KUALA LUMPUR, The Maxis eKelas Highly Immersive Programme (HIP) StoryFest 2023 conducted over a four-month period starting May, received an overwhelming response with the participation of over 8,000 students nationwide.
Marking its fifth year, this edition aims to boost participants’ confidence in English speaking by taking part in individual storytelling or group mini drama performances based on specific themes.
Maxis chief corporate affairs officer Mariam Bevi Batcha said HIP StoryFest aims to boost students’ confidence in English while nurturing a deeper understanding of the language.
“This experience is crucial in equipping students with essential skills to make their learning more meaningful and beneficial,” she said in a statement today.
The competition began with a series of online storytelling workshops and school roadshows designed to enhance participation, both in schools and their communities.
In celebration of the competition, eKelas awarded prizes to 70 winners, students ranging from Year Four to Form Five nationwide, including tablets and book vouchers.
Fourteen schools received grants from SekolahkuHIP, sponsored by Maxis eKelas, to support various programmes and events within their school communities.
The winning team of the Mini Drama-Lower Secondary category from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Convent Kajang, Selangor, Form 2 students K. Sirheeya, Sharmisstha Jagatis Waran, and Evelyn Ng Shi Qi shared their experiences.
“We focused on the environment in our story. Researching and scripting the video helped us learn about different types of waste and ways to make the world better. We found this activity enjoyable for us.
“By telling stories, we can learn new words, which enhances our grammar and vocabulary, and also gives us more confidence to speak,” they said.
Meanwhile, a primary student from Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Chee Wen, Selangor, Cheah Xing Ru who won the First Prize for Storytelling–Primary Level category said her participation helped her improve pronunciation, body language, boost self-confidence, and learn new vocabulary.
“The moral of my story is not to be afraid to try something new. I was inspired by this story and practiced with my mother for at least two months. I used to be nervous on stage in Year One, but now I’m not afraid anymore after a lot of practice,” she said.
Maxis’ flagship community programme, eKelas, continues to support students’ learning beyond the classroom, with over 90,000 registered users on its portal and growing. It offers an engaging and dynamic approach to digital learning initiatives for students in Year Four to Form Five.
eKelas improves learning through engaging methods and offers access to high-quality educational content in line with the Malaysian School Curriculum.
With focus on subjects such as Science, Mathematics, English, Malay, History, as well as digital topics and soft skills, eKelas students are exposed to experiential learning through a combination of live tutorials, group learning, competitions, and digital content via the eKelas portal and app.
For more information or to register for eKelas, visit www.ekelas.com.my or download the eKelas mobile app from the App Store or Google Play.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency