By: Noraisah Nurul Fatwa binti Mohd Razali
As a language teacher, I’ve always believed that English should be experienced, not just taught. That belief truly came to life when I had the opportunity to conduct a session called News Flash!, a key highlight of the Game On: English Edition programme at MRSM Kuantan. Organized under the CSR Unit, Centre for Modern Languages (CML), UMPSA, this outreach initiative aimed to boost students’ communication skills through real-world tasks and what a memorable experience it was!
In News Flash!, I watched students transform into confident news anchors and roving reporters. Given only brief scenarios, ranging from imaginary earthquakes to viral TikTok trends. They had to create and present live news reports on the spot. They worked in teams, assigned roles, and delivered reports in front of a “green screen” while others acted out interviews and live scenes. What amazed me most was their creativity, spontaneity, and teamwork.
I remember one group who took on a “flash flood” scenario. Their anchor opened the report with composure, while the “reporter on the scene” waded through imaginary water, complete with dramatic shivering and umbrella props. The students laughed, but they spoke and that was the point. Even the shyest students came alive during this game. Some admitted later that they surprised themselves with their fluency and confidence.
Pedagogically, News Flash! wasn’t just fun, it was backed by solid theory. It was drawn from Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT), and Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory, providing a scaffolded, collaborative space for language development. Students had to negotiate meaning, respond to cues, and communicate effectively, all essential skills in today’s world.
As the instructor, it was incredibly rewarding to see how performance-based tasks like this could reshape the way students perceive English, not as a school subject, but as a tool for storytelling, leadership, and connection. One student told me, “I felt like I was really reporting on national TV!”
Reflecting on the experience, I’m more convinced than ever that language learning thrives when it’s interactive, contextual, and joyful. If you’re a language teacher looking to spark energy in your classroom, try bringing in a little drama, News Flash! might just be your next big hit.