Tawau English Language Teachers' Club

T   E   L  T  Club

By Mary Chin May 2006

TAWAU is in the media spotlight again, educationally speaking. This time around, it is the formation of the Tawau English Language Teachers' (TELT) Club, the first such club to be started in Sabah.

As its name implies, the key aim is to raise the status of learning and teaching English.

Outstanding English teachers and promoters of English Language learning will be duly recognized.

All English teachers in the Tawau Division (comprising the Tawau and Semporna districts)
automatically become members of the club.

According to the club's constitution, membership is compulsory for English Language teachers.
Office-bearers are appointed by the Tawau Division Education Officer and they serve a two-
year term.

Sabah Education Director Normah Gagoh is the Patron of the club. The Chairperson is Fitriani Wahid who is the Principal of SMK Pasir Putih, Tawau, assisted by the Headmaster of SK Bukit Quoin, Taw^au, Lunggo Leem. Its vision is to be a leading professional teachers' club that upholds the hallmarks of dignity, integrity and distinction.

The 1000 strong club is the 'fruit' of collaboration between the Tawau Education Division Office and Super Principal of SM Teknik Tawau, Mary Yap Kain Ching. Yap who acts as professional advisor for the club has a passion for teaching English. She has a Master's degree in the Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom.

She elaborated on the three main objectives -
To play a supportive role in enhancing the English Language Teaching Profession,
to inspire English Language teachers to scale greater heights and
to impact upon the students in English Language learning.

"Our mission is to contribute positively to a wider usage of the English Language at least in the Tawau Division and to create a platform for networking and collaboration among English teachers.

This initiative is in response to the call of the Minister of Education, Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein to come up with new ideas for teachers to enhance their level of competency and professionalism.

"Bearing in mind English is our second language and that its importance cannot be denied as an international language, we have put our heads together for the innovation to take place," Yap told Daily Express.

She was quick to say that the club, like everything else, is undoubtedly the outcome of a huge team effort, determination, courage and consistency on the part of all parties concerned.

"We want to excel as a professional English Language Teachers' Club as we move towards an authentic paradigm that is networked and collaborative, characterized by fellowship among the English teachers within and between schools and the community at large."

According to Yap, the idea of a TELT Club was mooted even before the 2005 Fraternity Night for English Language teachers, a brainchild of Yogawathi Subramaniam, held at the Marco Polo Hotel, Tawau. Chiam Lee Hia from SMK Kuhara, Tawau and Leonilo Mirasol from SK Holy Trinity, Tawau received appreciation awards from Hjh Masni Madat, then Tawau Division Education
Officer.

"The impact of their English Language teaching was felt throughout the division," She said.

Other highlights of the evening were a talk on "Success Principles in Life" by Yap, games, a cultural fashion show with English teachers playing model, and an impressive cultural dance performance by the teachers.

"We were determined that it would not be the first and last gathering for the English teachers. It was not going to be a one-off thing. Hence, the birth of the Tawau English Language Teachers' Club."

Early in January this year, the club met for the first time and its committee members were appointed by the new Tawau Division Education Officer, Hj Eko Sukohidayat Sunarto. He gave his blessing for its formation.

Hishammuddin was given the honor to launch the TELT Club during his recent visit to SM Teknik Tawau. He was accorded a rousing welcome.

That was before he officiated at the opening of the Technical Building of the school. Both events were held to mark the school's 25th anniversary.

Congratulating Yap on being instrumental in forming the TELT Club together with the Tawau Division Education Office (under the leadership of Hj Eko Sukohidayat Sunarto), he said the club should become a showcase for other states to emulate.

"I am impressed that the community leaders and corporate figures in Tawau had contributed generously to enable the club to get off the ground since it is a self-supporting club," he said.

Donors included Apas Assemblyman Datuk Tawfiq Datuk Hj Abu Bakar Titingan, Member of Parliament for Tawau Shim Paw Fatt, Tanjong Batu Assemblyman Hj Mohd Kamil Datuk Hj Kassim, former Member of Parliament for Tawau Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui, and corporate figures Datuk Elbert Lim, Datuk Jaswant Singh, Mr Pang Pak Lok and Mr Henry Chong.

The Minister presented letters of appointment to members of the club's executive committee at the Tun Ahmadshah School Hall. On behalf of the donors, Dr Chua presented a mock cheque for RM 10,000 to the club.

OUTLINING the TELT Club's agenda for 2006 until 2008, Yap said a variety of action-packed activities will be held under three main categories : Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Continuing Personal Development (CPD) and Social Events.

"For Continuing Professional Development (CPD), teachers will give emphasis to newspaper in education (NIE) whereby they will use the newspaper as a teaching tool when teaching the English Language."

Other activities in the pipeline include public speaking, journal writing (on reflections and reactions to papers presented by resource personnel), analytical writing, action research to gather information, case studies on English Language Teaching (ELT) and participation in ELT conferences, seminars or workshops.

As for Continuing Personal Development (CPD), the professional advisor said suggested activities include professional image building, social etiquette (example, table manners) and protocol.

"We will invite people who are an authority on these subjects to give talks to club members.''

On social events. Yap said the club has proposed an English Language Teaching (ELT) Carnival, a TELT Fraternity Night and benchmark visits.

"As part of the carnival, there will be an elocutionary contest for English Language teachers. During the. Fraternity Night, deserving English Language teachers will receive awards in appreciation of their contributions."

According to her, the aim of benchmark visits is to get ideas on how to improve the teaching and learning of English through establishing international links with other countries.

"It can be in the form of a study tour. For a start, we may consider visiting countries within the Asean region." This, she said, is in line with the aspirations of the Education Ministry under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).

INDEX : MPT  October 26, 2007 04:38:48 PM