Tenggaroh 4 Language Camp Report by Michelle Koh Moh Cheng

An English Language Camp was held in SRK FELDA Tenggaroh 4, Mersing, two hours ride from Johor Bahru, starting from 17 until 19 of January. This game-based programme was jointly organized by FELDA officials and fourth year TESL students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Skudai. This camp is one of two camps organized this semester.
Apart from promoting English as a fun subject and not something to be dreaded, this camp aims to introduce language games as an alternative to learning English. With the easy-to-play and ready-to-go games taught, the year six students here would have the chance to not only have fun, but also practice the language more frequently outside classroom time. This would also give the organizers an opportunity to develop, reflect and expand on their application of methodologies in classroom teaching.
101 year six school children from the 7 Tenggaroh areas here took part in this camp. They were specially selected by their respective schools and most of them have gone for the previous Language Camp held last year. This camp is actually a series of camps held since . 10 facilitators took part in this camp, out of the 20 organizers. The other half of the class would be conducting a similar camp in FELDA Bukit Aping on 24 until 26 January. FELDA officials, school teachers and also RELA guards were on constant duty throughout the camp. We were also accompanied by four lecturers who have been involved in the previous programmes.
The camp was wonderful right from the start. We were warmly greeted by the officials in the school upon arriving and served delicious welcoming tea. The programme then started off in the evening with a motivational talk. Here, the facilitators integrated short sketches with explanation to gauge the participants' interest. 10 groups were formed, guided by one facilitator each. The students were a bit shy during the ice-breaking activities carried out within their groups but warmed up as they formed cheers and drew their flags. Their ideas and enthusiasm were modest but it showed an early stage of teamwork and effort. We had to chip in a few 'kicks' of their own as well when they strayed and showed signs of restlessness. The first day ended with a presentation of flags and cheers from each group from which was a truly creative and energetic performance.
With the basis of positive teamwork and eagerness, the participants were very eager to get up early for the morning exercise. As the groups are named after animals, they enjoyed imitating animals' movements into a series of exercise. For the rest of the day, we separated into our groups to play 'games' in classrooms. Some of the games played are the guessing game of 'Who am I?', the vocabulary and imagination builder of 'The Thing', the very noisy 'Win, Lose or Draw', the serious 'Spy Code' and the rough 'Changing Places'. We only gathered during mealtimes, after intervals, for a supermarket game called 'Prices' and also the popular and energetic evening exercise to 'The Ketchup Song'. We also integrated many children songs complete with actions and their favourite would be 'Boogie Woogie'. By the midday, we could really feel the energy building within the camp. Cheers grew louder and the participants, hungrier. This is of no problem as we are well fed with six meals a day! By nighttime, exhaustion seeped in but the highlight of the camp was just about to begin. Each group was given a plot to act where we would have to come up with the final plot. Active discussion took place almost immediately, but of course, there were the passive ones, who are understandably shy. It was quite a task for us to initiate the enthusiasm as the participants are of mixed level of English proficiency. Some of us resorted to writing the script and even choose the actors. We had to make sure everyone has a role to play and at least a sentence to say. I should think everyone slept like a log after that.
However, I was proved wrong the next morning! After we gathered one hour later than as planned due to electricity failure and the rain, we were told by a couple of the participants that they purposely got up in the middle of the night just to have a chance to bathe! So amazed by their eagerness and their constant early arrivals we were both touched and delighted. Drama practice went on with more noise pollution by the facilitators compared to the participants. With much encouragement, the students grew more confident and generated much better ideas than us! Before presenting their acting skills, we tried to reduce their anxiety by having a treasure hunt. By this time, we could hear them shouting their cheers from blocks away. As the grand finale approaches, the hall was filled up with invited guests, concerned parents and the troop. It was a colourful event with the participants dressed up as animals, aliens and even an apple tree! The facilitators were even more nervous than the participants. We had an interesting and amusing show of dramas with students trying very hard to recall their scripts and facilitators whispering instructions very loudly from the backstage. We ended the camp with the presentation of hampers to the top three winners of the drama presentation and also winners of specific categories.

It is truly hoped that the participants take on a positive attitude towards learning English and had also improved on their ability in the language. Eventhough the students are of varied proficiency level, it can be seen that they had enjoyed the camp by showing such enthusiasm. Previous camps have been quite a success as the officials as well as the students have requested for future camps and in this case, these students were able to join two such camps. They were also able to request for games played previously and this definitely confirms our belief. Special gratitude should be given to the officials who have been very helpful throughout the camp. Our lecturers also deserve our credits for being supportive and also as our constant supervisors and photographers. It is said that there is no line between playing and learning.