‘Once Upon a Mask’ brings English learning to life for SK Sungai Tisang pupils

BINTULU (Sept 6): The Putra Wings @ SKST English Immersion Project, under CALC@UPMKB, organised the ‘Once Upon a Mask’ programme at SK Sungai Tisang here recently.

The programme, sponsored by the Pehin Sri Adenan Satem Research Chair through the Pehin Sri Adenan Satem Grant, attracted 60 enthusiastic pupils from the school.

Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu campus (UPMKB) in a statement said the programme uniquely combined story-telling and visual arts to spark participants’ interest in English language.

“Participants created character masks from pop-up storybooks, allowing them to delve deeper into stories, express their creativity and enhance their English communication skills,” it said.

The programme received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with over 90 per cent of participants expressing enjoyment and satisfaction, particularly in activities like reading storybooks, making character masks and interacting with peers.

According to UPMKB, most participants found the content easy to understand and appreciated the facilitators’ assistance and guidance, indicating high engagement and a positive learning experience.

This programme followed the ‘Pop-Up Story Time’ event held in May 2023, and a reading programme organised by teachers in November 2023 using the same module.

Additionally, the Pehin Sri Adenan Satem Grant funded the donation of over 300 English storybooks to the SK Sungai Tisang library.

The ‘Once Upon a Mask’ programme was led by Joyce Morris Kapong alongside committee members including Peter Clarence Cluny, Fakhzan Buang, Nur Asyiqin Zaidi, Ramuni Incham, Ko Wei Liong, and Woon Wai Cheong from CALC@UPMKB, and Racheal Meannilver Junsen, an English teacher from SK Sungai Tisang.

It was also supported by 17 students and teacher facilitators from UPMKB and SK Sungai Tisang.