Gleeful UMP Language and Cultural Carnival

PAYA BESAR, 17 December 2022 - The organisation of the Language and Cultural Carnival by the Centre for Modern Languages (CML) in collaboration with the Centre for International Relations (CIR), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) could fuel students’ love for language and culture while strengthening their confidence in communicating and understanding the culture of different countries.

Bearing the theme of Language Empowerment and Language Diversity for Global Competence & Sustainable Lifelong Goals, this programme could increase students’ confidence in strengthening their mastery of the Malay language and improving their English language skills as well as foreign languages offered at CML such as German, Mandarin, Japanese, Arabic and Spanish.

Present to officiate the programme was the Director of the Centre for Academic Innovation and Competitiveness, Professor Ts. Dr. Kamal Yusoh representing the Vice Chancellor of UMP.

According to Professor Ts. Dr. Kamal, communication skills in various languages would produce graduates with high employability and competitiveness.

“The importance of language integration allows students to improve their skills, think critically and display credibility on the world stage.

“Even the skill of mastering a foreign language is also important as a bridge of knowledge to understanding in interacting at the international level,” he said.

Also present were the Dean of CML, Associate Professor Dr. Nik Aloesnita Nik Mohd Alwi, UMP Language & Cultural Carnival 2022 Programme Director, Dr. Ezihaslinda Ngah, Chief Executive Officer of Makmur Gold, Mohd Faizuddin Che Mahmood, General Manager of Koperasi Makmur Malaysia Berhad, Murshidi Jailan and CML Deputy Dean (Academic), Dr. Fatimah Ali.

There was a launch of the Language Empowerment Assistance Programme (LEAP), an intervention programme designed and organised to provide language assistance to all UMP students including foundation, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Through LEAP, CML offers language skills consultancy including listening, reading, speaking and writing, not only for English but for all foreign languages offered by CML.

There were also competitions during the carnival: Community Engagement, Lessons in Life, From Where I Am Sitting, Play Your Role and Twisted Ending competitions.

There was also a knowledge-sharing forum titled Technical Knowledge Is More Important Than Language Mastery at the Workplace: Myth or Fact? which aimed to give exposure to the importance of language in the workplace and encourage the participation of students to share knowledge about the mastery and use of language in preparation for the work environment.

Students also had the opportunity to visit booths that showcased selected language courses offered at CML including elective courses and the Open Specialisation Program Certificate (SPPT).

In conjunction with the carnival, there was also a session of Walk in Interview for Facilitators and an exhibition of language clubs promoting their respective activities.

By: Mimi Rabita Abdul Wahit, Corporate Communications Division, Chancellery Department
Translation by: Dr. Rozaimi Abu Samah, Engineering College/Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology