CHOOSING POTENTIAL STUDENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD: COULD WE SKYPE THEM?

This paper discusses the advantages and some limitations of using Skype for interviewing potential students from abroad for the BEd (TESL) program (Session 2012/2013) at the Faculty of Education, University Malaya, Malaysia. This first attempt by the faculty was initiated as a result of the problems faced in phone-interview sessions with previous applicants. In this attempt, ten out of 34 applicants were shortlisted for an interview. These ten applicants were from various parts of China, Japan, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Yemen. Interviewers were two lecturers and the co-ordinator of the TESL programme from the Department of Language and Literacy Education. Throughout the interview duration of 2 hours, challenges and potentials were recorded and noted. These records show many advantages and only minor limitations faced during the interview session. The experience resulted in positive feedbacks for the faculty management and administration, particularly in relation to offering places to future TESL students at the university. This experience could be one of many more to be carried out for finalizing future enrolment at this university and, perhaps, others too.