ELC eNewsletter – December 2025 Edition
Looking back at 2025
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on what we’ve accomplished this year and the milestones that have shaped our journey. We are delighted to share that our student community grew steadily, with an increase of 50% year on year and learners joining us from 28 different countries, further enriching the international spirit that defines ELC Malaysia.
Our Summer Camps returned in full swing, powered by newly renovated floors and refreshed classrooms. The bright, colourful learning spaces and comfortable lounge areas gave our students an inviting environment to learn, relax, and make new friends between activities. We also expanded our activity line-up, adding exciting new outings and experiences from creative explorations at GMBB, to jumping on the global pickleball trend, trying out archery, golf and horse-riding, not all in that order.
This year also marked a stronger commitment to our Sustainability Development Growth (SDG) pledge, especially in the area of nature conservation. Students explored topics such as plastic pollution and upcycling through hands-on projects, while outdoor adventures, forest walks, waterfall treks, and cooling stream visits helped them appreciate Malaysia’s natural beauty and understand why protecting it matters.
On the international front, our marketing team represented ELC Malaysia at key regional and global B2B networking events, stretching from Tokyo all the way to Berlin. We also welcomed an increasing number of participants from Bildungsurlaub Approval, Germany’s paid educational leave program, strengthening our ties with European learners.
Within our own educator community, we continued to grow as well bringing on passionate teachers and support staff to enhance student guidance across both our Bukit Bintang campus and University of Wollonggong (UOW) Malaysia campus.
With all these positive strides, we are confident that the momentum will carry into 2026. We look forward to another year that is just as rewarding if not even more inspiring as we continue nurturing a vibrant, international learning environment for every student who walks through our doors.
Reflections from Daniel, Academic Manager
This year has been one of meaningful growth for our school, not just in numbers, but in the ways we've been able to serve our students and strengthen what we offer. We welcomed more student groups than in previous years, each with their own learning goals and needs, which gave us the opportunity to expand and adapt in really positive ways. Our teaching team grew alongside these opportunities, and we organised professional development sessions to help our teachers continue growing as educators. Honestly, they were already doing excellent work!
Our Young Learners and Teens summer program expanded this year, with more students joining us and a fuller schedule of activities and classes built around a more structured curriculum. The school itself got a refresh too, with renovations and improvements to our spaces that make learning (and teaching) more enjoyable.
We've also added some new initiatives that we're particularly excited about. Our monthly study skills sessions put students in the driver's seat while teachers guide the way. The Discover Malaysia series, led by our local teaching staff, helps international students settle into life in KL and explore what Malaysia has to offer. And our Friday afternoon programs give students regular opportunities to practice speaking, presenting, and having real conversations.
On a personal note, I recently watched one of our students graduate from UOW, someone who started with us back in 2020, just before the world changed. Moments like that remind us why we do what we do. You can read more about his story in this newsletter.
Looking ahead, we're focused on building on what's working: refining our teacher training programs and introducing new offerings that bring even more value to the student experience.
None of this would be possible without our directors' leadership, our administrative team who keep everything running smoothly (both the visible work and everything that happens behind the scenes), and our teaching staff. I'm genuinely proud of the team we've built, a talented and skilled group that reflects the diverse, international community we serve, bringing together different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, all united by a genuine love for what they do. We're looking forward to what comes next!
Reflections from Julia, Senior Teacher
The last 12 months have reminded us of a roller coaster ride, intense, thrilling, with its ups and downs. The Summer Young Learners camp and the simultaneous peak in adult enrolments broke every previous record.
We welcomed significantly more students than ever before, saw strong growth from Russia, China, Kazakhstan and, very encouragingly, a sharp increase in students from various African markets. Classes were full, waiting lists quickly formed, and at one point we were literally searching for extra chairs. Teaching hours reached an all-time high, and for two solid months we operated at full capacity.
It wasn’t always smooth. The surge in numbers stretched our physical space, our timetable, and our staffing levels to the limit. There were moments when admin systems creaked and when we were recruiting and onboarding teachers almost weekly. But we adapted quickly, communicated constantly, and found solutions on the fly. Most importantly, academic quality never dropped: our IELTS results this year were outstanding, student feedback remained extremely positive, and retention of long-term students was supported by the new regular study reports we introduced.
On the teaching side, it was a year of real professional growth. Many teachers took on new levels, Exam Preparation courses, Business English groups, and even designed and delivered their own Study Skills workshops. Classroom observations and in-house training sessions continued throughout the year and received excellent reviews. We’re particularly proud that more teachers than ever moved to permanent full-time contracts, giving us a stronger, more stable core team for the future. (We were, however, sad to say goodbye to our wonderful colleague Noelia from Argentina, who has been with us for a year and will be greatly missed.)
In short, we were pushed hard, we occasionally felt chaotic, we ran on coffee and teamwork, and we delivered. The effort was immense, but the results speak for themselves, and they give us every reason to feel proud and optimistic about what we can achieve together in the coming year.
From IELTS Prep to Engineering Graduate: Asem's Journey
In January 2020, Asem Mohammed Salem Al-Shaibani, a student from Yemen, joined ELC's pre-university Intensive English Program at University of Wollongong Malaysia (UOW) with a clear goal: to achieve the IELTS band score he needed to begin his engineering degree. What none of us anticipated was that within weeks, the pandemic would shift everything online, a first for both student and teacher alike.
Despite the challenges of remote learning during an unprecedented time, Asem remained focused and determined. He put in the work, built his academic English skills, and developed the test-taking strategies needed to succeed. When his IELTS results came through, he had earned the band required for entry into UOW's engineering program, a remarkable achievement given the circumstances.
"What stood out about Asem from the beginning was his consistency," said Daniel Hurtado, Academic Manager for ELC Malaysia and one of Asem's teachers at the time. "Even when everything moved online and we were all navigating uncharted territory, he showed up ready to learn. Watching him cross the finish line with IELTS was rewarding, but seeing him graduate this year with his engineering degree, that's what makes this work meaningful."
Asem graduated in late November 2025 with a Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering with Honours. Reflecting on his time at ELC, he said: "ELC was the starting point of my academic journey in Malaysia. The IELTS preparation I received there gave me the confidence and skills to begin my engineering degree successfully. I'm truly grateful for the supportive teachers and the strong foundation ELC provided."
From pre-university English student to engineering graduate, Asem's journey reminds us why we do what we do, and what's possible when students bring determination and we provide the right support at the right time.
Our Students Activities
December Highlights
Over the past month, our students participated in a variety of activities, including a fun bowling session, an enjoyable outing to the Chit Chat Café, a full day trip to Putrajaya, playing pickleball, attempting archery, and horse riding. So many opportunities for students to bond, explore new places, and create meaningful memories together.
✨Wrapping up with gratitude from our heart to yours ✨
As we bring this year to a close, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, parents, teachers, and staff. Thank you for believing in our mission, standing by our school, and contributing your time, energy, and trust. Every success we celebrate is made possible through your support and dedication.
Together, we have built a strong and caring community; one that lifts our students, inspires growth, and creates opportunities for excellence. With your continued support, we look forward to making 2026 an even better year for every learner, educator, and family at ELC Malaysia.
Questions?
Contact us to discuss any enquiry on any of ELC's English language course.
