Community Service Engagement in Primary Schools: Pre-TESL Students’ Experiences

Abstract

Participation in community services amongst university students is essential to the students, the society, and to the university itself. Higher education has a role to expose students to experience learning in conducting community service projects that could nurture students' physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual developments. Hence, early exposure for Pre-TESL students to be involved in community services in the teaching environment by conducting English language events with primary school students could be beneficial for their future academic and professional endeavours. Fifty Pre-TESL students from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Melaka campus worked collaboratively with the English Clubs in selected primary schools in Alor Gajah vicinity by conducting a one-day English language programme with primary four to six students. This study examined the positive impacts and challenges of carrying out community service programme. Data was collected through the open-ended question survey to get deeper insights into their learning journey. The pedagogical implications of the findings indicated that by conducting community services in the form of carrying out English language activities in primary schools exposed the tertiary students to learn about teamwork, management, leadership, and other specific skills essential for the development and professionalism of future ESL teachers.