thai.
“This experience showed us how essential collaboration and trust when working in a team,” shared Siti Nur Zulaikha.
Dr. Wan Jumani Fauzi, Head of the Department of Foreign Languages, praised the team’s efforts and the instructors who guided them. “I encouraged them to join for the exposure, and they returned with confidence and success,” she said, emphasizing UMPSA's commitment to developing globally competent graduates.
She also acknowledged the vital support of Associate Professor Dr. Nik Aloesnita Nik Mohd Alwi, Dean of CML, whose leadership helped facilitate the team’s growth and participation. “To all who took part in the FLC online competitions, well done. Keep seeking opportunities to learn and grow,” she added.
Beyond the competitions, students took part in cultural showcases, language games and forums that enriched their global awareness and boosted confidence in their language learning skills.
Prepared by: Amir Haikal Imran Ahmad Ashaari, Leong Hui Theng & Jamilah Bebe Mohamad