KOTA TINGGI: A group of 100 elementary and high school students from South Korea had a taste of the unique Malaysian culture while reinforcing their command of English in a learning trip held at a resort here.
The students aged 10 to 14 took part in the English Camp organised by Gabriel Recruitment Agency, an education management company at the Lotus Desaru Beach Resort, near here which started three weeks ago.
The students were accompanied by 14 teachers from South Africa, Australia and the United States. After being in Desaru, they will spend another week in Singapore before returning to South Korea.
Camp coordinator Daniel Shim said the students went through daylong classes interspersed with drama and music activities as well as videos-making sessions. There were trips to Sultan Abu Bakar mosque in Johor Baru and the Firefly Valley Leisure Park in Sungai Johor,Kota Tinggi.
Shim said the best part of the trip was when the students got to know their Malaysian peers in a cultural exchange programme at Sekolah Menengah Sains Kota Tinggi (SAKTI).
"The students really enjoyed the cultural exchange programme at SAKTI as they met with students their own age. They were happy as their hosts were very friendly.
"The students also had a visual and culinary treat when they attended a Hari Raya open house at Felda Waha, Kota Tinggi. They spent the whole day at the Felda settlement," said Shim.
Sophie Winton, 29, who is one of the English language teachers from South Africa said the students who had been homesick felt better after joining the festivities at the Hari Raya open house.
"The students enjoyed the satay and spicy local food. The weather was perfect, and they were fascinated with the multiracial culture of Malaysians," Winton said.
Meanhwhile, Lotus Desaru Beach resort senior sales manager, Rohayat Din said it was the sixth time Gabriel Recruitment Agency chose the resort to hold their English Camp.
She said the students enjoyed the learning trip as they were able to learn in a fun environment while learning more about Malaysia through trips to watch the fireflies at Sungai Johor and a visit to the Desaru Fruit Farm.