Kenmac Educan International is working closely with a Chinese based regional contracting Group in securing research projects in the Asian market.
Interest from foreign companies and educational groups to invest in the Malaysian and other Asian markets continues to grow. According to the PIE - News and business analysis for Professionals in International Education (http://thepienews.com/) foreign student enrolment in the major study destinations Canada, the USA, the UK and Australia has been on a downward trend due to immigration policies and practices as well as the ever rising tuition and living costs. Asia, principally Singapore and Malaysia, is taking up much of the slack. Currently working with two separate groups, Kenmac's experience and expertise in the field is helping to guide building the foundation and securing the future growth of two new private schools.
Research Study undertaken by William Tweedie and Amrien Hamilla Binti Maarop
The Impact of Awareness of Intelligence Strengths and the Explicit Instruction of Language Learning Strategies on IPGKDRI Foundation Students' English Language Development
Rationale
The program is centred on the thesis that awareness of Multiple Intelligences and Learning Styles (MI/LS) and the use of well defined Language Learning Strategies (LLS) and appropriately designed activities to practice the strategies that maximize individual learning based on each student’s unique style, significantly enhance the performance and achievement of students in the process of acquiring a foreign language. Furthermore, it is the intent of the program to focus on practical and relevant use of the English language as the primary means of acquiring it. Engaging students in communicative activities is the basis of the currently predominant Communicative Method in EFL and practicality and relevance are fundamental axioms of the author’s PRIME Approach[1] to English as a Foreign Language Acquisition (EFLA).
Research Goals
The action research project aims to demonstrate:
1. Students and faculty will benefit in heightened student achievement and improved professional relationships from the inclusion of MI/LS in the orientation, classroom practice, and professional development initiatives of the College.
2. Explicit and specific instruction, practice and use of LLS enhance the rate and quality of English as a foreign language acquisition.
3. To determine if standard strategies apply to the teaching of Grammar and if new strategies can be developed for this specific area of study.
[1] Practical, Relevant, Integrated, Meaning-centered and Enriching EFLA
Amrien presenting the Sentence Diagramming Strategy and students practicing the strategy.