NEXTGEN CAMP BOOSTS LANGUAGE SKILLS AMONG UMPSA STAFF'S CHILDREN

Pekan, 30 May 2025 – A total of 59 children aged 10 to 12 participated in the NextGen Camp, a school holiday programme organised by the Centre for Modern Languages, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA). The programme was designed for the children of UMPSA staff and aimed to build communication confidence and introduce multilingual skills through interactive sessions.

The highlight of a day-long programme was its carefully structured language slots, offering participants hands-on exposure to multiple languages and communication skills. According to the Programme Director, Nur syafawati Sabuan, the variety of language sessions helped create a meaningful experience while highlighting CML’s teaching expertise and commitment to community-based learning.

The camp kicked off with Slot 1: Ice-breaking & Speaking, which focused on helping children express themselves confidently, while creating a fun and supportive environment. Then, Slot 2 introduced participants to Mandarin, incorporating basic vocabulary and conversation through songs and interactive games.

This was followed by Slot 3, which combined Korean and Malay language activities, allowing students to explore similarities and differences in phonetics, writing, and greetings. After a lunch and prayer break, the programme continued with Slot 4: Arabic Language, where children engaged in simple Arabic phrases and cultural exposure through fun activities.

Next, participants practiced structured reading techniques and basic writing in English, focusing on sentence building and comprehension in Slot 5: Active Reading & Writing. The day concluded with Slot 6: Active Listening, which involved fun listening games, audio-based challenges, and group tasks to improve students’ focus and understanding of spoken language.

Feedback from participants reflected the camp’s success. Wan Muhammad Azmi shared, “I really enjoyed the camp and learned a lot of basic greetings in different languages.” Meanwhile, Sarah Muhammad Naufal said, “I want to join again next time. I had fun with all my friends and received lots of prizes!”

Each slot was designed not only to introduce new languages but also to instill enthusiasm for communication and multicultural learning. CML hopes to make NextGen Camp an annual event to continue nurturing young learners’ interest in languages in an enjoyable and engaging way.

Prepared by: Noraisah Nurul Fatwa Mohd Razali & Rosnani Ismail