CfBT Education Malaysia | Our Projects

ELCs | Our Projects | CfBT Education Malaysia

English Language Coordinators (ELCs)

Rural Districts in Malaysia are the scene of innovative grassroots teacher training with the Malaysian Schools English Language project developed by the Malaysian Ministry of Education in conjunction with CfBT Education Services Malaysia. Our English Language Coordinators (ELCs) fostered classroom change through interactive task-based courses, workshops and specific skills development, by working alongside local staff.

The project began fully in January 2003 and ended in December 2007 and involved some 25,000 Malaysian teachers throughout East and West Malaysia, providing positive alternatives to reliance on translation and teacher-fronted delivery. Core courses addressed methodology while fostering confidence to develop greater student use of English language. Shorter-term workshops and observations by trainers built a collegial approach and motivated rural learners.

ELCs liaised with State and District Language Officers, School Heads, Heads of Department, English teachers and students, to determine what obstacles hampered the effective learning of English in Primary and Secondary schools. They examined ways and means of encouraging change within the school culture, so that motivation for learning English improved, students recognised the importance of English, and are encouraged to use English outside the classroom as well as in.

The ELCs delivered a series of core courses and workshops for local teachers of English, which developed pedagogical and methodological skills, and the teachers own personal language skills. Along with this came an increase in confidence, enthusiasm and commitment to English teaching.

ELCs were also encouraged to develop their own specific areas of expertise and specialisations in language learning, to the benefit of the project, and this was done in many areas, including language learning websites, big books and lower primary reading, drama initiatives, and learning English through music.

Another recent initiative could be seen in CfBT UK's Education Update. The courses were designed and written by the ELC team, and were organic in nature. As courses were delivered, improvements were made, based on feedback from both teachers and trainers. On completion of courses, the trainees gave CfBT post course feedback, and on successful completion were awarded MoE/CfBT certificates.

The team came from a variety of English speaking backgrounds and had a wealth of experience and expertise, optimised through sharing of ideas, experience and resources, both through the Internet and through regional and central meetings.