ULE1212 GLOBAL CLASSROOM STRENGTHENS STUDENTS’ WRITING SKILLS
PEKAN, 21 August 2026 - The ULE1212 Global Classroom successfully brought together students and an international guest speaker from Indonesia for an engaging online learning session focusing on academic writing skills. A number of 55 first year UMPSA students from various Diploma programs attended the online session.
Held via Google Meet from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., the session featured Dr Yanti Sri Rezeki, a lecturer and researcher from the English Education Study Programme, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Tanjungpura (UNTAN), Indonesia.
Entitled “Enhancing Writing Coherence and Cohesion: Using Transitional Markers”, the session introduced students to the important role of transitional markers in connecting ideas and improving the flow of written texts. Dr Yanti guided students through different types and functions of transitional markers, including those used to show addition, contrast, cause and effect, sequence, and conclusion.
Rather than being a conventional lecture, the Global Classroom session was designed as an interactive learning experience. Students were actively involved throughout the session by responding to questions, identifying suitable transitional markers, and sharing their answers during the activities. The interactive tasks encouraged students to apply the concepts immediately rather than simply listen to the explanation.
The students’ responses demonstrated their engagement with the topic. They actively suggested appropriate transitional markers for given sentences and explained how different connectors could change the relationship between ideas. Some students also responded directly to Dr Yanti’s questions through the Google Meet chat, creating a dynamic exchange between the speaker and participants.
One of the highlights of the session was the opportunity for students to receive explanations and feedback directly from an international English language lecturer. The interaction allowed students to gain a broader perspective on English language learning while strengthening their understanding of coherence and cohesion in writing.
The successful implementation of the ULE1212 Global Classroom reflects the commitment of the Centre for Modern Languages, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), to providing innovative and meaningful English language learning experiences. The programme demonstrates how international collaboration and technology can be integrated into language education to enhance students’ academic communication skills.
Overall, the session was well received by the students, who participated actively in completing the activities. One of the participants, Akid Hakimi Satar, expressed his satisfaction with the session, highlighting that the focus on a single topic allowed for more detailed explanations and discussions, thereby enhancing his understanding of the subject. The combination of expert input, interactive tasks and international engagement made the programme a meaningful extension of classroom learning, particularly in helping students understand how transitional markers can contribute to clearer, more coherent and cohesive writing.
Prepared by: Rosnani Ismail, Noraisah Nurul Fatwa Mohd Razali & Nurul Nadia Muhammad