SERDANG, January 7, 2026 – The use of technology in second language teaching and learning was the main focus of discussion at the Putra Education Forum Series organized by the Faculty of Educational Studies (FPP), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), which took place at the FPP Ballroom today.
This forum features Professor Dr. Shawn Loewen, Professor from Michigan State University, United States, who is also an Honorary Visiting Professor of Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), FPP, UPM, as the keynote speaker.
The forum session was moderated by Associate Professor Dr. Nooreen Noordin from FPP, UPM, successfully moderated the discussion in a critical and focused manner, thereby stimulating meaningful scientific dialog between the panel and the participants.
This forum was also attended by the Managing Director of ELS Language Centers Malaysia, Mr. Sean Chee, along with officers, lecturers, and English language teachers from ELS Language Centers, the Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication (FBMK) UPM, the Center for the Advancement of Language Competence (CALC) UPM, as well as TESL postgraduate lecturers and students from FPP, UPM.
Professor Dr. Shawn Loewen is a leading figure in the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and is internationally recognized for his extensive research contributions and scholarly publications. He is the author and editor of several major reference books in the field of language teaching, including A Practical Guide to Second Language Teaching and Learning, which won the 2025 PROSE Award for Language and Linguistics from the Association of American Publishers.
With a Scopus h-index of 35, Professor Loewen is also listed among the top 2 percent of scientists globally based on citation impact in his field of expertise.
The forum discussions covered various important aspects, including the role of technology in second language acquisition, the challenges of implementing technology in the context of schools and higher education institutions, and effective strategies for optimizing the use of technology to enhance language learning effectiveness.
The organization of the Putra Education Forum Series reflects the Faculty of Educational Studies, UPM's ongoing commitment to providing a high-impact intellectual discourse platform, thus contributing to the development of more progressive, innovative, and sustainable educational practices.