Learning English via green activities
ENVIRONMENTAL stewardship and awareness are best fostered through engaging students in their local natural environment.
In a programme sponsored by the United States Embassy in Malaysia and the Education Ministry, 60 secondary school students from Raub, Pahang joined 15 Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) to learn about their local environment and sustainable farming, while immersed in English discussions and activities.
Although less than two hours away, many of the students from Raub had never been to Cameron Highlands.
The Cameron Highlands Environmental Stewardship English Camp included ETAs from Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.
The Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) programme in Malaysia brings nearly 100 Americans to secondary schools in Malaysia to promote English language learning and bi-national mutual understanding.
The Fulbright programme is jointly supported by the U.S. State Department and the Education Ministry through a bi-national, Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE).
The camp first focused on developing students’ sustainability vocabulary in order to discuss environmental issues from pesti- cides to packaging.
Students journalled on various issues regarding local sustainability obstacles and solutions, as well as self-reflection on their experience in the camp.
“Our primary goal is to improve English conversation and language skills for students at SMK Mahmud and SMK Sungai Ruan.
“In the process, with the support of other Fulbright ETAs from around Malaysia, we also hope to engage students in the vocabulary of environmental stewardship and responsible farming practices” said camp organiser and Fulbright ETA Christopher Norwood.
The camp first visited a lavender farm to focus on the large number of products purchased and consumed that are made up of plants.
Students then visited the Big Red Strawberry Farm to discuss the important role pollinators play in the food system.
Finally, the group visited the tea plantation to marvel at the views of the highlands, and observe the impact of large-scale agriculture on the environment, including the effects of fertilisers and packaging.
The environmental stewardship camp fostered important discussions on community-based envi- ronmental stewardship.
“As environmental policy and biology majors, we incorporated aspects of the local habitat and ecology into each destinations’ debrief to help students develop a vocabulary to discuss sustainability issues and solutions,” said camp organiser and Fulbright ETA Noah Erwin.
An educational experience in a setting that is typically viewed as a tourist destination expanded the students’ perspective of what learning looks like outside the classroom.
“The plethora of learning opportunities and support from 15 Fulbright ETAs made this camp an incredibly unique opportunity for English development, intercultural understanding and critical thinking on local issues like sustainability,” said Norwood.