ICoLLT 2021
Kuantan - Centre for Modern Languages (CML), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), in collaboration with Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD), Jogjakarta, had successfully organized the 3rd International Conference on Language Learning and Teaching 2021 (ICoLLT 2021), held from August 24-25, 2021. In accordance with the conference, Creative and Innovative Teaching and Learning of Language (CinTeLL) 2021 was also organized on 26 August 2021 as a platform to showcase the latest teaching innovations and practices through a virtual exhibition competition.
This first jointly hosted virtual conference was successfully led by Associate Professor Dr Ainol Haryati Ibrahim with the theme for the conference was “Language Learning and Teaching in the Digital Age - Innovation, Creativity and Change”. This conference was one of the outcomes of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UMP and UAD, for collaborative initiatives in academic endeavours between the two institutions. The conference was held virtually via Zoom conference platform.
The event was officiated by Professor Ir Dr Wan Azhar bin Wan Yusoff, Vice Chancellor of UMP and Dr Muchlas MT, Rector of UAD. Professor Ir Dr Wan Azhar bin Wan Yusoff, reiterated that the aim of ICoLLT 2021 was to address issues and approaches of transformative education in the area of language learning and teaching while at the same time reflecting on the positive impacts of conventional approaches. Meanwhile, Dr Muchlas MT stated that learning was no longer limited to the classroom walls as it used to be as learners were exposed to the digital space called “third space education”.
More than 100 participants and presenters, consisting of language teachers, practitioners and researchers at institutions of various levels from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, United Kingdom, France, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China and Taiwan, came together at the conference to share their best practices, experiences and latest research findings in language learning and teaching. Other than the issues related to the learning and teaching in English, this conference also celebrated related issues in other languages such as Malay, Indonesia, Mandarin, German, Arabic, Spanish, and Japanese.
The keynote speaker for this conference was Professor Agnes Kukulska-Hulme PhD, a professor and researcher at the Institute of Educational Technology, United Kingdom with her expertise in the field of pedagogical transformation and future learning scenarios in the realm of formal and informal education. She presented her topic “What’s New in Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL)” and according to her, the pandemic had changed the approaches of language practitioners towards teaching and learning, thus embarking in MALL would be more pertinent to cater the need for teaching and learning.
Next highlight of the conference were the two plenary speakers, each representing the host universities, Drs Akmal MHum MSc PhD. from UAD and Associate Professor Dr Hafizoah Kassim from CML, UMP. Drs Akmal presented on ‘TPACK Framework: The Challenge for the 21st Century Teachers’ while Associate Professor Dr Hafizoah presented on ‘Creative Strategies for the Digitalized Language Instructions’.
A live forum entitled “Creative and Innovative Strategies for Language Teaching in Diverse Contexts” was the peak of the conference and was held on the second day. Three panellists were invited; Marianna Pascal, Anuar McAfee and Letitia Angelica Wallace. Invited panellist were among language practitioners who had been dealing with the language for years. The forum discussed issues on applying various strategies that could be opted for language teaching and learning in various settings.
The Dean for Centre for Modern Languages, Associate Prof Dr Nik Aloesnita Nik Alwi had officiated the closing ceremony after the forum session. In her closing remarks, she was hoping that the 3rd ICoLLT 2021 would bring more collaborations between both institutions in the future.
Prepared by Mohammad Baihaqi Bin Hasni
Edited by Associate Professor Dr Ainol Haryati Ibrahim & Shamsul
