“I Try, I Speak, I Can with Maxis eKelas”: Maxis eKelas’ annual HIP StoryFest English Competition returns to help students speak more confidently and unleash their creativity!
Imagine a nation brimming with young minds who are eager to unleash their creativity, able to speak fluently in English, and are motivated to make a difference in the world. That's exactly what eKelas, Maxis’ flagship community programme, aims to achieve through its Highly Immersive Programme (HIP) StoryFest English Competition. Now in its fifth edition, the competition has added a twist this year by introducing themes that revolve around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Join us as we delve into the exciting world of eKelas and discover how students are crafting their own narratives while honing their language skills.
Empowering Educators Nationwide
On May 3rd, eKelas launched the HIP StoryFest English Competition 2023 with a virtual briefing attended by over 900 teachers from across the nation. The event featured esteemed guests: Dr. Kalminderjit Kaur, Deputy Director of the English Language Training Centre at the Ministry of Education (MOE), and Teacher Emily Syafirah Zamrod from SMK Alor Janggus, Alor Star, Kedah. Both speakers shared their insights and experiences on leveraging HIP to provide immersive learning experiences and raise awareness about the SDGs among students.
SDGs as the Central Theme:
In a remarkable departure from previous editions, the eKelas HIP StoryFest English Competition has chosen the SDGs as its central theme this year. By focusing on topics like Life On Land, Life Below Water, Peace and Justice, Bullying, Environment, and Health & Well-being, students have a unique opportunity to learn English while also exercising their creativity by crafting captivating stories and drama scripts based on their chosen topics. This approach ensures that students not only develop language proficiency but also gain a deeper understanding of global challenges and the role they can play in addressing them.
Recognising the importance of oral skills in language fluency, the competition offers two submission categories for students to choose: individual storytelling and group drama. To equip students with the necessary tools, eKelas organized four online storytelling workshops in collaboration with KL Shakespeare Players. Additionally, eKelas is conducting physical and virtual roadshows, to provide students with guidance on storytelling technique and support them in registering for eKelas. Students have two months to prepare and submit their entries, before the competition deadline on 3 July 2023.
Just before the school holidays in May, eKelas embarked on a roadshow in Penang involving 1,500 students from 10 schools who demonstrated strong enthusiasm for the competition. The storytelling workshops held at each school not only captivated the young minds but also fueled their excitement to create and record their submission videos.
All students from Year 4 to Form 5 are welcome to register with eKelas and participate to collect PAJSK marks and win prizes. More information here. The competition closes on 3rd July.
