Leading English provider ELS Language Centres (ELS) celebrated the achievement of young Malaysian students in English writing proficiency for the second year running in an award ceremony for the ELS English Language Ambassador Award Essay Writing Competition. The Competition, which also consists of an online English language writing programme that prepares students for their SPM English exam, gathered participation of 30,987 Form 4 and Form 5 students from 516 schools nationwide.
YB Puan Fadhlina Sidek, Minister of Education, gave recognition to the top 10 winners in the presence of their families as well as representatives from the Ministry of Education (MOE), Australian High Commission, ELS and its strategic partners – the University of Adelaide, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Sunago Education and Just English.
According to Puan Fadhlina, “Competitions and activities like the ELS English Language Ambassador Award are an essential part of the Ministry of Education’s comprehensive strategy to emphasise the paramount importance of English language proficiency in our nation’s educational landscape.” She also added “Such initiatives play an immensely important complementary role in our efforts in schools. By igniting a genuine passion for the English language and providing dynamic platforms for students to apply their language skills in real-world contexts, activities like this foster greater interest, motivation, and proficiency in English.”
In 2022, ELS introduced the English Language Ambassador Award Essay Writing Competition as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts to contribute to the Malaysian Government’s drive for enhanced English language proficiency among secondary school students. Supported by MOE, this annual CSR initiative is tailored to assist Form 4 and 5 students in refining both their academic and creative writing abilities, thereby aiding them in readiness for the SPM English Writing examination.
The students’ registration for the competition was facilitated through DELIMa, the national digital learning platform and was deemed one of the platform’s programmes with the highest engagement in 2023. Students were then enrolled in ELS’s 8-week online interactive English Language writing programme to prepare for both the competition and SPM English Writing. Upon successful completion of the programme, students received co-curriculum marks from MOE. The competition reached its final stage with ELS choosing the top ten essays for further evaluation by the judges and the shortlisted candidates were then interviewed to determine their final ranking.
Puan Sri Datin Hjh Aisha binti Hj Shamsuddin, Chair of the Board of Governors at ELS, explained that the online English writing course is what makes the ELS English Language Ambassador programme unique, inclusive and unlike many essay writing competitions, which are often participated by only the brightest students. According to Puan Sri Datin Hjh Aisha, “We firmly believe that a strong command of the English language is essential for our students to thrive in an increasingly globalised world. Through programmes like the ELS English Language Ambassador Awards, we aim to inspire and empower students to become confident communicators and leaders of tomorrow.”
NUR MAISARA BINTI AHMAD JOHA from SMK DATO’ SHEIKH AHMAD, PERLIS won the Grand Prize and was awarded a one-week study tour to the University of Adelaide, Australia, inclusive of return flight tickets and accommodation, a cash award of RM 2,000, a Trophy, a Certificate of Achievement, and a one-year subscription to the JustRead online programme and Digital English Skills Grammar & Vocabulary. She will join the University’s Orientation Week in July and experience studying abroad through social events, cultural programmes and excursions around the city of Adelaide.
HARSIMRANJEET SINGH SRAU A/L GURDEV SINGH from SMK KETARI, PAHANG was the first runner-up while SUFWAN AMIN BIN REZAL from SMK DERMA, PERLIS was the second runner-up. They won cash awards of RM1,500 and RM750 respectively, as well as a Trophy, a Certificate of Achievement, and a one-year subscription to the JustRead online programme and Digital English Skills Grammar & Vocabulary.
The remaining Top 10 finalists were:
- Third runner-up – ALISYA AMANI BINTI AIMAN MIRZA ALBERT – SMK BANDAR TASIK PUTERI, SELANGOR
- Fourth runner-up – AIMAN FARHAN BIN ABDUL HAFIZ – SM SAINS BANTING, SELANGOR
- Finalist – LEE YAN QI – SMK SERI KELEDANG, PERAK
- Finalist – SOFIYYAH MAISARAH BINTI MUHAMED FARID – SMK SEKSYEN 7, SELANGOR
- Finalist – ANGELINA LAU LI HUI – SMK ST ANTHONY, SARAWAK
- Finalist – NUR LIYANA BATRISYIA BINTI ZAHARI – SM SAINS BANTING, SELANGOR
- Finalist – HEMA SHAYINI A/P SELVAM – SMK CONVENT SENTUL, KUALA LUMPUR
Each Finalist received a Trophy, a Certificate, co-curriculum marks and a one-year subscription to the JustRead online programme and Digital English Skills Grammar & Vocabulary. Prizes were also awarded to the Grand Champion’s school, as well as the Top 20 schools and students in the online writing programme. All participants who completed the online writing lessons with an average grade of at least 70% received a certificate of participation and co-curriculum marks.
During the ceremony, ELS also committed to providing additional English language teaching and learning resources to Malaysian public schools in partnership with the Lions Club of Damansara, pledging more than RM300,000 worth of resources that support two of the Ministry’s initiatives: the Nadi Ilmu Amalan Membaca Program (NILAM programme) and non-textbook-based lessons – benefiting more than 3,000 students and teachers this year.
ELS is scheduled to kick-start the 2024 ELS English Language Ambassador programme in mid-May 2024. For more details about the programme, visit: http://elsaward.els.edu.my