Strengthening English language education
THE inaugural Northern Research Conference in English Language Education (NORCELE) 2018 was held at the Insitute of Teacher Education (IPG), Tuanku Bainun Campus in Penang.
Organised by the Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (Melta) Penang Chapter in collaboration with the IPG, Tuanku Bainun Campus, NORCELE promotes research and scholarship in English language education.
Institute director Dr Sazali Yusoff who represented the IPG Malaysia rector, thanked Melta for its effort in strengthening English language education in Malaysia.
Melta president Prof Dr S Ganakumaran explained that the emphasis on local research in English language as a second language is increasingly important in Malaysia because most of the existing literature on teaching methodologies and approaches are written by experts and researchers who come from countries where English is taught in a significantly different environment.
The one-day conference with 250 participants and presenters, comprised a poster presentation competition, a series of workshops and a forum.
Presenters from this conference competed in Excellence in Research awards in five categories, namely the PhD, Masters, Academic, Teacher and Undergraduate Categories.
Gold, silver or bronze award winners received a certificate of recognition, a confirmed presentation slot at the Melta International Research Conference on English Language Education (MIRCELE) 2018, a fee waiver for MIRCELE 2018 and a complimentary one-year Melta membership.
Melta Penang Chapter leader Laysee Gregory said the response for the conference was overwhelming. “Although we initially anticipated receiving participants from only the northern states, we were pleased to also welcome delegates from Selangor, Pahang and Melaka,” she said.
The Penang Melta Chapter is currently on a membership drive and planning future activities that will benefit English language teaching practitioners in the region.