Fortune favours the brave
“Fortune favours the brave/bold”, was the phrase that popped into my head as I concluded my interview with Sherene, the Centre Director for Cambridge English For Life in Kota Damansara. This phrase is a common translation of a Latin proverb which means “courageous action is often rewarded”. The slogan has been used historically in the military in the Anglo-Saxon world, and it is used up to the present in the US Army and on the coats of arms of individual families and clans.
Throughout the interview, Sherene revealed little snippets of her life’s journey and her philosophy. Sherene is not only brave, she is also dedicated, innovative and is someone who never shies away from a challenge. The early stages of her career afforded her a lifestyle that many of us aspired to. It was fast paced, exciting and rewarding. After spending many years travelling abroad, Sherene returned and decided to take up the challenge of setting up an education centre. This is a field she had long had a passion in, but somehow got sidetracked as she pursued her other career goals.
The journey begins
Sherene started her first Cambridge English For Life centre in Dataran Sunway in late 2009. Back then it was located in a single unit on the 3rd floor. Student enrolment picked up and they quickly outgrew that centre and moved into a 2 unit location in 2010. Due to Sherene and her team’s tireless efforts, this 2 unit location expanded to 3 units in 2013. The numbers kept on steadily increasing and on 27th March 2016, 7 years after joining the CEFL family, the official Grand Opening of the present 4-storey Kota Damansara centre was graced by the then Deputy Finance Minister, Datuk Chua Tee Yong and CEFL HQ’s CEO Dr. Elsie Chin.
The CEFL family has over 60 branches nationwide. It applies the communicative approach to language learning, allowing learners to develop their language skills at their own pace through stimulating contexts that are fun and engaging. Having the largest network of English Language centres in Malaysia, CEFL is dedicated to offering learners from ages 4 to adults of any age the right English Language course to help them achieve their best in life.
Performance and Awards
Just like Sherene herself, CEFL Kota Damansara is a high performance centre that consistently produces results in improving their students’ English proficiency. Testimony to this is their students’ annual achievements in the various external assessment examinations such as 100% scorers in KET and PET and “A” scorers in FCE. While concentrating on producing excellent academic results, Sherene has not neglected the management and administration aspects of CEFL Kota Damansara as evidenced by the many plaques, trophies and certificates proudly displayed in a glass cabinet found in their reception area. Some of the accolades that have come their way include Centre of the Year Award for 2011 and 2016, CEFL Most Dynamic Franchisee Award for 2013, 2014 and 2015, Most Resourceful Centre Award for 2010 and 2012 and Most Promising Centre Award for 2009.
The present day multi award winning Cambridge English For Life in Kota Damansara is an impressive four storey building painted in their now iconic red and white. The colour scheme is repeated inside and it flows seamlessly throughout the entire four floors. The design is bright and airy with lots of glass used to give the effect of wide open spaces. Educational posters adorn the walls and photographs of students’ achievements are strategically placed to inspire future achievers.
CEFL Kota Damansara opens its doors from Mondays to Fridays at 9:30am till 6:30pm except Tuesdays when it is from 9:30am until 10:00pm. On Saturdays their operational hours are from 8:30am until 7:30pm.
Courses available range from Junior English for 4-6 year olds until BEC (Business English Certificates) for adults and IELTS. Certification-wise, CEFL has a series of exams known as CELA (Cambridge English Language Assessment). The main courses offered such as Junior English, Young Learners English, Cambridge Main Suite and the Business English Certificates all lead to a CELA exam and certificate at the end of each stage. Among others, these certifications are recognised by educational institutions, employers, professional registration bodies and government immigration agencies around the world as an entrance requirement for English proficiency plus the certification does not expire.
Courses and programmes available
CEFL provides high quality, practical, academic, vocational and professional English language courses. They pride themselves in providing a learning environment with a correct balance in emphasis between teaching ethos and a friendly atmosphere.
|
Junior English (4-6 year olds) |
The courses are fun, encouraging and confidence-building, and the activities are interesting and engaging. |
|
Junior English 1 |
|
|
Junior English 2 |
|
|
Young Learners English (YLE) (7-12 year olds) |
Students begin by studying simple words and phrases and advance gradually using extended and more challenging language. The focus on language learning here is on acquiring all four communication skills – Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Every child is encouraged to use and speak English in classroom activities. |
|
Cambridge English: Starters |
|
|
Cambridge English: Movers |
|
|
Cambridge English: Flyers |
|
|
Cambridge Main Suite (13 year olds and above) |
Each stage has been meticulously designed to be more challenging than the previous one but not overwhelming. This will take students on a journey from a basic qualification in English to being users who are approaching the fluency and sophistication of an educated native speaker of English. It is also aimed at people who want to use English for professional, social and study purposes and meet the English language entrance requirements for colleges and universities worldwide. |
|
Cambridge English: Key (KET) |
|
|
Cambridge English: Preliminary (PET) |
|
|
Cambridge English: First (FCE) |
|
|
Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) |
|
|
Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) |
|
|
Conversational English (CE) |
The Conversational English course is designed to help learners develop their communicative ability in English, and is available at two levels. The course provides learners with plenty of opportunities to practise all four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) as well as vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The topics have been strategically chosen to provide learners with thematically-linked situations to practise English for daily use. A key strategy in the course delivery is personalised learning, where learners are given the opportunity to bring their own experiences, attitudes, and feelings into the learning process. Learners are invited to relate the content of the lesson to their own life, interests and feelings. Learning is thus made more meaningful and authentic. Essentially, the Conversational English course provides supportive environments for learners to develop enabling skills such as oral fluency, grammatical accuracy as well as knowledge of vocabulary, language forms and functions that will allow them to communicate effectively outside the classroom. |
|
Conversational English: Level 1 (CE 1) |
|
|
Conversational English: Level 2 (CE 2) |
|
|
Business English Communications Skills |
The Business English Communications Skills programme is designed for adult learners who wish to improve their English language communication skills and are either about to start work or are already working. The programme is suitable for learners who are at pre-intermediate to intermediate levels of proficiency. It begins with a diagnostic assessment of learners’ existing knowledge, command, and business language usage. The structure of the programme is developed on the premise that confidence and expertise in written and spoken communication is gained through active participation in practical and meaningful communication experiences. Through practising basic planning techniques, participants will learn to construct and deliver a wide range of written and spoken communication in a clear, concise and logical manner. |
|
Business English Communications Skills: Pre-Intermediate |
|
|
Business English Communications Skills: Intermediate |
|
|
Business English Certificates (BEC) |
These courses have been created to help individuals enhance their business language skills. Interactive and practical in nature, BEC courses focus heavily on the application of English in real-world business situations. Valid for life, a BEC qualification will elevate your profile and show that you can use English confidently in international business environments. Other business English courses include General English Proficiency and Conversational English. |
|
Cambridge English: Business Preliminary |
|
|
Cambridge English: Business Vantage |
|
|
Cambridge English: Business Higher |
|
|
IELTS (International English Language Testing System) |
IELTS has been designed to test the language ability of people who want to study or work where English is used as the language of communication. Educational institutions, employers, professional registration bodies and government immigration agencies often require proof of English language skills as part of their recruitment or admission procedures. IELTS is widely accepted for these purposes. |
|
IGCSE English First Language |
The Cambridge IGCSE English First Language Course is designed to help learners develop the necessary reading and writing skills and techniques to perform well in both the core and extended papers. The course also aims to develop vocabulary, grammar and language tested in the examination. |
Bringing the World to the Classroom…..and the Classroom to Life
Recently CEFL has engaged with National Geographic Learning and CENGAGE Learning in “Bringing the World to the Classroom….and the Classroom to Life!”. There are two main suites in this series, Welcome to Our World and Our World.
Welcome to Our World is a three-level pre-primary series. It uses traditional children’s songs from around the world, with amazing National Geographic photos and images to introduce very young learners to the world of English.
Our World is a six-level primary series, bringing age appropriate National Geographic content to young learners of English. Fun and fascinating information about the real world, with stunning images and video, give learners the essential English language skills and knowledge needed to understand their world.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the classroom
As these come with teaching and learning resources on CDs and DVDs, it brings us nicely to the usually prickly question of technology and gadgets in the classroom environment.
“We embrace and welcome technology but with a certain level of control, restraint and discipline,” says Sherene. “We utilise wireless tablets in all our classrooms for teaching and presentation. In addition, every classroom is equipped with a large LED flat screen TV.
Children are encouraged to master the basics of these gadgets as there are collaborative project work and online activities to enhance their learning experience,” Sherene adds. “Wherever we can, we also try to formulate our lessons so that they are in tandem with the school syllabus,” she smiles.
Additionally, as an added safety feature, CEFL Kota Damansara has installed a fire escape at the back of the building which spans the entire four floors. Every exit point has been clearly marked out with appropriate signages installed. Furthermore, there are CCTV cameras to monitor the safety of the students and surroundings of the centre.
Working hard, playing hard
Sherene and her staff of educators, in addition to having the necessary paper qualifications and experience, have all gone through and passed very rigid and strict internal training by CEFL. All their teaching and learning materials have obtained the approval from the Ministry of Education, Malaysia. In addition, all their teachers have obtained the necessary qualifications and certifications required by the Ministry of Education, Malaysia and Jabatan Pendidikan Selangor. CEFL takes pride in not resting on their laurels but by constantly evolving and engaging with parents, students, administrators and educators in improving content, pedagogy, methodology and presentation.
When one works hard, one must also reward oneself by playing hard. They celebrate birthdays and all the major festivals in the country. Sherene and her team also organise fun and exciting outings for the students as well as themselves! These revitalising and “refueling” trips can be anything or anywhere from a presentation in a bookstore to snorkeling, spa, going on a cruise and rides on a banana boat!
The correct choice
I must also add that Sherene as a person, has never forgotten her roots and is one of the most real and sincere people that I have ever met. Dear parents and students, head on down to Cambridge English for Life in Kota Damansara, ask for Sherene (it is always advisable to call ahead to schedule a consultation appointment) and I promise, you will be amazed and touched by the care, passion, dedication and love of this amazing lady – I was.
LISTING_CONTACT_7022