Kota Kinabalu: SK Api Api Kota Kinabalu Bahasa Melayu and physical education teacher Sarimah Onong had successfully conducted a six-month online international exchange student programme between Malaysia and South Korea.
Twenty-four pupils from each side of SK Api Api and Saeum Elementary School Sejong took part in the programme, which began in July and finished by the end of Dec 2024.
“This is the first time my school has embarked on this innovative approach of teaching via online following an invitation from the Korea school.
“One of the school teachers, Kang Saeun, was my friend, whom I got to know during my three-month stint of attending a teacher exchange programme at Wonju in Gangwon Province in 2016.
“After that I know many teachers there, we’re always in contact to exchange ideas and activities about education.
“Every year I would spend two weeks visiting the school in Wonju to get fresh ideas,” said Sarimah.
Following the success, she said SK Api Api is planning to conduct the online exchange programme every year with different schools from different countries; this year maybe Japan.
The programme was conducted in the school once a month, starting 9am, with each session lasting about two hours, which was quite a challenge due to the time difference, as South Korea is one hour ahead, she said.
“The programme used English as the communication medium; at the same time, we also promoted the use of Bahasa Melayu during the exchange of language and cross-cultural activities.
“The Korean teacher knew how to speak Malay because she taught in Penang before,” she said.
The pupils were having a lot of fun and enjoy the exchanges as both sides learn new language and cultural knowledge to foster greater friendship, she said.
All the projects and tasks that the pupils had completed would be uploaded on Padlet, said Sarimah who also thanked SK Api Api Headmaster Hafiz Zuraimy Damsah for supporting the programme.
