KUALA LUMPUR: With the aim of putting back the "fun" into learning English, two English language teachers have made a name for themselves, with their lessons on DidikTV KPM becoming increasingly popular.
The teachers — Maryani Devi Iskandar Shah Samy and Mohamad Hafizuddin Ma'mor — had no prior experience recording for television, but have now become more comfortable speaking and teaching in front of the camera.
"We started off not knowing anything about live TV… we had no experience, no template to refer to.
"I'm thankful to have Hafizuddin as my partner. We incorporate fun elements in our slots, including doing skits and sketches to keep them interesting," said Maryani, a teacher from SK TUDM Subang, Shah Alam.
Maryani, who has recorded eight DidikTV KPM episodes, said they used sketches and role-playing to teach children the use of English in everyday situations, and conduct their lessons based on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) as a benchmark.
"Everything we teach in the English curriculum is aligned with CEFR, and we apply the same methods to our DidikTV KPM lessons as well.
"We came up with the concept of having skits to teach sentence structure, grammar, and vocabulary, but make it fun by using props and dressing up in costumes for role-play," she added.
Hafizuddin, on the other hand, has recorded nine DidikTV KPM episodes and said their sessions on TV do not just benefit students, but teachers as well.
He said the educators teaching English on DidikTV KPM have also started their own Facebook page called ENGcited, to help their content reach more people.
"Even other English language teachers use our content from DidikTV KPM in their lessons.
"This Facebook page, which we started just two weeks ago, now has over 500 likes, and we're hoping that it will grow even more," he added.
Teaching at SK LKTP Jengka 12 in Jengka, Pahang, Hafizuddin said the teachers were breaking barriers, as DidikTV KPM has made learning more accessible, even to the most remote of areas.
He said DidikTV KPM showcases schoolchildren from all parts of the country, including those in rural areas and from vernacular schools.
"Our lessons on DidikTV set us apart. We are exposing Malaysians to the actual levels of English of our kids here, even unravelling hidden gems through the lessons that we teach.
"Our aim is to put the fun back in English through games, jokes, and everyday conversations which students can relate to, and prove to them that learning English is not something alien."
He added that they also wanted to change the perception and mindset that learning English was a difficult task, adding that DidikTV KPM keeps the process of learning English relevant and interesting, especially for pupils.
Maryani added: "We give the children freedom to answer and experiment with how they communicate in English.
"Even if they get the answer wrong, they will learn something at the end of the day, and this also shows kids out there that it is fine to make mistakes."
Describing her experience on DidikTV KPM as an "adventure", Maryani added that the platform was helpful to students and parents.
"From the feedback that we've been getting, parents have said that their children's comprehension of the language has improved, and they're happy their children are learning by watching us on television.
"With the right promotion, DidikTV KPM will continue to be the most accessible resource for the time being, especially with our home-based learning arrangements."
All the way in Kuching, Sarawak, Theodora Eng Yen Rou of SJK (C) Chung Hua No. 4, said she enjoyed learning English on DidikTV KPM.
Her favourite teacher, she said, was Hafizuddin, who she says is really entertaining when he cracks his jokes.
"The teachers teaching English on DidikTV prepare some games. It is through these guessing games that we learn while we play.
"They have interesting shows, which I usually watch in the afternoon, after my online learning sessions on Google Meet.
"I'm glad that I have DidikTV KPM as another platform to learn and revise," she told the New Sunday Times.Eng, 11, said she watches the English lessons on DidikTV with her mother, and asks her to explain whenever she had any questions.
Another student, Shamitta Balasubramaniam, 12, said English was her favourite lesson on DidikTV.
The lessons on DidikTV KPM, she added, were interesting, entertaining and easy to understand.
"I watch DidikTV KPM with my cousin in the afternoon. Teacher Maryani and Teacher Hafiz teach us through sketches and dialogues.
"Their shows help me in my school work. When I write, I will think about (the lessons) on DidikTV KPM."
She added that since she was studying in a national-type school, the lessons can help her once she enters secondary school next year.
DidikTV KPM airs from 7am to midnight daily on channels 107 on MyTV, 147 on Astro, and ntv7 on TV Unifi.