NIE programme adds value to teachers’ classroom efforts
KUANTAN: The use of the newspaper in teaching English has been proven to be an effective classroom tool.
It is an alternative to help teachers carry out their tasks creatively, raising the quality of classroom learning.
The Newspaper-in-Education (NIE) programme is seen as adding value to teachers’ efforts in making the classroom cheerful, active and interesting.
SK Cherating headmaster Khairul Azizi Ab Aziz said apart from textbooks, the newspaper had pictures, news, articles, graphics and advertisements that could help students understand and master the language.
He said English teachers used the New Straits Times (NST) as a teaching tool at least once a week and their work would be put on display at the school gallery to be shared with other students to motivate them.
“Newspapers provide good supporting materials in the learning process because they are a good source of information on many topics.
“Some students do not have a strong background in the language and do not use the language at home.
“The NIE programme boosts their mastery of the language,” he said at a motivational lecture and NIE-NST Workshop at SK Cherating yesterday.
About 120 Year Five and Six pupils participated in the twoday workshop involving activities such as motivational lectures, using the newspaper, mastery of the English language and English-language speaking practice. SK Cherating is an adopted school of Media Prima Bhd (MPB) since 2012.
There are programmes like the NIE, BH Examination Guidance Seminar and tuition classes to improve pupils’ academic achievements and prepare them for the UPSR exam in September.
Year Six pupil Khairul Hakimi Mohd Yunus, 12, said the NIE workshop had helped him improve his proficiency in English.
“The workshop uses 100 per cent English and whether you like it or not, you need to speak in English, even though there will be mistakes.
“The use of newspaper to look for words, as well as cutting and pasting them, help us to improve what is lacking when in the classroom,” he said.
His friend, Siti Arini Andriyana Mohd Zafaim, 12, attempts to fix her weakness in grammar and sentence structure when writing her essays.
“Using NST has given us a tremendous advantage in terms of understanding the language and helping us increase our mastery of the English language in preparation for the UPSR.
“The use of the newspaper has made learning more fun in the classroom and the content has helped us increase our understanding and knowledge.”