Examining the linguistic representation of a minority group using computer-assisted method is the heart of this study. In particular, we are interested in investigating how the indigenous people of Malaysia or Orang Asli are being represented by the news media in Malaysia as we believe that mass media play a huge role in curating the image of a group and affecting perception of readers about that group. It affects how they are perceived by the mainstream community. Using corpus-assisted critical discourse analysis, a 700,000-word corpus was examined focusing on grammatical words. Through the analysis, we found that the Orang Asli are consistently being framed as a helpless group who are frequently in need of assistance. Often, they are positioned as passive recipients of things from more dominant groups like volunteers and governments. These consistent negative and helpless images of the Orang Asli, we believe will be detrimental to the overall perception of society towards them which may later affect their social standing in the Malaysian community. We believe that stories about orang Asli need to be curated in a more positive manner thus, promoting them as active members of the society who can contribute to the development of the nation.

Climate change is one of the integral problems that has been affecting people worldwide. A lot has been discussed in the academic field, and awareness about this matter has been raised in mainstream media, including the entertainment industry. Numerous studies have been conducted to explore the representation of climate change in movies. Unfortunately, insufficient attention has been given to examining the significance of language, specifically the linguistic patterns employed in the films. Therefore, this paper explores the linguistic patterns of climate change represented in a Japanese animation blockbuster, Weathering with You. The movie, as depicted in the title, addressed climate change in both implicit and explicit ways. Through Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) underpinned by the Ecological Concern Framework, the study examines the layers of meaning in the language use of both Japanese and English. Comparing the source language, which is Japanese, with English will provide a multifaceted representation of climate change through language patterns. The CDA method enabled the analysis to explore linguistic features and provides an approach to incorporate language with social issues. The finding shows that throughout the movie, there are repetitions of the words 'rain', 'sunshine', 'sky' and 'weather'. Each of the words represents a certain discursive practice. There are three practices pinpointed in the movie. First, excessive rain is a disturbance to human life; second, the weather is beyond the control of human power; and third, humans are capable of mitigating climate change. These discursive presented different ideologies that are related to how humans perceive climate change and how it influences their actions toward the issue. Seeing how climate change becomes a central focus of an animated blockbuster, which is well received by audiences all around the world, rather than a topic discussed by global leaders, we argue that it has become a concern of global citizens as well. The findings exposed how global audiences subconsciously perceive climate change, and it would provide some input for environmentalists who are pursuing public environmental behavioural change.

Rohingya refugees are a group of people who does not only have well-founded fear that they cannot return home, but are afraid of challenges awaiting them in the host country. Due to their traumatic past experiences, the Rohingya refugees rely much on their own community specifically the community leaders for assistance. However, the lack of community leaders as well as deficient hierarchical engagement with the leaders have created more difficulties for the refugees to seek for help. Social navigation for survival becomes an issue not only because they have language barriers but also internal conflicts on the imagined terrains (the hopes) and the unexpected circumstances (the difficulties) they encounter in the host country. This study aims to develop a literacy training module for Rohingya youth refugees to become social navigators. These refugees are expected to provide horizontal (peer-like) engagement to their community. To meet the aim of the study, 15 Rohingya youth refugees were recruited using a snowball sampling technique. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection instruments were used: guided questionnaires, interviews and baseline tests. The themes from the data suggest that despite the challenges in language, the participants exhibited strong sense of brotherhood with other fellow refugees. Religion has developed a powerful bond that ignites their willingness to extend assistance to their community. However, the participants unfolded their uncertainties on the ways and resources available, to be of help. It is also apparent that, a conceptual framework suitable for this literacy training module for social navigation emerged from the overall data. The framework will serve as a guide to develop a Literacy Module to groom social navigators to help their people, the Rohingya refugees. Keywords: Literacy, Refugees, Rohingya, Social navigation

In adult refugees’ context, functional literacy is the biggest barrier for the refugees to socially navigate in the host community. Functional literacy is ‘the level of skill in listening, speaking, reading and writing that any individual needs in order to cope with adult life.’ Without functional literacy abilities in the language/s of the host country and uncertainties in the journey to resettlement, the refugees tend to become very vulnerable and traumatized. Thus, social navigation for survival becomes an issue not only because they have language barriers but also internal conflicts on the terrains of the imagined (the hopes) and the unexpected (the difficulties) they encounter in the host country. Employing both qualitative and quantitative data collection tools, this study explored the current English language literacy ability of the Rohingya youth refugees and related challenges. Findings revealed that despite the keen interests the participants have in acquiring English language proficiency, the different alphabetical systems pose problems for them. Despite the challenges in language, the participants exhibited strong sense of brotherhood with other fellow refugees and willingness to extend assistance. Religion developed the powerful bond. Based on the empirical data gathered, a Functional Literacy Course was developed to address language issues embedded with Leadership as well as Islamic Psycho-spiritual elements.

Introduction- The role and position of the English language within the higher education has increasingly played a significant role as the leading language of academic publications, technologies as well as communication. The higher institutions in the country hold important responsibilities to educate and produce the younger generation of Malaysians as potential human resources that not only fulfil the needs of the local and international workforce in the attempt to achieve the national’s aspiration of a developed country. Purpose – This study seeks to understand and gain insights on the undergraduate students’ English language literacies in relation to the demand of the literacy practices and competencies needed at the tertiary level. The literacy practices in this instance include academic literacies that encompasses not only knowledge of discrete language skills and appropriate language use in context, but it is to be holistically understood to include also competence in reading and writing. Methodology – Subsequently, data were collected via questionnaires and focus groups with selected undergraduate from various disciplines to investigate whether their educational and environmental factors influence their existing level of English language competencies. Analysis of the course outlines was conducted to gain insights of the competencies and demands expected on the required university. Findings – In doing so, in-depth insights of the challenges faced, along with expectations held by various parties are gained in order to ascertain the expected proficiency needed for undergraduate students to meet the English language demands and needs at the universities. Significance – The study will contribute to the knowledge of how students’ English language literacies can meet the demand of the literacy practices and competencies needed at the tertiary level.

The role and position of the English language within the higher education has increasingly plays a significant role as the leading language of academic publications, technologies as well as communication. The higher institutions in the country hold important responsibilities to educate and produce the younger generation of Malaysians as potential human resources that not only fulfil the needs of the local and international workforce in the attempt to achieve the national’s aspiration of a developed country. This study seeks to understand the undergraduate students’ English language literacies in relation to the demand of the literacy practices and competencies needed at the tertiary level. The literacy practices in this instance include academic literacies that encompasses not only knowledge of discrete language skills and appropriate language use in context, but it is to be holistically understood to include also competence in reading and writing. Subsequently, data were collected via questionnaires and focus groups with selected undergraduate from various disciplines to investigate whether their educational and environmental factors influence their existing level of English language competencies.. Findings of the study provides in-depth insights of the challenges faced, and the language literacy practices needed in meeting the expectations of potential employers of the required English language skills to be used at workplace.

English language proficiency is the main goal of any learner of a language. Speaking and listening are major components of key skills and literacy qualifications. We need listening skills to understand and to be understood. It has become one of the most important factors of success and excellence for students who wish to speak, understand, advance their career path or continue their education abroad. When students listen to the English language, they face a lot of listening difficulties. This paper examines the teaching of listening comprehension at Misurata preparatory schools. It investigates the challenges that students face in learning listening comprehension skills. Students move to secondary education without a suitable foundation for listening comprehension skills. For this reason, the present study attempts to investigate some listening hindrances faced by students at preparatory schools to elicit their views about listening comprehension skills. This study reports the factors that the students believed had influenced their listening comprehension skills at Misurata preparatory schools. It is an effort to generate awareness among teachers, educators, language policymakers, and learners of English about the proper implementation of this important receptive skill. Data was gathered through a questionnaire from the students' responses. A qualitative method was adopted to analyze the obtained data. This study revealed that listening comprehension is hindered by: limited knowledge of words, accents, phonological difficulties, speech rate, insufficient practice of listening skills in the classroom, inadequate time to teach listening skills, and students are not encouraged to listen to programs outside the classroom.

By taking Malaysia as a case in point, this paper explores ideological constructions regarding the position of the English language that are created as a result of collisions between prioritizing nationalist and realizing globalization agendas. Through a discourse analysis of newspaper texts across two of Malaysia’s press, The Star and New Straits Times, the discussion will show how these newspaper items represent certain world-views on ‘measures’ of the standardization of the English language. It is argued that they illuminate some of the many issues that stage dialogues between local/global continuities and disjunctures on how English language ‘should’ be positioned within the changing and challenging landscape of multilingualism and ‘global English.’ This article also attempts to extend the debate further to show examples of postcolonial ‘revisions’ to displace these points, highlighting alternative voices to articulate colonial ‘visions’ of the globalization of English.

In 2020 the world was shaken by COVID-19 pandemic that technically changed the way the world works in almost all domains from business, governance, education, and lifestyles. As the pandemic spreads globally, with little signs for improvement, the world has made adjustments to live with the virus. The education sector suddenly shifted from face-to-face and blended learning classes to full online class. This paper explores the experiences of several tertiary students’ online learning experiences with two objectives: discovering their initial expectations towards online learning as well as investigating the challenges encountered by the students in online learning. The research design of the current study is a case study involving seven tertiary students who were enrolled in English language degree in a public university in Malaysia. Data were collected through essay and semi-structured interviews. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, all interviews were conducted using several online platforms. Data was then analysed using a thematic analysis using qualitative data analysis software; Atlas-ti. The findings show that the students had a positive presumption about online learning initially but was struck with the harsh realities of online learning afterwards. Among the challenges they faced were lack of physical touch, solitary learning, and issues with technological aspects. The findings are crucial to understand the obstacles faced by our learners in grasping with online learning, and with this understanding several practical steps can be taken to overcome the said issues.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) era brings with it exciting new possibilities and at the same time new challenges for the language and education sector. Due to the exponential changes brought about by the 4IR, researchers predicted that pretty soon, we will witness changes in most sectors in the world including the employment sector. Over the years, the delivery of Malaysian Higher Education Programmes (MyHE) has transformed significantly. The challenges and the way forward towards addressing the issues pertaining to 4IR in the realm of language and education are presented and discussed in this editorial.

This paper investigates the impact of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) on the way English language teaching (ELT) is currently understood and practised in Malaysia. It presents a critical discourse analysis of newspaper texts in order to show how CEFR represents a form of Western-imposed globalisation that conflicts with local cultures and values. We argue that the newspapers construct a dominant discourse that promotes a vision of society that accords with CEFR–ELT implementation. Our aim is to contribute to the development of a counter-discourse that challenges the broader world-view underpinning ELT.

Despite the aspiration of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) which aims to provide inclusive and quality education for all, refugees remain to be left behind. Therefore, a support mechanism for this group of people is necessary. A baseline literacy study was conducted with 15 Rohingya youth refugees using a snowball sampling technique. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection instruments were used: baseline tests, interviews, and guided questionnaires. Following the findings, a framework emerged and was used as a guide for module development. The Ref-LitPsy Module aims to help youth refugees, specifically the Rohingyas, to function better in Malaysia as their host country. This research based module comprises two main components: a) Literacy and b) Psychospiritual. The former addresses basic English literacy specifically for non-Roman alphabetical background refugees while the latter assists refugees to cope with stress and losses associated with migration, and also to groom them in helping their community. This paper focuses on the first component, Literacy. The Ref-LitPsy module is divided into twelve structured units that are applied in psychospiritual counselling approach. The Ref-LitPsy module is beneficial for the long-term resettlement success of refugees by grooming social navigators to help themselves and the refugee community.

Objective - This article attempts to discuss an on-going sexual harassment deterrent initiative in safeguarding the well-being of sports practitioners in Malaysia. Methodology/Technique - The primary data used in this article is taken from a focus group session which consisted of a total of 35 participants. The main objective of this article is to discuss the results, specifically the recommendations made by focus group participants which consisted of government officers, members of NGOs, sports experts, and sports practitioners. The focus group participants firstly pin-pointed the inadequacy of current deterrent mechanisms that have failed to protect Malaysian athletes from sexual harassment such that more often than not many cases have been unreported or have simply been dismissed altogether. Following this, suggestions and recommendations were put forward by the focus group participants to improve on the mechanisms that would ensure a safe and supportive environment for all Malaysians in sport in order to eliminate all forms of sexual harassment, abuse, and exploitation. Finding and Novelty - Taking into consideration the suggestions and recommendations put forth by the focus group this paper suggests a 4Ps framework in order to eliminate all forms of sexual harassment and abuse in sport.

Drawing on interviews with parents of indigenous communities, this article presents insights into indigenous parenting aspects related to inside-and-outside classroom learning, cross-cultural complexities, and literacy practices by taking perspectives of Malaysia’s indigenous parents as an example. Using Bronfenbrenner's ecological model on how individuals navigate complex interactions in a particular society, indigenous parents' authority and agency play important roles in navigating competing issues of indigenous learners' literacy, learning, and class. Implications on parenting practices, particularly on uplifting indigenous parents with sociocultural, learning, and literacy engagement within changing and challenging expectations of indigenous learners inside and outside their homes, are presented.