The Asia Pacific Language Centre (APLC) hosted “Snorkl in the Classroom – Smarter Teaching with Multimodal AI” at APU, uniting educators from six institutions to explore AI-enhanced English teaching led by CEFR Master Trainer Mr Khairi Fakhri, the session introduced Snorkl, an AI tool that gives instant feedback on students’ spoken English and spearheaded by Ms Sharen Kaur, the initiative reflects APLC’s drive to advance English education through innovation and collaboration.

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The Asia Pacific Language Centre (APLC) recently hosted a landmark professional development workshop titled ‘Snorkl in the Classroom – Smarter Teaching with Multimodal AI’ at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU).

The event united educators from six esteemed institutions in a shared mission to explore how artificial intelligence can revolutionise the way English is taught and learned. 

Conducted by Mr Khairi Fakhri, a CEFR Master Trainer certified under Negeri Sembilan State Education Department (JPN NS), the session introduced Snorkl — a cutting-edge AI platform designed to elevate English language teaching.

The tool enables students to record their spoken English, visually map their ideas on a digital whiteboard, and receive instant, personalised AI feedback. 

By analysing individual language patterns, Snorkl encourages learners to reflect deeply, refine their communication, and build greater linguistic confidence.

Participants represented six distinguished institutions, including Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Tun Abdul Razak (UNITAR), International Medical University (IMU), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Maverick International Primary School, and Sri Dasmesh Secondary School.

The event also featured Dr Chuah Guat Eng, Malaysia’s first female author to publish an English-language novel, who expressed delight at witnessing such an energetic exchange of pedagogical insights and creative teaching innovations.

“Collaborative initiatives like this give educators the chance to share expertise, embrace innovative strategies, and raise the standards of English language teaching across institutions,” said Associate Professor Dr Ng Yu Jin from UNITAR.

The training was spearheaded by Ms Sharen Kaur, Senior Manager at APLC, whose vision is to redefine English education through innovation and collaboration. .

“I wanted to create opportunities for our teachers to step beyond their comfort zones and engage with peers from leading institutions,” she shared, added “This initiative exemplifies APLC’s commitment to driving impactful teaching practices and preparing educators for the future of learning.”

“For the past 17 years, APLC has conducted monthly teacher training to ensure our educators continuously evolve in their teaching methods. It’s incredibly rewarding to organise sessions that truly empower teachers to apply new ideas with confidence,” said Ms Raziah Sultan Kabeer, APLC’s Teacher Training Coordinator.

Through this collaborative effort, APLC reaffirms its leadership in English language education, harnessing the power of AI and inter-institutional partnerships to set new benchmarks in professional development and modern pedagogy.