USM Journal Management System (Univ. Sains Malaysia)
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The Impact of the IELTS Speaking Test on Teaching Methods and Test Preparation Strategies in China
Get PDFThe increasing popularity of the IELTS test preparation course in China has sparked a discussion about the level of knowledge among instructors in terms of language assessment literacy and their selected teaching methods approach. The primary objective of this study is to gain insights into the intended test evaluation goals by Chinese IELTS speaking test teachers and how it influences their selection of teaching methods. For this study, 32 Chinese IELTS speaking test teachers were invited to participate in the research. The findings indicate that teachers demonstrated a relatively satisfactory understanding of the IELTS speaking test design. However, there were differing opinions among teachers regarding the test criteria, particularly in regard to the absence of explicit mention of skills in the test materials. Moreover, the findings of the present study revealed a link between how teachers perceived the design of the target test and their support for two instructional strategies that they believed could facilitate students\u27 learning of the abilities that will be evaluated in the actual test. The findings of this study offer valuable insights to educators, curriculum developers, and policymakers involved in IELTS, particularly regarding the significance of gathering teachers\u27 perspectives on the goals of the target test. This study specifically highlights how vital it is to prepare teachers in language assessment literacy. Providing teachers with knowledge about testing allows them to make informed decisions and utilise more effective pedagogical practices. Through a thorough examination of test preparation in the Chinese context, the study could not only provide practical recommendations for enhancing IELTS instructional practices, but also contribute valuable insights to broader discussions surrounding the relationship between high stakes testing and teachers\u27 pedagogical approaches
Enhancing Pronunciation Skills in ESL Learners Through ChatGPT: The Efficacy of an AI-Driven Learning Tool
Get PDFPronunciation is often taken as a gauge of language proficiency and to judge overall English ability—sometimes inaccurately. As ESL learners reach tertiary-level education, pronunciation training often diminishes in priority, as they are assumed to have mastered basic pronunciation skills. Unfortunately, this may not be the case, and many pronunciation errors persist into adulthood. If this remains unaddressed, they can become fossilised, making them more challenging to correct later. In higher education settings, English language courses rarely focus on pronunciation training, particularly in the context of correcting erroneous pronunciation. This neglect can lead to communication issues and negatively impact individuals\u27 growth and others’ perception of them in professional environments. Despite the potential of AI technology to transform language learning, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding the application of AI tools for pronunciation enhancement. This study aims to bridge this gap by investigating the use of ChatGPT for individualised pronunciation learning. It positions the study as a critical step toward enabling ESL learners to leverage the use of AI-driven approaches as potential solutions for pronunciation enhancement. Conducted among undergraduates taking English courses in a public university in Malaysia, this study adopts a quasi-experimental mixed-method design involving pre-test, post-test, and vocabulary identification. Findings indicated that ChatGPT has great potential for applications in pronunciation learning and can offer individualised self-accessed support for ESL students to improve their pronunciation
Strategies to Enhance Grade Four Reading Skills in Rurally Located Primary Schools in the O.R.Tambo Coastal District
Get PDFThis paper examines strategies to improve reading skills among Grade Four learners in rural primary schools within the O.R. Tambo Coastal District, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The study sought to identify practical approaches for improving reading proficiency in this context. It was grounded in Lev Vygotsky’s social constructivism theory, which emphasises the importance of social interaction in learning; in this case, the emphasis is put on grades. An interpretive paradigm guided the research process. The study adopted a qualitative methodology with a case study design, and data were gathered through semi-structured interviews conducted with ten Grade Four teachers selected through convenience sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Key findings revealed effective strategies to enhance reading skills, including the use of picture books, the "Drop Everything and Read" initiative, grouping learners according to ability, and employing diverse teaching methods and styles. These strategies were designed to cater to the diverse needs of learners and promote engagement with reading. The study addresses a significant gap, as limited research and implementation efforts have been made in rural primary schools regarding reading enhancement strategies. The recommendations propose that educational stakeholders collaborate to cultivate a strong reading culture through targeted interventions. These include organising workshops focused solely on reading instruction strategies and fostering more significant support for teachers in rural settings. By implementing these recommendations, Grade Four learners stand to benefit from improved reading skills, laying out a stronger foundation for academic success in their learning. This research makes a meaningful contribution to the discourse on literacy development in under-resourced educational contexts
Lambakan Permohonan Menggunakan Wali Hakim dalam Urusan Perkahwinan dan Cabarannya kepada Mahkamah Rendah Syariah Kuala Kangsar (MRSKK)
Get PDFWali hakim bertanggungjawab menjadi wakil kepada wali nasab yang aqrab mahupun ab’ad, sekiranya berlaku masalah pada wali nasab serta ketidakpatuhan dalam memenuhi syarat-syarat kelayakan menjadi wali. Permohonan perlulah dilakukan di Mahkamah Syariah sebelum tugas perwalian dalam sesuatu perkahwinan berpindah kepada wali hakim secara mutlak. Namun begitu, permohonan wali hakim di Mahkamah Rendah Syariah Kuala Kangsar (MRSKK) nampaknya semakin bertambah sejak akhir-akhir ini dan ia sekali gus merumitkan urus tadbir di peringkat dasar. Ketiadaan dan ketidakpatuhan syarat sebagai seorang wali merupakan sebab utama berlakunya lambakan permohonan wali hakim di MRSKK ini. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis punca ketidakpatuhan syarat kelayakan wali dan cabaran lambakan permohonan menggunakan wali hakim di MRSKK. Reka bentuk kualitatif diadaptasikan dalam kajian ini dengan gabungan kaedah analisis dokumen dan temu bual separa berstruktur melibatkan para hakim syarie dan pendaftar. Setelah data dokumen dan data temu bual diperoleh, kaedah analisis kandungan dokumen digunakan sekali lagi dalam proses menganalisis data-data ini yang mana hasilnya dikategorikan mengikut kaedah tematik. Kajian ini mencadangkan pelan tindakan terhadap aktiviti-aktiviti sosial melibatkan kerohanian umat Islam dapat dipertingkatkan agar faktor-faktor negatif yang menjadi punca gugurnya syarat wali pemohon dikurangkan pada masa akan datang.
Sikap Ihsan Dalam Ilmu Silat: Sebuah Sorotan
Get PDFSilat merupakan hasil kearifan tempatan dalam ketamadunan Melayu. Pada zaman ini, pemahaman ihsan dalam dunia seni bela diri terutamanya silat sudah semakin pudar. Sedangkan, silat memiliki falsafah tersendiri yang memupuk sikap ihsan sehingga terlahirnya ungkapan “zahir silat mencari kawan.” Objektif utama kajian ini adalah menyorot sikap ihsan dalam dunia persilatan. Kajian ini bersifat kepustakaan dan juga temu bual yang menyorot sejarah berkaitan asal usul silat serta pengalaman para pesilat dalam menghadapi konflik. Analisis dilakukan menurut perspektif Islam. Analisis kajian pula mendapati bahawa sejarah asal usul silat Melayu serta pengalaman guru-guru silat ketika menghadapi ancaman menunjukkan sikap ihsan yang tinggi menepati adab pertempuran dalam al-Quran dan hadis. Dicadangkan agar diwujudkan model adab persilatan ketika bertempur lalu diterapkan dalam mana-mana pertandingan silat tempur agar menunjukkan ketinggian ketamadunan Melayu dalam bidang seni bela diri
Piagam Madinah sebagai Model Harmoni Sosial untuk Malaysia
Get PDFPiagam Madinah merupakan dokumen bersejarah yang menekankan prinsip keadilan, toleransi agama, dan hak sama rata untuk pelbagai komuniti di Madinah. Dalam konteks Malaysia yang berbilang kaum dan agama, prinsip Piagam Madinah dapat dijadikan panduan dalam membina harmoni sosial yang mampan. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis Piagam Madinah sebagai model harmoni sosial yang relevan untuk diterapkan di Malaysia. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dengan analisis dokumen sebagai metodologi utama. Data kajian diperoleh dari kajian lepas termasuk jurnal akademik, buku, dan manuskrip sejarah yang berkaitan dengan Piagam Madinah dan isu keharmonian sosial di Malaysia. Objektif utama kajian adalah mengenalpasti prinsip utama Piagam Madinah serta menilai kebolehterapannya dalam konteks masyarakat majmuk Malaysia. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa Piagam Madinah mengandungi nilai-nilai asas seperti keadilan, kesamarataan, tanggungjawab sosial, dan kebebasan beragama yang sesuai dengan kehendak masyarakat moden Malaysia. Prinsip ini bukan sahaja menyumbang kepada keamanan, tetapi juga menggalakkan perpaduan serta sikap saling menghormati antara kaum dan agama.Kesimpulannya, Piagam Madinah menawarkan model harmoni sosial yang praktikal dan berpotensi untuk menjadi panduan dalam memperkukuh hubungan etnik serta mengekalkan kestabilan sosial di Malaysia. Kajian ini menyarankan agar prinsip Piagam Madinah diberi perhatian dalam dasar pembangunan sosial dan pendidikan untuk memastikan keharmonian negara yang berterusan
Pertempuran Slim River 1942: Kepentingan Strategik Tentera British dalam Perang Dunia Kedua di Tanah Melayu
Get PDF‘Pertempuran Slim River’ yang berlaku pada 7 Januari 1942 merupakan salah satu bencana terburuk tentera British dalam Kempen Perang Dunia Kedua di Tanah Melayu. Dalam masa yang begitu singkat iaitu kira-kira lima jam sahaja, Divisyen India ke-11 yang terdiri daripada Briged India ke-12 dan 28 telah berjaya dikucar-kacirkan oleh sepasukan kecil tentera Jepun yang hanya terdiri daripada 20 buah kereta kebal dan kira-kira 100 orang tentera infantri. Lebih tragik, tujuh orang pemerintah batalion tentera terbunuh manakala ribuan tentera British yang lain pula berselerakan terperangkap dalam hutan belantara dan akhirnya menjadi tawanan perang Jepun. Pertempuran ini seterusnya menjadi kunci yang membuka kepada kejatuhan Kuala Lumpur pada 11 Januari 1942. Maka itu, Pertempuran Slim River ini begitu penting dalam memberikan pemahaman lanjut mengenai sejarah Perang Dunia Kedua di negara kita. Menerusi kaedah penyelidikan kualitatif, perbincangan artikel ini akan menyingkap semula peristiwa berdarah dalam konflik di Tanah Melayu tersebut secara terperinci daripada sumber tentera British, India dan Jepun dan juga sejarah lisan penduduk setempat yang terlibat. Berdasarkan kepelbagaian sumber tersebut, sejarah konflik Peperangan Dunia Kedua di Tanah Melayu ini akan diperihalkan secara kronologi. Artikel ini akan menilai dan membahaskan pendapat tentang kepentingan ‘Pertempuran Slim River’ dalam strategi ketenteraan British mempertahankan Singapura, kubu terkuat di Timur Jauh. Selain daripada itu, artikel ini membincangkan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kekalahan teruk dalam malapetaka Pertempuran Slim River tersebut. Akhir daripada penulisan ini, Pertempuran Slim River ini jelas menjadi satu bukti kepada keberkesanan ketenteraan British yang menemui kegagalan dalam kempen peperangan di Tanah Melayu.
Kata kunci: Perang Dunia Kedua; Pendudukan Jepun; Slim River; sejarah ketenteraa
Revitalising Traditional Malay Cultural Identity Based on Early Muslim Gravestones in Penang Island
Get PDFThe Batu Nisan Aceh in Penang, particularly that of Tunku Syed Hussain Al-Aidid, has received limited scholarly attention, often overshadowed by colonial narratives centred on Francis Light and the British acquisition of the island. This historiographical gap has contributed to the marginalisation of Malay cultural identity as the original settlers of Penang. It has obscured the region’s broader historical connections to the Dar al-Islam of the Islamic West. This study aims to revitalise and reposition Malay cultural identity by conducting a visual analysis of the decorative repertoire on Tunku’s tombstone, contextualised within Penang’s historical landscape and its ties to Aceh, as well as the Turkic-Islamic dynasties of India and the Eastern Islamic world. The findings indicate that Malay-Islamic art in Penang exhibits clear cultural and aesthetic links to the Turco-Persian artistic tradition, propagated by Islamic dynasties such as the Ottomans, Rasulids, Delhi Sultanate, and the Kingdom of Ormus. This is reflected in specific motifs on Tunku’s tombstone, including the Rub? al-Hizb (?), ciharberk, mihrab images, kit?a, zencirek and salbek, many of which are common in Qur’anic illumination (tezhib). These shared visual elements suggest transregional artistic exchange, possibly initiated during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Suleym?n I the Lawgiver (r. 1520–1566 CE) or earlier. Contrary to earlier claims that Tunku’s tombstone is an “imitation,” the analysis confirms it to be a unique and original design, with its motifs serving as symbolic markers of the deceased’s status, lineage, and spiritual authority. This study underscores the need for further research into Malay heritage in Penang, where symbolism in ornamentation often conveys identity and societal role in the absence of inscribed names, reflecting a cultural preference for modesty, hegemony and reverence
Physician-Patient Communication from an Intercultural Perspective: An Exploratory Study in the United Arab Emirates
Get PDFThe objective of the study is to explore physician-patient communication in an intercultural context —the United Arab Emirates —through the experiences of physicians. The United Arab Emirates is among the most diverse populations globally. Intercultural communication competence is highly valued in diverse environments, and it is particularly significant in professions such as health care. The study aims to assess the intercultural competence skills of physicians through their encounters. To explore this, semi-structured interviews with physicians living and working in the United Arab Emirates are carried out. The findings of the qualitative study conclude that language is seen as either an obstacle or a facilitator. The importance of nonverbal language, the role of interpreters, and Google Translate have been highlighted in overcoming the language barrier. Language is considered a barrier because it blocks the passing of emotions. Experience in the medical field has been mentioned as an advantage for overcoming communication barriers. Knowledge about the cultural background is one of the dimensions that guides physicians in how to communicate. Other dimensions are the personality of the patient, age, and education. The physicians mentioned that they are aware of the sensitive issues and can easily modify their communication. Trust plays a crucial role in physician–patient communication. Physicians generally perceive themselves as good communicators, a quality considered particularly important in the UAE. Key aspects emphasized include listening, providing follow-up, and being accessible, with language identified as one of the most essential communication skills