By: Rebecca Simpson and Peak Sen Chua

The Mont’ Kiara International School hosted the annual meeting of the English Language Learning Specialists in Asia (ELLSA) Malaysia Chapter on Thursday, May 9.

ELLSA is a network of teachers that promotes and supports best practices in English language teaching and learning for international school students in Asia.

The first Malaysia chapter meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic, M’KIS hosted over 20 English as an Additional Language (EAL) specialist teachers from 8 schools in Kuala Lumpur.

Guided by the theme of "Translanguaging to Empower Our Students," the specialist teachers delved into a series of engaging in thought-provoking discussions. With a diverse population of English language learners coming from across the globe, the teachers concluded that English language learning should be personalized to each student’s unique linguistic background, abilities, and needs through language mapping and language profiles. Additionally, the specialist teachers shared their own English language teaching challenges and success stories.

The connections made, and ideas shared during this meeting were truly inspiring. The event highlighted the importance of coming together, learning from one another, and strengthening our community of educators. By collaborating and exchanging insights, we improve our individual practices and support the collective growth and success of our educational community.

Thank you, Rebecca Simpson, Elementary EAL Team Leader, for leading the effort to continue taking language learning to new heights at the M’KIS!