A MULTIMEDIA DIGITAL DICTIONARY FLIPBOOK FOR INTERNATIONAL KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS TO LEARN AND ENHANCE THE ACQUISITION OF MALAY LANGUAGE

Abstract

Malay Language serves as the foundational medium for communication and education in Malaysia. All students, including international students, are required to learn Malay as part of their educational experience. However, international kindergarten students often face challenges in acquiring Malay as a second language due to limited attention spans and a lack of engagement with traditional teaching methods. This study aims to design and develop a multimedia-based digital dictionary flipbook specifically tailored for international kindergarten students to support vocabulary acquisition in Malay. The flipbook integrates various multimedia elements such as including text, audio, images, animated videos, and interactive quizzes which useful in creating an engaging and effective learning experience. Guided by the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation), the development process ensured alignment with learners' needs. For the evaluation phase, it was conducted in two parts: formative and summative assessments. Formative evaluation involved expert reviews to gather feedback for refining the application during its development meanwhile summative evaluation conducted post-development, aimed to collect user responses through an interview and observation with international kindergarten students from UUM International School. The participants consisted of nine international students aged between 4 and 6 years, from countries including Algeria and the PhilippinesFindings indicate that the multimedia digital dictionary flipbook effectively enhances vocabulary learning and engagement among international kindergarten learners. The results suggest that such digital tools are not only beneficial but necessary to support language acquisition and overcome language barriers. In conclusion, the multimedia digital dictionary flipbook represents a valuable resource for early Malay language education among international students in Malaysia.