On Nov 7-10, for the first time since Goducate launched its Sing Your English (SYE) program in 2012 in Indonesia, we brought it abroad, to Sabah in East Malaysia. There, an SYE team from Indonesia held 4 SYE camps on 4 days, one day each for pre-school students, primary 1-3 students, primary 4-6 students, and high-school students.
We had been told to expect, at most, about 50 students per camp and maybe a few more for the high- schoolers. To our surprise, we were greeted by almost 100 participants per camp from villages nearby and even from villages an hour away from the camp venue.
At first the campers were timid and shy, but it wasn’t too long before they all got the feel of an SYE camp and had the time of their lives. Even the parents and guardians were enjoying the fun.
The primary level campers went through the “It’s All About Me” SYE camp theme, shouting their cheers and yells, singing the camp theme song, playing games that made them learn English words that related to themselves, and participating in active fun-filled games.
The teens were led through the “Express Yourself” theme that reminded them to be themselves because they are unique individuals, and that encouraged them that they can do whatever it is they dream to do —all the while learning English through these activities.
The SYE team that went to Sabah found it a very fulfilling experience to bring smiles to people of a different country and hope for opportunities to return there in the near future.
*Our guest writer is Myrel Herrrera, who leads the SYE program.