Timeless tool for English learners

The Star

22-06-2025

Lively session: Ruthra (standing) interacting with the workshop participants, including Anudsara (second from right). — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
WHILE new approaches in the 21st-century classroom are vital to keep up with the times, longstanding tried-and-true methods can be just as relevant and effective.
U. Ruthra Devy said newspapers continue to play a valuable role in education, even in today's digital age.
The educator, who has 24 years of experience as an English language teacher, noted that with digitalisation, the current generation of students is 'very different' from those in the past.
'They often turn to quick online searches and lack the habit of reading deeply to gain knowledge.
'They are easily bored by traditional textbook learning and now require more interactive and engaging methods.
'Fortunately, newspapers still offer a wide range of topics and activities that can ignite curiosity and capture students' interest,' she said when met at a recent workshop at the Perlis Education Department branch in SK Seri Indera, Kangar, held under The Star's Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme.
Ruthra, who attended the June 11 workshop as a Star-NiE freelance trainer, conducted a four-hour session in which she gave some 21 secondary school teachers hands-on experience using The Star newspaper as a dynamic tool for English learning.
From creative cutouts to interactive language activities, the workshop showcased how newspapers can breathe new life into classroom teaching and boost language comprehension.
Agreeing with Ruthra, Perlis Education Department School Improvement Specialist Coaches Plus (SISC+) Language mentor Chong Yeo Nee, who was present at the session, said she looked forward to seeing newspapers incorporated into teaching across all 74 primary and 28 secondary government schools in the state.
'The newspaper is a powerful medium, as it not only sparks creativity but also provides up-to-date reports on global issues, helping to broaden readers' perspectives on current topics.
'With English widely recognised as the global lingua franca, students can grow into more informed global citizens by learning through an English daily like The Star.
'It also encourages the younger generation to actively seek information to foster deeper insight and expand their horizons,' she said.
Workshop participant Muhammad Hisyamudeen Hayat, 30, a teacher at SMK Dato' Ali Ahmad, said he planned to integrate the use of newspapers into his lessons in phases.
'In the past, we had always relied on digital means to teach the students but never used newspapers. Seeing their potential, I'll introduce newspapers to develop English language skills across all proficiency levels.
'With an array of articles and columns to explore in each issue, there will be a lot of new vocabulary to pick up, and the dictionary will be a useful complement,' he said.
SMK Tengku Suleiman teacher V.C. Anudsara, 27, who has used newspapers in her lessons, said students have shown growing interest in the medium.
'It is a good medium to expose students to a diverse range of global knowledge.
'As a teacher, it is my job to ensure that they understand the content and that they continue learning beyond it,' she said.
She added that unlike traditional textbooks, newspapers serve as a window that brings knowledge from the outside world into the classroom.
Also present at the session were Star Media Group circulation senior executive Raj Kumar Abraham and senior marketing representative Tan Guan Seng.
Since its inception in 1997, Star-NiE has supported English language teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide.
Star-NiE activities are available in StarEdu on Sundays, and in StarLifestyle on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. For enquiries, email [e-mail].