Virtual Booth

Developing students’ ability to apply reading strategies independently remains a persistent challenge in higher education. Although academic reading skills are explicitly taught in UiTM’s English language courses, many students continue to struggle when transferring these strategies to unfamiliar texts without immediate instructional support. To address this challenge, EMO-READ was developed as a browser-based reading application that organises nine essential academic reading skills into intuitive emoji-coded learning frameworks. Accessible through a simple URL without installation, EMO-READ is compatible with any internet-enabled device, providing a flexible and readily accessible supplementary learning resource for both classroom and self-directed learning. A perception survey involving 90 students at UiTM Sarawak reported a high overall mean rating of 4.43 out of 5. Furthermore, 96% of respondents agreed that EMO-READ was innovative and useful, while 87% indicated greater confidence in applying reading strategies after using the application. These findings highlight EMO-READ’s potential as an effective, scalable, and learner-centred digital innovation that strengthens reading competence, promotes independent learning, and supports technology-enhanced language education in higher education.