Tag: Aisah Fatwa

The Shortcut

By: Noraisah Nurul Fatwa binti Mohd Razali

Mr. Harith sat behind his desk, flipping through a stack of assignments. At first glance, they were neat, too neat. Each essay was flawlessly structured, peppered with advanced vocabulary and complex sentence structures that didn’t match the students’ usual writing.

He sighed, putting down the tenth paper.

“They think I don’t know,” he muttered, staring at the blinking cursor on his laptop screen. “They think I’m stupid.”

Just yesterday, he overheard a group of students at the language lab.

“Why even bother doing it yourself? Just use AI,” one said.
“Yeah, Mr. Harith probably can’t even tell,” another laughed.

The words stung more than they should have. Mr. Harith didn’t hate technology, he used AI himself, as a tool, a guide. But it frustrated him to see students misuse it, to treat assignments as meaningless tasks instead of opportunities to grow.

He looked out the window, watching a few students walking across the campus, laughing, carefree.

“When did learning become a burden?” he wondered aloud.

He remembered his own university days, long nights at the library, scribbling notes, struggling to understand dense texts. It was hard. It was frustrating. But it shaped him.

He returned to the papers and opened a new document. He began typing a message to his students:

“I know many of you are using AI to do your assignments. Maybe you think I can’t tell, or maybe you think it doesn’t matter. But what worries me most is not that you’re using it, it’s that you’re choosing not to think, not to learn, not to try.”

“Education is not about impressing your lecturers. It’s about preparing yourself for a future where the real test won’t come with rubric. You can use tools. But don’t lose yourself in shortcuts. Because one day, when it matters most, there will be no AI to think for you.”

He hit “Send.”

Then he leaned back, not angry anymore, just hopeful. That maybe, even just one student, would read it and understand.

Lights, Camera, Speak! My Experience with ‘News Flash!’ at MRSM Kuantan

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.

Ramadan di kampus

Oleh: Nabila binti Abdul Malek & Noraisah Nurul Fatwa binti Mohd Razali

Petang itu, Anis duduk di perpustakaan sambil menyiapkan tugasan. Perutnya sudah mula berkeroncong, tetapi dia masih bertahan. Mujur universiti menyediakan juadah berbuka percuma di dewan makan setiap hari sepanjang Ramadan. Itu sedikit sebanyak membantu pelajar yang berjimat seperti dirinya dan rakan-rakan.

“Liya, jom ke dewan makan. Kalau lambat, takut habis juadah sedap,” kata Anis sambil mengemas barangnya.

Liyana, rakan sebiliknya, menguap kecil. “Nasib baik ada makanan percuma. Kalau tidak, aku berbuka dengan biskut kering je.”

Mereka berjalan ke dewan makan universiti, yang sudah mula dipenuhi pelajar. Beberapa sukarelawan dari pihak universiti sedang mengagihkan makanan – nasi beriyani, ayam masak merah, kurma, dan air sirap. Bau makanan membuatkan perut Anis semakin lapar.

“Alhamdulillah, banyak juga pilihan hari ini,” kata Farhan, rakan sekelas mereka, yang baru tiba. Dia membawa dulang dengan sepinggan nasi dan semangkuk bubur lambuk.

Mereka bertiga mengambil makanan masing-masing dan mencari tempat duduk. Suasana berbuka di dewan makan begitu meriah, seolah-olah seperti suasana kenduri. Pelajar daripada pelbagai fakulti berkumpul, berbual sambil menunggu waktu Maghrib.

“Bagus juga universiti buat macam ni. Sekurang-kurangnya kita tak perlu risau tentang duit makan sepanjang Ramadan,” kata Anis sambil tersenyum.

Farhan mengangguk. “Ya, dapat berjimat. Tapi yang paling best, kita boleh rasa nikmat berbuka beramai-ramai. Macam berbuka dengan keluarga sendiri.”

Azan Maghrib berkumandang, dan semua pelajar serentak membaca doa tanda bersyukur. Mereka menikmati makanan dengan penuh nikmat, menyedari bahawa Ramadan di kampus bukan sekadar tentang berpuasa, tetapi juga tentang kebersamaan, kesederhanaan, dan rasa syukur atas rezeki yang dikurniakan.