APP MAKES IT EASIER TO PRACTISE
Participants using break time to learn, understand new words
PARTICIPANTS of the new, digitised RHB New Straits Times (NST) National Spell-It-Right (SIR) Challenge 2017 have been practising using the SIR Challenge app during their school break before entering the spelling competition.
SK Seri Bintang Utara pupil Aliya Chempaka Md Adli had been visiting the tutorial session of the SIR Challenge app during the holidays before she proceeded to the preliminary stage.
Aliya, 9, an avid reader of mystery books in Malay and English, said she loved learning new words, and the school break gave her time to practise.
“Whenever I try the tutorial, there’s always a new word and I try to memorise and refer to it in the dictionary.
“It has been challenging for me, but I have been wanting to enter the competition since Year 1. Now, I have more confidence since I am in Year 3.
“I feel that I can win, but I am quite nervous on stage.
“Plus, there will be more people using the app, so I try to read and understand more words. I like the app because I can use my time during the holidays to test my vocabulary skills.”
Her father, Adli, 37, said his daughter decided to join the challenge herself.
“It’s interesting because we just got back from vacationing and she was persistent in trying out the challenge.
“I think she likes the free time she has now to join the challenge since she is busy during school days.
“We, as parents, will support her decision to join the challenge as it will be a good experience for her.
“We also encourage other parents to enter their children in the SIR challenge as it is a great exposure for them to learn English,” he said.
Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah (SAS) Putrajaya head of English panel language Sarminah Salim hoped pupils in the SIR Challenge could nurture their appreciation for the English language.
She said every year, more pupils were showing interest to join the contest, and this year, they were able to enter it themselves.
She shared the link to the app with students so that they could register for the competition.
“The digital approach for SIR is timely since we are in the digital era and it is more interesting. I like that it is more accessible to students and economical as well as time-saving.
“Since it’s the school holiday, they can use the time to explore the app.
“For those without an Internet connection, we will help them at school once school break is over.
“I encourage Form One and Two students to participate in the challenge to help them expand their vocabulary.
“SAS even represented Malaysia at the Scrabble World Youth Championships.
“I was the supervisor of the club.”
Sarminah said she wanted her students to join SIR to have fun, so there was no additional training for them, except for referring to the dictionary and understand new words.
SIR Challenge online preliminary stage will continue till Sept 10 (from Aug 21). Only 100 candidates from each category (primary and secondary) will proceed to the Online State Challenge from Sept 25 to Oct 4.
The SIR Challenge app can be downloaded via Google Play for Android and the Apple app store for iOS users or candidates can visit the website at sir.nstp.com.my.