Rocket to Fluency: Impactful Language Program for UTM Community

Awis Rumaisya Azizan

JOHOR BAHRU, Jan 22—The Department of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation) and the Language Academy of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities successfully hosted a one-day Language Camp themed “Book/Movie Character” as part of their ‘Rocket to Fluency’ community service program. The event took place at Pulai Springs Resort, Skudai, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Operating under the motto “Ace your English, Communicate with Ease,” the Rocket to Fluency program demonstrates Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s commitment to community development through education. The program’s comprehensive approach serves various segments of the community through four distinct subprograms: Language Academy Young Scholars (LAYS) for primary school students, Mastering the Art of Public Speaking (MAPS) for high school students, MUET Preparatory Workshop (MPW) for tertiary students and staff, and Work Talk Mastery (WTM) for support staff.

Participants from MAPS, MPW, and WTM, together with distinguished guests for the event

Throughout the subprograms, which took place two to three times last year, participants significantly improved their English language proficiency and communication skills. The LAYS program was particularly impressive with its innovative approach to language learning, incorporating interactive and creative activities such as coloring, baking, and role-playing, which helped learners develop confidence in using English. Meanwhile, the MAPS program successfully transformed hesitant speakers into confident presenters, while MPW participants reported notable improvements in their Malaysian University English Test (MUET) preparation. WTM participants also stated that they learned valuable tips for professional communication in both written and spoken forms. The Language Camp marked the culmination of all these subprograms, featuring engaging language games, competitive exhibitions, and special performances by LAYS participants. The exhibition showcased creative projects and presentations from the subprogram participants, demonstrating the practical application of their newly acquired language skills. The highlight of the event was the awards ceremony, which recognized the participants’ outstanding achievements in the subprograms. Some of the awards given included Best Participant(s), Best Team(s), Best Exhibitor(s), and Best Dressed.

The participants from the four sub-programs were very excited during the Language Games activities

LAYS participants on stage performing reader’s theatre on three stories: The Giving Tree, Michelangelo, and Llama Llama Red Pajama

Prof. Ts Dr. Mohd Hafiz Dzarfan Othman, Chair of the Frontier Material Research Alliance, officiated the Rocket to Fluency Language Camp on behalf of Prof. Dr. Rosli Md Illias, UTM Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation. Also in attendance were Tn. Hj. Mohd Najib Masroom, Deputy Registrar of JTNCPI; Dr. Nur’ain Balqis Haladdin, Assistant Chair of LA; and Jaffrey Samsul Bahrin, Deputy Registrar of FSSH.

Distinguished guests were checking out the participants’ special projects displayed on the exhibition posters

The Rocket to Fluency team, led by Azura Sirri with guidance from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hadina Habil is grateful for the opportunity to lead this project for the UTM community. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed their time, energy, and resources to make these programs beneficial to the community, which aligns with UTM’s motto, ‘In the Name of God to Mankind’. The second round of the Rocket to Fluency program is set to begin in May 2025. UTM staff and their children are welcome to participate in this enriching language program. Please contact Azura at 017-6347573 or Radiah at 019-7007009 if you are interested.

Authors: Awis Azizan & Azura Sirri