Implementation of Culture in Malay Language Teaching: A Case Study of International Students in UNITEN
University Tenaga Nasional
ABSTRACT
Knowledge of language and culture of ASEAN communities are not easily understood by foreign speakers if it is taught only through theoretical teaching in the classroom or visually guided textbook. Thus, this study attempts to apply an interactive approach in teaching Malay language and culture to foreign students. This study examines how well this interactive approach of culture helps international Middle Eastern students to improve their language abilities and understand the Malay world itself. This study was conducted on the Middle Eastern students who attend the Malay language classes at University Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN). Data for this study was obtained through interviews, observation and research related documents. This study also investigates the improvement in language abilities amongst the foreign students, especially in terms of writing as opposed to the interactive teaching sessions without the application of these cultures. Results from this study indicates that this culture interactive approach was found to be very effective and suitable to be applied to students of engineering and IT.
KEYWORDS
Culture, international, interaction, Middle East, writing, effectiveness