Lincoln Corner KL Hosted an Interactive English Program

PDO Rain Che Bian with Senior Librarian Puan Norizam Abdul Ghani and Embassy Intern Shavia Westmoreland, providing evaluations for group presentations. (U.S. Embassy photo)

One of the workshop groups presents their role play on library customer service. (U.S. Embassy photo)

On Monday, May 21, Lincoln Corner KL hosted an interactive English program for 40 KL City Hall Library Officers and Circulation Counter Staff.  The program focused on public speaking skills and was facilitated by Public Diplomacy Officer Rain Che Bian along with Lincoln Resource Center Director Gerard George and Public Affairs Intern Shavia Westmoreland.  The facilitators presented helpful tips on public speaking, ranging from the formulation of a speech to presentation do’s and don’ts. 

The content for the program was centered on two themes: women’s empowerment in the workplace and situational English communication.  For women’s empowerment in the workplace, the Embassy facilitators showed a video of the 2012 International Women's Day Remarks by U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer.  Following the video, DBKL officers and Embassy presenters discussed the challenges and solutions for women’s issues in professional environments.  The library officers shared their ideas on women’s empowerment, ranging from commentary on the blurring line of gender roles to suggestions on how to help women with families remain competitive in the workforce. 

The second theme, situational English communication, focused on building technical skills for library staff with interactive scenarios on custom service.  U.S. Embassy facilitators demonstrated a brief role-play for the participants, who then produced their own role-plays surrounding five provided scenarios.

In small groups, the library officers and circulation staff prepared role-plays and speeches on one of the two themes above, utilizing the provided speaking tips and making sure that every group member participated.  The vibrant and sometimes creative presentations showed many DBKL officers overcoming an initial nervousness and hesitation in public speaking, and drew out the public speaker in many of the participants.

Senior Librarian Puan Norizam Abdul Ghani and Advisor Mr. Fong Ah Fook of the Kuala Lumpur Library hosted lunch for the Embassy presenters and the workshop participants after the program.