Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bangsar (Integrasi): November 2018

During a meeting with Dr. Samsur Rijal bin Yahaya and the facilitators of Kolej Kediaman Ketujuh Za’ba on 26 October 2018. Prior to this, I have had two meetings with Associate Professor Dr. Jariah Mohd Jan (Dean, Faculty of Languages & Linguistics), Dr. Teoh Mei Lin (Head of Department, Faculty of Languages & Lingusitics) and Dr. Samsur Rijal bin Yahaya (College Master, Za'Ba Residential College) at the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics on 30 May 2018 and 13 August 2018 to discuss about this program.

The Program Adik Angkat Bersama SMK Bangsar (or Residential Program) was a short-term on-campus program for the students of SMK Bangsar that offered a taste of what life would be like in University Malaya. It was held in Kolej Kediaman Ketujuh Za’ba, University Malaya from 1 Nov 2018 – 3 Nov 2018.

The beautiful Kolej Kediaman Ketujuh Za’ba

The administration building of Kolej Kediaman Ketujuh Za’ba

Kolej Kediaman Ketujuh Za’ba - beautiful, clean and spacious. Such a peaceful environment is conducive to learning.

The objective of the Program Adik Angkat Bersama SMK Bangsar was to provide the students with the opportunity to reside in the university so as to enhance their educational experiences and facilitate their successful transition to college life. Specially organized and planned by the lecturers and students of University Malaya, this program has provided a fantastic way for the students of SMK Bangsar to discover university life. It has also created educationally enriching experiences for them through its range of activities such as workshops, discussion groups, project-work, presentations and performances. Together with its unique Motivation Camp, English Camp, and French Camp, this program not only enhanced their social and intellectual development but was also an excellent introduction to the academic and cultural environment of university life.

Students arriving at Kolej Kediaman Ketujuh Za’ba - an exciting university experience awaited them.

Student Registration

Having their first lunch at Kolej Kediaman Ketujuh Za’ba

Many thanks to Dr. Samsur Rijal bin Yahaya and the facilitators of Kolej Kediaman Ketujuh Za’ba for organizing the Program Adik Angkat Bersama SMK Bangsar and Motivation Camp for the students of SMK Bangsar.

Ice-Breaking Activities after their first lunch

Below is the list of names of the facilitators of Kolej Kediaman Ketujuh Za’ba who spent their precious weekend with their adik angkat and looked after them so well:

TRAINERS FOR GIRLS:

NO	NAME
1.	NURUL SYAFIQA BINTI MOKHTAR
2.	WAN NURSYAFIQAH BINTI SHA’ARUL AFANDI
3.	NUR AMIRAH IZZATI BINTI MOHD DAUD
4.	LAVANIYA A/P NAGARAJAN
5.	NURANISA BINTI MUHAMAD FADHIL
6.	FATIN NASUHA BINTI ABDUL RAHMAN
7.	SUGANYA A/P RONJON
8.	NOR AMIRAH NADIAH BINTI MOHD AMRIZOL
9.	NOR FAIZAH BINTI MD. LIZAH
10.	NUR ATHIRAH BINTI ABDUL RAHIM
11.	NUR WAHIDAH BINTI ALIAS
12.	AIN NAJWA NABILA BINTI ZAINAL
13.	NOOR SYAHIRAH BINTI HARUN
14.	NURUL ALYA AQILAH BINTI MUSTAFFA
15.	NURIN SABRINA BINTI NOORMIZAN
16.	NUR FATIN NAJIHAH BINTI YAAKOP
17.	NUR JUHAIDA BINTI MUHAMMAD NA’IM
18.	NURAKHMA BINTI RAHIM
19.	NURIN ANISA BINTI MOHD SUFIAN
20.	ANG PHEI WEI
21.	NURUL NAJIHA BINTI RAZALI
22.	SITI NUR ARTIEQAH BINTI AZHAR

TRAINERS FOR BOYS:

NO	NAME
1.	HAZMAN BIN ABDUL RAHMAN
2.	MUSTAPAH BIN SIRAJUDI
3.	MOHAMAD AZMI BIN ABDULLAH
4.	DESHAN A/L RAVI
5.	MUHAMMAD HAIQAL BIN AHMAD
6.	ROSLAN BIN RAMLIH
7.	MUHAMMAD NUR AIMAN BIN MAHAT
8.	ABDUL AZIM BIN ABDUL RAHIM
9.	FIRDAUS BIN AHMAD TERMIZI
10.	MOHD RIZAL BIN HUJAN
11.	AMIR MUBARAK BIN MAHADZIR
12.	SAMSUL AMIRUL BIN SAMSUL BADRIN
13.	ABDUL SOMAD BIN GHAZALI
14.	AMIERUL MUQMININ BIN NIZAM
15.	MUHAMMAD IKHWAN NAIM BIN MOHAMAD
16.	MUHAMMAD SYAFIQ IZZAT BIN KHAIROL HISHAM
17.	MUHAMMAD FAIZ BIN ZAINUDDIN
18.	MOHAMAD AZFAR AFIFI BIN AZMI
19.	NUR ASBULAH BIN TALIB
20.	WOON KAI WEN
21.	MOHD AZIZUL BIN AMSI@ISMAIL
22.	MUHAMMAD SYABBIR BIN ZAGHIRUDIN

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Associate Professor Dr. Jariah Mohd Jan and Dr. Teoh Mei Lin for recommending this Residential Program to me when I went to see them to ask for their help to conduct an English Camp for my students. The three days that my student spent in University Malaya had turned out to be one of the most meaningful experiences in their lives - something that they would cherish for a lifetime. This program has provided a non-threatening environment for them to be active, to develop communicative competence in English (which involved the productive skills i.e. speaking & writing and receptive skills i.e. listening & reading), to learn about and enhance their own abilities. Truly, their participation in a program which was designed just for them has not only enhanced their English Language skills but also left behind beautiful and indelible memories in their mind and it seems that they would like to have more of it as they keep asking me to organize another trip to University Malaya for them.

The Motivation Camp was incorporated into the Residential Program with the intention to motivate my students to study hard and lead more fruitful lives since most of them come from challenging backgrounds and lack the initiative for self-improvement. Motivation is an important aspect in learning as it compliments the education and development of the students by opening their eyes to ideas, opportunities and possibilities beyond what they have already known. It is hoped that my students will take school more seriously, achieve better grades and graduate from secondary school with higher aspirations to succeed in life after their involvement in this program. On the whole, this program’s overall motivational support did have some positive effects on my students as it has helped them to understand the importance of education and staying in school, the value of school life and the benefits of working hard. Since motivation is also a key factor when it comes to learning a second language, it is hoped that the students of SMK Bangsar would be more motivated to learn English upon completion of this program. This was also one reason why I wanted the Motivation Camp to be carried out in hand in hand with the English Camp. Given my students' low proficiency in English, something really need to be done to motivate them to learn the language.

At the English Camp with Dr. Teoh Mei Lin, Head of Department, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics.

With Dr. Shangeetha at the English Camp.

Inside Dewan Mengkula during the English Camp with Dr. Teoh Mei Lin and Dr. Emily Lau.

With Dr. Teoh Mei Lin and the facilitators of the English Camp.

English Camp - group photo.

We are especially grateful to Associate Professor Dr Jariah Mohd Jan, Dr. Teoh Mei Lin, Dr. Emily Lau, Dr. Shangeetha and all the student facilitators (Muhammad Irsyad b Zaini, Muhammad Salman Farruz bin Mohd Muzzafar, Alia Nur Aishah bt Mohd Alwi, Ngeow XiouJhee, Raeesah bt Shaik Saffarudin, Abdur Rahman b Ismail, Rabiatuladawiah bt Ismail, Zainatul Khalidah bt Kastawinata, Noor Fazrini bt A. Anwar, & Ungku Nur Khairunisa bt Ungku Ahmad Danial) involved in organizing and planning for the English Camp. The English Camp, with its 21 Century skills (particularly collaboration and teamwork, creativity and imagination, critical thinking and problem solving) was indeed a great success as it really helped my students to better understand and speak English particularly when they were given the opportunity to interact with members of the English Department of the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics who were so engaging. I am glad to see that students who used to be rather passive in class suddenly participated so actively in all the activities designed for them throughout the English Camp. Some of them even told me that they have developed an interest in the subject now even though they did not like the subject earlier. Through this unique camp experience, my students have not only learnt the English language skills but also independence, decision-making, social and emotional skills in an atmosphere of creativity and enrichment under the supervision of the lecturers and undergraduates of the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics of University Malaya.

Also thanks to Encik Ahmad Kamil (French lecturer, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics) and the facilitators of the French Camp (Nur Afiqah Munirah bt Mohd Ali, Yuliana bt Masri, Azfar Afifi b Azmi, Nurin Anisa bt Mohd Sufian & Nurin Sabrina bt Noormizan) for giving the students of SMK Bangsar the opportunity to learn French. French has always been my favourite language and I am glad that I can finally bring this language to my students (My readers who are interested to learn French can click here to see my French language collection. These are, in my opinion, the best books for learning French). It is indeed something new to them. I believe that the French Camp will certainly benefit my students as this would enable them to communicate and interact within multiple communities. It would also be easier for them to find a job since employers consider this to be a valuable asset. Knowing multiple languages also opens up their vacation destination possibilities. Traveling through a foreign country becomes much easier if they can speak the language of that country.

As for the students of SMK Bangsar, our principal, Puan Hajah Noraizan's advice is - don’t forget the feelings you had throughout this program that was intended specially for you. Keep practicing your English and French, whether it is with your friends, at school, or at home. Also, write messages to your kakak and abang angkat. Since you have learned about the power of motivation and how it can change your life in a positive way, it is hoped that upon your return to your school and home, you will bring the knowledge that you gained throughout this program to improve the quality of your life.

The photographs that I took (below) clearly depict the activities of the Program Adik Angkat Bersama SMK Bangsar (in chronological order).