ENGLISH LANGUAGE CAMP REPORT: 11-13 JULY 2003

ENGLISH LANGUAGE CAMP REPORT
11-13th JULY 2003

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Students without credit for English in SPM result have problems to compete with others since their ability to learn is limited to their English language proficiency. The introduction of English medium instruction in 50% of subjects taught in UTM would further challenge the students.
1.2 The English Language Camp program aims to motivate the students to learn English by providing them the confidence to communicate in English. Activities in the Language Camp cater the development of students’ physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual needs in learning. The camp takes the approach of experiential learning where learning English is fun, exciting and interactive.

2.0 OBJECTIVES

2.1 To motivate participants to learn English.
2.2 To foster the love of the English Language.
2.3 To build a conducive environment for language learning.
2.4 To give the opportunities to the facilitators (TESL students) to practice teaching learning theories learnt in class.

3.0 PARTICIPANTS
The participants were 179 students from Kolej Tun Fatimah and Kolej Siswa Desa Skudai. Their names were short listed based on the information from Computer Center Student Information System. They were first year students that obtained P7 and P8 in their English Paper for SPM. The number of students that was selected for this program is attached in appendix 1.

4.0 ORGANIZER, DATE AND VENUE
This program was organized by English Language Unit, Teaching and Learning Office, Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students’ Affair) UTM Skudai, Johor and Biro Tata Negara,The Prime Minister’s Department.


The program was held as follows:
Date : 11-13th July 2003
Venue : Akademi Kaizen Gunung Pulai, Pekan Nanas,
Johor.
Program’s Tentative: Refer to Appendix 2
5.0 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Director : Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anie Attan
Chairman : Mr. Abdul Razib Hj Shahuddin
Asst. Chairman : Mr. Ishak Ahmad
Secretary : Mdm. Normawati Md. Yusof
Trainers : Mr.Faruk Muhamad
Dr. Norazman Abdul Majid
Miss Fatimah Puteh
Mr. Ghazali Bunari



Head of Facilitator : Syarul Nizam Syariff


Committee Members: Mdm Salina Sihap
Mdm. Thuwaibah Ismail
Mdm. Norliah Mahmod
Miss Shakerah Md. Shukri
Mr. Hassan Mossa
Mr. Mohd Fadzlie Mohd Noor


6.0 CAMP’S FACILITATORS
This program was facilitated by 20 final year TESL undergraduates, Education Faculty. They had undergone training to conduct and facilitate English Language Camp programs. They are:
a. Mr. Royzal Tami
b. Miss Masnizah Mohd Ramli
c. Mr.Shahrizam Hashim
d. Miss Farrah Syuhaida Ismail
e. Miss Diyah Ilyana Mohamad
f. Mr. Adam Low
g. Miss Masdini Harina Ab Manan
h. Mr. Shamril Wan Shahril Ridzuan Wan
i. Mr. Syarul Nizam Shariff
j. Mr. Mohd Syaharil Madlan
k. Miss Shirley Ling Jen
l. Mr. Kamarizal Mohamed
m. Mr. Kenneth Chong Wei Thart
n. Miss So Chiau Ching
o. Miss Siti Nur Shuhada Tarmazi
p. Miss Nur Madihah Hassan
q. Mr. Megat Mohamad Azzad Megat Mahadzir
r. Miss Siti Naterah Abdul Wahab
s. Miss Nurizah Md Ngadiran
t. Miss Gina Lee Yeok Jang




7.0 ATTENDANCE
179 students had been offered to join this program but only 81 students managed to come. The low attendance percentage (45.3%) was due to the several reasons:
a. Some students attended test that was conducted on Saturday and Monday.
b. Some students attended the afternoon class on Friday.
c. Some students attended PALAPES training on Saturday.
d. Some students participated in the SUKAM Opening Ceremony on 11th July 2003.

The list of attendance is attached in the Appendix 3.


8.0 CAMP’S TENTATIVE
The tentative for this program are attached in Appendix 4.

9.0 IMPLEMENTATION
The facilitators attended three pre-camp meetings before the camp was held. These included a working session where they prepared all training materials for this camp. At the camp, 81 participants were divided into 9 smaller groups. Each group consisted of 9 participants and was appointed two facilitators. During the camp, several post mortems were held between 12.00 midnight -1.00 a.m. in order to solve minor problems that occur during the day. The final post mortem for this program was held on 16th July 2003 at UTM. Future facilitators for the coming camps also attended this post mortem session.

10.0 FEEDBACKS
Positive feedbacks were received based on the evaluation form completed by the participants at the end of the camp. Feedbacks presented here are divided into 5 main categories. For category 1 to 4, a scale of 1-5 with 1 being very poor and 5 being excellent is used. Meanwhile, for category 5, a scale of 1-5 with 1 being strongly disagree and 5 being strongly agree is used. On the 5 point scale, participants rated the outcomes of camp as follows:
1. Program
Camp program (Average Score: 4.36)
Ice-breaking (Average Score: 4.04)
Language Games (Average Score: 4.51)
Songs (Average Score: 4.00)
Drama (Average Score: 4.22)
Lecture (Average Score: 4.20)
Physical Exercise (Average Score: 4.03)
2. Facilitation
Facilitators (Average Score: 4.59)
Communication Skills (Average Score: 4.24)
Facilitation Skills (Average Score: 4.33)
Time Management (Average Score: 4.90)
Preparation (Average Score: 4.99)
English Knowledge (Average Score: 4.18)

3. Facilities
General (Average Score: 3.87)
Lodging (Average Score: 3.55)
Workshop Venue (Average Score: 3.61)
Toilet (Average Score: 2.95)
Seminar Venue (Average Score: 3.76)

4. Meals
General (Average Score: 3.87)
Dining Hall (Average Score: 3.72)
Menu (Average Score: 3.76)
Food Quality (Average Score: 3.84)
Food Quantity (Average Score: 3.68)

5. Objectives
I know the objectives of the camp (Average Score: 4.41)
I know the objectives of the activities (Average Score: 4.30)
I am motivated to learn English because of the camp (Average Score: 4.34)
I am motivated to communicate in English because of the camp (Average Score: 4.32)
I want to join the future language camp (Average Score: 4.33)

The Language Camp program was a successful program receiving positive feedbacks from learners. All sub categories were rated between GOOD to EXCELLENT. The learners also felt that the facilitators, though fellow students, were competent enough to handle the project. All sub categories were rated between GOOD to EXCELLENT. The facilities were good enough for them to provide a meaningful camp experience. Except for the toilet facility, which is rated 2.95, all sub categories were rated between GOOD to EXCELLENT. There were several water supply interruptions throughout the camp duration. The participants had ample quality food thus they rated all sub categories between GOOD to EXCELLENT .They understood the objective of the camp and were willing to participate in another camp like this, probably at a different proficiency level. All sub categories were rated between GOOD to EXCELLENT. In short, the camp experience was highly valued by the participants.

11.0 CONCLUSION
As a whole, all the participants seemed satisfied with the camp and they really enjoyed the activities conducted in this program. There are many indications that language games, main activities of the language camp, help students to develop their language skills. It provided learners the opportunities to spontaneously communicate in the target language. The camp offered an enjoyable informal learning atmosphere that banished boredom and promoted motivation to learn. The activities contributed to an atmosphere of healthy competition and provided an outlet for creative use of natural language in a non-stressful situation. Nevertheless, the issue of low attendance needs to be addressed so that resources provided for the future camp are not wasted.