A project by Megabase Academy in Malaysia to improve spoken English skills of ESL Malaysian learners.

1. Anita Adnan
ELT Consultant Trainer
Megabase Academy, Malaysia

2. Which country are you from?

3. Overview of talk
 About myself and my work
 Why use SKYPE?
 How do I use Skype?
 About Malaysia and how English is taught
 The problems? Linking the learners to the teachers
 A solution to it – what I have been trying to do.
 Skype Sessions with pictures and links to videos
 The feedback from learners
 Reflections
 Conclusion

4. Poll 1
Have you used Skype for teaching purposes?

5. Poll 2
Your level with using SKYPE?
1. Beginner – i only use video calls
2. Intermediate – i know how to make group calls and
send files
3 Advanced – i know all the features in skype,
sharing screens and managing a
presentation in skype

6. Introduction
 Who am I?
 About Megabase Academy
 Why use Skype?
 Learning English via Skype?
 Who has been doing it?
 My experience while in Nottingham and London

7. My family

8. Megabase Academy

9. Malaysia and ELT

10. Types of ESL learners in Malaysia

11. The problems?
1. Learning English the traditional way – using Chalk and Talk method – with
teachers have to manage 30-35 students in a classroom
2. The quality of local teachers can be improved if they are trained
continuously, using technology which are readily available in schools.
Computer labs and internet connections are present.
3. Most syllabus concentrate on writing and reading. Very little percentage of
the assessment is given to spoken skills.
4. Government try to bring in Native teachers – which can be costly! Why not
connect these teachers via skype, at a fraction of the cost.
5. So far, learning is normally done in institutions –
school, colleges, universities. What about those who cant attend formal
lessons? Those who are studying part time? Mothers who wants to get back
to universities? Or mature students?

12. (some) solutions...
Megabase Academy
Skype Facebook Wiziq BbC LMS
ESL learners in
schools, colleges.
universities
International teachers from all around the world
Part time
students who
can access
internet at home
Small business
who want to
retrain
their employees
University
teachers /
lecturers who
want to improve
their spoken
English

13. Skype session in SMSAH
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E-qp7Kt5kE
with Matthew Teed from England
with Sylvia Guinan from Greece
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlSXaQlyoZE

14. Total number of students : 80
Teachers who joined : 3

15. Skype in UPSI – a public university
with Jason West, founder of englishoutthere.com

16. Skype in UPSI with Nina EnglishBrno
link to video

17. Skype in UPSI with Sylvia Guinan

18. Skype in UPSI
Total number of participants : 120 undergraduates

19. we want more skype lessons!

20. Skype in the government office

21. Skype lesson in Langkawi Island

22. Total number of participants : 40 officers

23. Skype for teacher training
Teacher training session with
Genius Aulad Malaysia

24. The Feedback?
 Awesome!
 Interesting new approach
 I feel nervous at first, but feel okay after a few times
 Genius idea! Why haven’t we done this before?
 I need to prepare myself, but i think after few session, i
should be ok.
 I think everyone can become better speakers after this.
 I like the teacher. She is so sweet!
 Handsome teacher. We want to meet him again 

25. Reflections
 Skype is an inexpensive tool to connect English to ESL
learners from all around the world.
 Although we may have been using it, some learners
may still not know about it – as in Malaysia
 There need to be local trainers to connect these
learners to teachers who can teach online.
 This approach can help revolutionize ESL learning.
 More authentic conversations, and more connections
and collaborations online between the teachers.

26. What now?
 Join me : facebook.com/Skype in Malaysia
 Will connect the learners to you
 Revolutionize the ELT scene
 Any teachers on Skype can teach anywhere!
 and hopefully – can earn a decent living and stay sane


27. Contact me
anita.adnan@yahoo.co.uk
Anita Adnan
anitaadnan
anita.adnan
www.anita-adnan.webnode.com

28. Questions?