JOHOR BAHRU, 15 May 2025 – Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), through its Language Academy, successfully hosted the inaugural Festival of Languages and Cultures (FLC) on May 14 and 15, 2025, at the Raja Zarith Sofiah Library (PRZS) on the Johor Bahru campus. This event commemorated the 15th anniversary of the Language Academy. Themed “Celebrating Languages Across Cultures,” the two-day festival brought together UTM students, international communities, language educators, primary school students, and external partners for a vibrant showcase of multilingualism, creative expression, and scholarly dialogue.
DAY 1: Cultural Exchange, Competitions, and the Royal Opening
The festival began on May 14 and featured various activities across PRZS, including language games, competitions, live art painting, short film screenings, and a showcase of community engagement projects by Language Academy students.
Participants took part in creative challenges that focused on languages and cultures, such as the Hangman Challenge, Global Greetings, Reader’s Theatre, Poetry Slam, and Multilingual Karaoke. A standout event in the morning was the calligraphy-themed workshop titled “From Strokes to Masterpieces: The Beauty of Chinese Characters.” This workshop introduced participants to Mandarin writing techniques and highlighted the cultural significance of Chinese script.
On the academic side, the first Scholarly Dialogue session, “Balancing Hyperfocus & Adversities: Exploring the Dynamics of Adult ADHD in Language Acquisition, ” was held. This session examined the relationship between neurodiversity and language learning through an insightful and interactive presentation.
In the afternoon, the Opening Ceremony took place at the PRZS Open Hall, featuring the distinguished presence of Yang Amat Mulia Che’ Puan Mahkota Khaleeda, which added royal prestige to the event. Her attendance marked a significant milestone for FLC 2025, highlighting the importance of linguistic and cultural appreciation at both national and institutional levels. The ceremony included an inspiring speech by UTM Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim, and cultural presentations acknowledging the diverse participants and collaborators who contributed to the event’s success.
After the ceremony, attendees participated in the first LiveWell Workshop, conducted by Columbia Asia Hospital, titled “Clean Hands, Healthy Lives.” This hands-on session emphasized the importance of effective hand hygiene in preventing the transmission of diseases.
Later, participants gathered for a storytelling segment called “TCELC After Hours: UTM Horror Stories,” followed by a short film showcase entitled “Lost-in-Translation.” This showcase explored language barriers and cultural narratives through films created by students.
DAY 2: Forums, Cultural Performances, and Interactive Workshops
On May 15, the day began with a captivating combination of intellectual discussions and cultural performances. The FLC Forums, hosted at the PRZS Open Hall, focused on two relevant topics: “The TikTok Effect: How Short Videos are Changing Language and Culture” and “The Use of AI in Higher Education Language Learning.”
The distinguished panelists included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Hilmi Hamzah from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Harwati Hashim from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Dr. Jayanthi Muniandy from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), and the talented TV personality and host, Ally Iskandar. They shared valuable insights on the evolving connections between digital media, language learning, and education.
The exchange ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and Letter of Collaboration (LoC) was a significant moment in the event. Following this, Dr. Phan Thanh Định, Vice President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNUHCM) in Vietnam, delivered a speech emphasizing the event’s international scope and the importance of academic collaboration.
The festival continued with dance performances by the Yemeni, Chinese, and Hindu student societies, highlighting the rich cultural diversity of UTM’s community. At the same time, a series of Language and culture Workshops provided participants with experiential learning opportunities. Sessions such as “Mind-Boggling English No More!”, “Hayya bil Arabiah” and “Worry-Free Travel: Essential Malay and German” featured interactive language learning through games, role-play, and practical dialogue.
The afternoon segment featured more workshops, including “Prononcer Comme Un Français”, “Let’s Experience Japanese Language & Culture!”, and “Vietnamese Language & Culture Unlocked”, led by facilitators from the Japan Foundation, Vietnamese universities, and language instructors from UTM and Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA).
Participants attended the second LiveWell Workshop on Basic Life Support (BLS), where they received hands-on CPR training from medical professionals. Concurrently, Scholarly Dialogues were held, featuring discussions titled “Has Short-Form Content Shortened Student Attention? Strategies for Language Teachers” and “Role of Majlis Dekan-dekan Bahasa Universiti Awam (MaLDeC).”
The festival concluded with a tour of the UTM campus, live art sessions, and musical performances by local artists, including Kicau-Bilau and Fahil Syarifi. This created a rich and reflective ending to the two-day celebration.
FLC 2025 successfully showcased the beauty of language and culture through education, performance, and community interaction. With the inclusion of local food vendors, interactive booths, and the Johor Bahru–Melaka excursion with international partners, the event not only emphasized UTM’s commitment to global engagement but also fostered lasting memories and meaningful connections across cultures.
Prepared by: Nur Hazwani Mohd Muhridza and Siti Rahmah Abdullah