English teacher Ms Nguyen Thi Yuan receiving a certificate from UCSI's deputy vice-chancellor (Academic Affairs and Research) Prof Dr Teoh Kok Soo during the graduation ceremony.

English teacher Ms Vo Thi Nat receiving the 'Best Speaker' certificate from UCSI deputy vice-chancellor (International Relations) Prof Dr Lee Chai Buan during the graduation ceremony.

The graduation class performedfor the audience at the end of the graduation ceremony.

UCSI International School (Bandar Springhill) principal MsKathryne Jean Ferrell hosted the visiting teachers.

CLE senior manager Ms Christine Wong preparing the teachers for an LMS-driven learning experience.

KUALA LUMPUR: 20 English teachers from Phu Yen - the easternmost province in Vietnam - mostly decked in vibrant traditional attire - attended the recent Graduation Ceremony organised by UCSI University's (UCSI) Centre for Learning Excellence (CLE). 

This was part of the four-week "Intensive English Language Proficiency and English Teaching Programme for Educators", which provided the teachers with opportunities to enhance their teaching methodologies as well as their confidence and proficiency. 

Held in The Quad at UCSI's North Wing premise, the ceremony was attended by UCSI deputy vice-chancellor (Quality Assurance and Enhancement) Assoc Prof Dr Toh Kian Kok; UCSI deputy vice-chancellor (Academic Affairs and Research) Prof Dr Teoh Kok Soo; UCSI deputy vice-chancellor (International Relations) Prof Dr Lee Chai Buan and programme director Ms Margaret Soo. 

A mix of face-to-face lectures, classroom discussions, hands-on activities, peer teaching practices and even trips to schools and hotspots around Kuala Lumpur, including attending the Prime Minister's Hari Raya Open House at Sri Perdana, the learner-centredand Learning Management System (LMS)-drivenprogramme received positive comments from the participants. 

"I found this English programme very useful - we have learned a lot from UCSI - in terms of methodologies, speaking skills and improving our English," enthuses Ms Vo Thi Nat, one of the three Best Speakers in the in-class impromptu speech competition. 

The exciting and fun-filled competition saw UCSIlecturers and the foreign teachers conduct impromptu speeches, whereby those who lost in the initial rounds 'became judges' to vote off contestants. 

For Ms Vo, she was most grateful for UCSI's teaching staff, who were 'not only friendly and helpful but are also well-qualified teachers who are enthusiastic about teaching'. 

Ms Nguyen Thi Yuan - the youngest of the bunch - also found the programme 'very useful and interesting', highlighting that she learned new teaching methodologies that would surely help with her teaching in Vietnam. 

Such glowing testimonies illustrate that the programme is unique - and according to Ms Margaret Soo, this is because 'it is not undergraduate students we are dealing with but in-service teachers with a bachelor's degree and an average of 12 years' teaching experience'. 

"These teachers are very strong in grammar and comprehension but as they are from rural schools in central Vietnam - quite a distance from the major cities - they do not have the natural environment to converse in and use English," she says. 

"(Through the programme), they have the opportunity to fine-tune their spoken English and learned new teaching methodologies by focusing on work-based activities and to introduce creativity and critical thinking in class instead of just teaching from text books." 

The graduation ceremonyis evidence that the teachers - who were awarded certificates and even 'Best Speaker' awards for a select few - have passed with flying colours and are now equipped with not only better English language skills but enhanced self-confidence as well.