On January 8, 2024, a webinar on enhancing reading skills was conducted for students enrolling Integrated Language Skills III (ELC231) course by Akademi Pengajian Bahasa (APB), UiTM Pahang Branch, Raub Campus via Webex. The webinar focused on the critical elements of identifying an author’s purpose, viewpoints, and tone in analysing a written text to enhance their reading comprehension. The engaging session featured AP Dr Farrah Diebaa Rashid Ali, an esteemed speaker from Kulliyyah of Sustainable Tourism and Contemporary Languages (KSTCL), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
A well-attended webinar moderated by Dr Tengku Nazatul Shima Tengku Paris of APB, UiTM Pahang Branch Raub Campus, gathered around 225 participants for two engaging hours from 8 -10 p.m. The speaker explored the complexities of authors’ intents, diverse perspectives, and subtle tone variations in helping students to enhance their ability to critically evaluate and analyse written texts for their assessments specifically and academic skills generally. The webinar’s success was measured not only in its high attendance, but also in the enthusiastic participation of students and committee members.
During the Q&A session, students actively engaged with the material, asking sound questions that showcased their eagerness to grasp the essence in comprehending reading texts and written communication. The PIE technique highlighted by the speaker was extremely useful and helpful to guide students to identify an author’s purpose for its acronym; Persuade, Inform / Instruct, and Entertain (PIE). Moreover, the exciting issue of euphemism in language usage and literary components was also discussed reflecting the current alarming language style used by younger generations.
The guest speaker’s insightful discussion definitely created a stimulating learning environment for participants. It is hoped that a similar webinar will be conducted in the future as it fostered intellectual curiosity and engagement among students, leaving a lasting impact on their academic journey.