The newly enforced MUET-CEFR aligned format is one of the government?s efforts to upscale Malaysian learners? English proficiency level to be at par with international standards. However, the learners are reported to have high anxiety levels resulting in poor performance, especially in the speaking component. Hence, this study is conducted to investigate the learner?s anxiety levels, factors causing anxiety, and strategies to overcome speaking anxiety during oral presentations among MUET-CEFR ESL learners in Perak. The survey research design is employed for this study where a total of 130 participants took part by answering a three-section questionnaire on their background information, McCroskey?s Personal Report of Public Speaking Anxiety (PRSPA), and Nakatani?s Oral Communication Strategy Inventory (OCSI). Descriptive statistics are used to analyze the data and an independent sample t-test was conducted to investigate the differences in the learners? strategy use based on their cours.....

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The objectives of this study are to identify the use of smartphone-assisted language teaching in the classroom and to explore its importance and advantages. Computers, mobile phones, etc. are introduced in the classroom and various studies are being carried out in this area. When compared to such studies, the present study focuses on the use of smartphones in language teaching and also explores its importance. For the present study, data were collected from higher-educational institutions to identify the use of smartphones in classrooms using a structured questionnaire. 100 respondents participated. The findings of the study reveal that smartphone usage was found in classrooms and was useful for students. 2022 The Authors...

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Improving forecasts, particularly the accuracy, efficiency, and precision of time-series forecasts, is becoming critical for authorities to predict, monitor, and prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease. However, the results obtained from the predictive models are imprecise and inefficient because the dataset contains linear and non-linear patterns, respectively. Linear models such as autoregressive integrated moving average cannot be used effectively to predict complex time series, so nonlinear approaches are better suited for such a purpose. Therefore, to achieve a more accurate and efficient predictive value of COVID-19 that is closer to the true value of COVID-19, a hybrid approach was implemented. Therefore, the objectives of this study are twofold. The first objective is to propose intelligence-based prediction methods to achieve better prediction results called autoregressive integrated moving averageleast-squares support vector machine. The second objective is to investiga.....

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Developments of natural preservatives derived from plant sources instead of chemical preservatives are gaining more attention nowadays. In this study, the effect of Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp.] leaves extract against foodborne pathogens on raw chicken meat and cherry tomato was evaluated using the method of washing treatment by extract solution. Results found that Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp. leaves extract have significant effect (P ..

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This study reviews recently published scientific literature on the use of chatbot in education, in order to: (a) identify the potential contribution of the incorporation of chatbot as educational tool in educational institutions, (b) present a synthesis of the available empirical evidence on the educational effectiveness of chatbot as an educational tool, and (c) define future research perspectives concerning educational chatbot. From 369 sources, 25 studies on chatbots and their application in education were selected through a step?by?step procedure based on the guidelines of the modified PRISMA framework, using a set of predefined criteria between 2016 2021 in five prestigious databases (a) Ebscohost, (b) Emerald, (c) ScienceDirect, (d) SpringerLink, and (e) Scopus. For each article, we analyse the purpose of the study, the content to be taught with the aid of chatbot, the type of chatbot used, the research method used, and the sample characteristics (sample size, age range of studen.....

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Advertising is the most significant method for increasing brand sales. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effect of advertising methods (repeated exposure, YouTube advertisements, and E-WOM) on brand awareness, with culture as a moderator. The number of study respondents was restaurant patrons. Simple random sampling was used to collect data via questionnaires. 312 questionnaires were returned that were suitable. PLS 3.3.6 served as the SEM analysis tool. (1) repeated exposure has a positive direct effect on brand awareness; (2) YouTube ads have a positive direct effect on brand awareness; (3) E-WOM has a positive direct effect on brand awareness; (4) brand awareness has a positive direct effect on brand awareness; (5) brand awareness has a mediating effect on brand awareness; and (6) culture plays a moderating role. This model can be implemented in additional investigations in the future. This concept is implemented in the restaurant industry, but future research could also be imple.....

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Purpose ? The aim of this study is to explore the initiative taken by Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB) in upholding Islamic social finance (ISF) through the innovative BangKIT Microfinance product. Design/Methodology/Approach ? This paper adopts the qualitative approach to review and synthesise the relevant literature on microfinance and Islamic microfinance and, moreover, analyses the BangKIT Microfinance product offered by BIMB. Findings ? The paper identifies the ISF initiative undertaken by BIMB as one of the primary objectives of Islamic banks with the noble aim to contribute to the society. This study makes some recommendations for further improvement of the product to unlock the full potential of ISF. It also proposes such a unique ?adaqah-based product to other Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) and Islamic microfinance institutions (IsMFIs) to promote the provision of credits to individuals and businesses that lack access to fundamental financial products and services. Ori.....

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Purpose: The presence of digital learning space is widely seen as there is an active engagement between educators and learners. However, the challenge raised mainly amidst the pandemic age, which is potentially leading to the interference on the active engagement in education process. The necessary act to have a critical response from the students feedback towards the online learning services should be taken into consideration in ensuring the continuance of teacher education in enabling to grab the potential chance to advance the assessment of strategic approach in online learning. This paper aims to examine the digital access during the pandemic age through elaborating the extensive value of better learning service or adaptation for the online learning achievement amidst the pandemic age. Design/methodology/approach: This study is conducted with a qualitative approach through the particular method of data collection, namely, structured interview. This qualitative approach was selected.....

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The investigation attempted to measure the effect of learning style preference across two different writing strategies in writing classes. The 58 subjects recruited from L2 classes comprised 19 visual, 21 auditory, and 18 kinesthetic learners. A 3x2 analysis of variance test was applied to work with the experimental data. The output confirmed a statistically significant interaction effect occurred among types of writing strategy (x1) and learning style preference (x2) on learners writing performance (y) at F (2, 57) =5.754, p= 0.006. There was also a significant effect of learning style preference at F (1, 57) = 70.949, p = 0.000. The analysis showed that learning style preference differed significantly among the three groups. Here, visual and auditory performed better on average than kinesthetic learners for writing performance. The main effect also confirmed a statistically significant effect of types of writing strategy occurred at F (2, 57) = 22.884, p = 0.000. Here, graphic organi.....

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For developing nations to meet the demand for skills in the twenty-first century, TVET is essential. The TVET institution actively creates a skilled workforce to meet the needs of the nation's labour market to meet those demands. As a result, efforts are being made to improve the existing TVET institutions. This study looked into the difficulties faced by TVET institution managers when handling their relationships with collaboration. The quantitative approach used in this study was the survey design approach. The right respondents are chosen for this study using purposeful sampling techniques. A total of 53 directors of TVET institutions in Malaysia and 30 representatives from industry were chosen as respondents for this study. The Rasch measurement model was used to analyze the data. This study identified managerial skills and common barriers as the two main obstacles to the collaboration between Malaysian TVET institutions and industries. Technical, human, and conceptual skills are t.....

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