I am still waiting for this year's SYTRA TRIBUNE (2011 issue) to come out. THere's still no news and it is already end of April 2011.... Well, may be I have to wait until July to see the first issue for this year. I don't blame the students , they are so busy with what not... well, for one, this year, they are having the English Month... congratulation to them. Still , I think producing such bulletin should not be left behind. Iknow, it is quite difficult to handle so many things at once, yet , there are many other students who can do the job... Delegation of jobs is also very important when you are at the top. You don't or cannot do everything by yourself, so , delegate the work.. In this way, everything can be done and you will not be exhausted by the end of the day.
The main purpose of this bulletin is to give students the experience of reporting the events that happened every day in SMSTSP. Students will be exposed to journalism at an early age. This is a good exposure to them and of course it is one of the methods that can improve your English.
In Malaysia, an average student learns English for at least 11 years. If you are a Form 5 student, you have learnt the language for 11 years, but why aren’t you proficient in the language? Well, one main reason, in my opinion, is you never really use the language. You just learn it in class, but you don't practise it outside the class, at home, or at the hostel. . Of course, that is the main reason why students cannot improve on their proficiency level.
There are many theories that suggest this. Given below are proofs to my statement :
* Based upon the principles of Skinnerian behaviorism, RFT posits (suggests) that children acquire language purely through interacting with the environment.
RFT = The relational frame theory (Hayes, Barnes-Holmes, Roche, 2001)
* “Children learn on average 10 to 15 new word meanings each day, but only one of these words can be accounted for by direct instruction. The other nine to 14 word meanings need to be picked up in some other way. “
source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_acquisition
This means that a language is acquired not only by learning it but also by practising it . To acquire a language , you need to be good in these four skills - Speaking, Reading, Writing and Listening.
So today, I would like to suggest to my students to use the language all the time. What you can do will be :
1. Read materials in English - story books, magazine, newspaper etc
2. Write as much as possible - I would suggest that you keep a diary - a journal of your thought or what happened to you.
3. Listen well, especially when you watch movies, try to listen and understand the dialogue.
4. Speak the language - what else are you going to use the language for - except to communicate with others.
Lastly, we should always remember a quotation from a chinese philosopher, Lao-tzu , "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" which means that you should take that first step to achieve what you want even though every step is painful or just too difficult for you. You should start now ! You should also practise using the language every day as mentioned in the idiom "Practice Makes Perfect" which means the more you practise, the better you will become.
So, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen, keep taking steps.... even if they feel like baby steps! Good Luck !!!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Rukun Negara or Principles of Nationhood
The Rukun Negara or Principles of Nationhood consist of 5 principles.
It was officially introduced on 31 August 1970 in the hope that it would strengthen national unity in Malaysia's multicultural society. The declaration of the 5 principles has been formulated as follows:
Rukun Negara in English:
Our nation Malaysia is dedicated to
* Achieving a greater unity for all her peoples
* Maintaining a democratic way of life
* Creating a just nation shall be equitably distributed
* Ensuring a liberal approach to her rich and diverse cultural traditions, and
* Building a progressive society which shall be oriented to modern science and technology.
We, her peoples, pledge our united efforts to attain these ends guided by these principles:
1. Belief in God
2. Loyalty to King and country
3. Supremacy of the constitution
4. Rule of Law
5. Mutual respect and morality.
Rukun Negara in Malay:
Bahawasanya negara kita Malaysia mendukung cita-cita hendak:
* mencapai perpaduan yang lebih erat di kalangan seluruh masyarakatnya;
* memelihara satu cara hidup demokratik;
* mencipta satu masyarakat adil di mana kemakmuran Negara akan dapat dinikmati bersama secara adil dan saksama;
* menjamin satu cara liberal terhadap tradisi-tradisi kebudayaannya yang kaya dan berbagai corak; dan
* membina satu masyarakat progresif yang akan menggunakan sains dan teknologi moden.
Maka kami, rakyat Malaysia, berikrar akan menumpukan seluruh tenaga dan usaha kami untuk mencapai cita-cita tersebut berdasarkan atas prinsip-prinsip yang berikut :
* KEPERCAYAAN KEPADA TUHAN
* KESETIAAN KEPADA RAJA DAN NEGARA
* KELUHURAN PERLEMBAGAAN
* KEDAULATAN UNDANG-UNDANG
* KESOPANAN DAN KESUSILAAN
It was officially introduced on 31 August 1970 in the hope that it would strengthen national unity in Malaysia's multicultural society. The declaration of the 5 principles has been formulated as follows:
Rukun Negara in English:
Our nation Malaysia is dedicated to
* Achieving a greater unity for all her peoples
* Maintaining a democratic way of life
* Creating a just nation shall be equitably distributed
* Ensuring a liberal approach to her rich and diverse cultural traditions, and
* Building a progressive society which shall be oriented to modern science and technology.
We, her peoples, pledge our united efforts to attain these ends guided by these principles:
1. Belief in God
2. Loyalty to King and country
3. Supremacy of the constitution
4. Rule of Law
5. Mutual respect and morality.
Rukun Negara in Malay:
Bahawasanya negara kita Malaysia mendukung cita-cita hendak:
* mencapai perpaduan yang lebih erat di kalangan seluruh masyarakatnya;
* memelihara satu cara hidup demokratik;
* mencipta satu masyarakat adil di mana kemakmuran Negara akan dapat dinikmati bersama secara adil dan saksama;
* menjamin satu cara liberal terhadap tradisi-tradisi kebudayaannya yang kaya dan berbagai corak; dan
* membina satu masyarakat progresif yang akan menggunakan sains dan teknologi moden.
Maka kami, rakyat Malaysia, berikrar akan menumpukan seluruh tenaga dan usaha kami untuk mencapai cita-cita tersebut berdasarkan atas prinsip-prinsip yang berikut :
* KEPERCAYAAN KEPADA TUHAN
* KESETIAAN KEPADA RAJA DAN NEGARA
* KELUHURAN PERLEMBAGAAN
* KEDAULATAN UNDANG-UNDANG
* KESOPANAN DAN KESUSILAAN
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
English...o...English...
Below is an extract from a newspaper article...
An average of six out of 10 Malaysian graduates could not communicate effectively in English during interviews, she says.
“We have encountered many graduates who cannot speak or write proper English. Many are not able to transfer their academic knowledge or articulate their thoughts during interviews due to poor command of English and this has cost them jobs in the corporate sector.”
Graduates here also commonly make gross grammatical errors in their resumes, and some even use text messaging slang in their job applications, Norman adds.
An average of six out of 10 Malaysian graduates could not communicate effectively in English during interviews, she says.
“We have encountered many graduates who cannot speak or write proper English. Many are not able to transfer their academic knowledge or articulate their thoughts during interviews due to poor command of English and this has cost them jobs in the corporate sector.”
Graduates here also commonly make gross grammatical errors in their resumes, and some even use text messaging slang in their job applications, Norman adds.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Why invest in GOLD
Why invest in GOLD?
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/24/nation/8526721&sec=nation
Jamaluddin Khalid, the managing director of Saudagar Emas says many are turning to gold because of the higher returns.
The former bank officer of 20 years got into gold trading in 2009 after some research on the Internet. He recalls his friend making fun of him for selling “one-cent” coins (one dinar) for RM440 back then. But last year, his friend bought a dinar from him for RM580. Today, that one dinar is worth RM690.
“During the time of the prophets, one dinar could buy you a goat. Now, it can still buy one goat. After 1,500 years, it has still retained its value. Even gold dust is sought after these days,” he quips.
Jamaluddin got into the business after researching articles on the Internet. He borrowed money from close friends to start the business and has no regrets.
As a gold trader who doesn't have his own shop, Jamaluddin is wary of meeting anyone and only does it at places with CCTV cameras such as banks. He recalls an occasion when someone wanted to buy 1kg gold bars.
Jamaluddin suggested conducting business at a police station, but the person declined.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/24/nation/8526721&sec=nation
Jamaluddin Khalid, the managing director of Saudagar Emas says many are turning to gold because of the higher returns.
The former bank officer of 20 years got into gold trading in 2009 after some research on the Internet. He recalls his friend making fun of him for selling “one-cent” coins (one dinar) for RM440 back then. But last year, his friend bought a dinar from him for RM580. Today, that one dinar is worth RM690.
“During the time of the prophets, one dinar could buy you a goat. Now, it can still buy one goat. After 1,500 years, it has still retained its value. Even gold dust is sought after these days,” he quips.
Jamaluddin got into the business after researching articles on the Internet. He borrowed money from close friends to start the business and has no regrets.
As a gold trader who doesn't have his own shop, Jamaluddin is wary of meeting anyone and only does it at places with CCTV cameras such as banks. He recalls an occasion when someone wanted to buy 1kg gold bars.
Jamaluddin suggested conducting business at a police station, but the person declined.
That Special Edge
That special edge
The Star Online / Sunday April 10, 2011
COMMUNICATING in English is not the biggest concern for Universiti Teknologi Mara third year Law student Karl Rafiq Nadzarin when applying for a job or going for an interview.
“I am more worried about having the special edge over other interviewees,” says Karl.
Woon King Chai, a former student leader at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), also has no problem with English. His biggest concern when applying for a job is his level of readiness to work, he says.
“I worry about whether I'm well equipped with the knowledge to take on work responsibilities. To me, passing the communication test' (in job applications and during interviews) is just the first step in securing a job. More important is the ability to walk the talk' and actually perform in one's job.”
Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan disagrees.
“While it is important to have a well-rounded set of skills, English proficiency is perhaps one of the most important criteria if you want to venture into the global market. If you do not have a good enough command of English, I think you have almost zero chance of succeeding in the global market. Increasingly, even local companies are demanding English proficiency too,” he argues.
He has seen many job applicants who sent in beautifully written application letters and resumes but when they attended interviews, their communication skills proved wanting, he elaborates.
“I start thinking that maybe they paid someone to write the application for them!”
The problem is the general communication skills, he adds.
“For an organisation that operates in both English and Malay like IDEAS, we are in double difficulty because it is very rare to have graduates who are competent in both English and Malay.”
Thus, he is advising graduates to brush up on their “professional” communication skills.
“If you can only speak in Malay, then make sure you can write professional Malay too.”
According to Barisan Nasional Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, employers who participated in the recent BN Youth Job Fair 2011 have found that the standard of English among the young is getting better.
Throngs of hopeful job seekers had the opportunity to attend “on-the-spot” job interviews at the fair, which saw some 650 companies and organisations offering more than 40,000 vacancies.
While agreeing that the standard is acceptable, one exhibitor who declines to be named nevertheless feels that it could be improved.
“As you can see, there are more who are communicating in Bahasa Malaysia. Many answered in BM even when I talked to them in English,” he says.
Khairy opines that we need to go back to school to boost the standard of English in the country, and subsequently the competitiveness of young Malaysians.
“The problem needs to be tackled at source. The teaching of English in schools needs to be improved. At the same time, universities need to offer free English classes to their students,” says Khairy.
For Karl, having a dynamic setting on campus that encourages critical thinking and a university management that is open to discussing current issues intellectually will do wonders in improving students' marketability.
This will naturally instill leadership qualities as well as expand students' minds, making them more attractive to future employers, he says.
Karl believes that while English is one of the most basic things for employability, students also need to be creative, inventive and bold to succeed in the job market.
Fortunately, although this (conducive environment) is lacking in most universities, students can still achieve it outside university, he points out. “It just depends on how much you want it.”
Woon agrees, saying: “I've always believed that a student's university life should not be judged solely by the degree obtained at the end of their studies, but rather by the various experiences or knowledge they pick up through co-curricular activities on and off campus.”
Ultimately, he adds, it is the student's responsibility to prepare for the competition in the global market.
Related Stories:
Minding our language
Top jobs only for those who know the language well
The Star Online / Sunday April 10, 2011
COMMUNICATING in English is not the biggest concern for Universiti Teknologi Mara third year Law student Karl Rafiq Nadzarin when applying for a job or going for an interview.
“I am more worried about having the special edge over other interviewees,” says Karl.
Woon King Chai, a former student leader at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), also has no problem with English. His biggest concern when applying for a job is his level of readiness to work, he says.
“I worry about whether I'm well equipped with the knowledge to take on work responsibilities. To me, passing the communication test' (in job applications and during interviews) is just the first step in securing a job. More important is the ability to walk the talk' and actually perform in one's job.”
Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan disagrees.
“While it is important to have a well-rounded set of skills, English proficiency is perhaps one of the most important criteria if you want to venture into the global market. If you do not have a good enough command of English, I think you have almost zero chance of succeeding in the global market. Increasingly, even local companies are demanding English proficiency too,” he argues.
He has seen many job applicants who sent in beautifully written application letters and resumes but when they attended interviews, their communication skills proved wanting, he elaborates.
“I start thinking that maybe they paid someone to write the application for them!”
The problem is the general communication skills, he adds.
“For an organisation that operates in both English and Malay like IDEAS, we are in double difficulty because it is very rare to have graduates who are competent in both English and Malay.”
Thus, he is advising graduates to brush up on their “professional” communication skills.
“If you can only speak in Malay, then make sure you can write professional Malay too.”
According to Barisan Nasional Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, employers who participated in the recent BN Youth Job Fair 2011 have found that the standard of English among the young is getting better.
Throngs of hopeful job seekers had the opportunity to attend “on-the-spot” job interviews at the fair, which saw some 650 companies and organisations offering more than 40,000 vacancies.
While agreeing that the standard is acceptable, one exhibitor who declines to be named nevertheless feels that it could be improved.
“As you can see, there are more who are communicating in Bahasa Malaysia. Many answered in BM even when I talked to them in English,” he says.
Khairy opines that we need to go back to school to boost the standard of English in the country, and subsequently the competitiveness of young Malaysians.
“The problem needs to be tackled at source. The teaching of English in schools needs to be improved. At the same time, universities need to offer free English classes to their students,” says Khairy.
For Karl, having a dynamic setting on campus that encourages critical thinking and a university management that is open to discussing current issues intellectually will do wonders in improving students' marketability.
This will naturally instill leadership qualities as well as expand students' minds, making them more attractive to future employers, he says.
Karl believes that while English is one of the most basic things for employability, students also need to be creative, inventive and bold to succeed in the job market.
Fortunately, although this (conducive environment) is lacking in most universities, students can still achieve it outside university, he points out. “It just depends on how much you want it.”
Woon agrees, saying: “I've always believed that a student's university life should not be judged solely by the degree obtained at the end of their studies, but rather by the various experiences or knowledge they pick up through co-curricular activities on and off campus.”
Ultimately, he adds, it is the student's responsibility to prepare for the competition in the global market.
Related Stories:
Minding our language
Top jobs only for those who know the language well
WHY ENGLISH IS VITAL NOW AS BAHASA MELAYU IS TO MALAYSIAN......
Minding our language
By HARIATI AZIZAN and LEE YEN MUN
Sunday April 10, 2011
sunday@thestar.com.my
Proficiency in English is vital in today's world and Malaysia needs to arrest the decline urgently if it wants to remain competitive.
IT used to be easy for Malaysian students in Britain to get a part-time job or internship there.
An Engineering lecturer at a local public university who only wants to be known as Mar recalls how it was back then.
“Mention you are Malaysian and you will get one foot in the door. I remember one manager saying, Ah, we like Malaysians. They can speak English well, have no problem understanding instructions, not like other foreign students.'
“In fact, we spoke better English then than most Europeans. But, of course, that was in the 1980s.”
It was a different story when she went back to the UK to do her postgraduate studies in the late 1990s, she says.
“My thesis supervisor kept moaning about how the new batch of Malaysian students could not write or speak English well. He kept asking me what happened.”
The declining standard of English among the young in Malaysia has been well documented. For many years, many concerned stakeholders from employers, educationists and linguists to parents have voiced their concern.
However, with English being an important language of knowledge and global competition now, the need to arrest this decline has never been more urgent.
Recently, even former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad returned to the English soapbox, urging young Malaysians to master the language if they did not want to be left behind.
Steady decline
According to former Human Resource Minister Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn, the decline in English among the young has been happening for more than two decades.
He relates his experience as an external examiner for Utar for Economics and Accountancy.
“In the 1980s, the standard of English in most of the answer scripts was still good but in the 1990s, there was a marked decline, so much so the examiners agreed to only assess the facts and leave the writing style and grammar alone. If they had marked the language as well, many of the students would have had low marks.”
While the declining standard of English in the country can mainly be attributed to policies that have not emphasised it in the education system, what is surprising is the lack of interest among the young to master the language, notes Dr Fong.
“Students need to realise that when they go out into the world, English is important and unless they brush up their skills, they will lock themselves from a big source of information and the latest developments in knowledge.”
Recently, the Higher Education Ministry's plans to increase the number of credit hours in English on campus were met with opposition from some students.
At Universiti Malaya, a group of students even called vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ghauth Jasmon a traitor for pushing for English and sent him a memorandum demanding for an apology and his resignation.
During his tenure as minister, says Dr Fong, the main complaint from employers was the standard of English among graduates.
This is confirmed by the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF).
“The communication problem among school leavers, especially in English either in oral communication or writing is the biggest grouse among employers,” says MEF executive director Shamsuddin Bardan.
Various surveys on graduates' employability have found that English is their main weakness: many cannot speak or write proper English (Higher Education Ministry Survey 2008; World Bank Report 2005 on Malaysia Firm Competitiveness, Investment Climate and Growth among others).
This, he believes, is one reason they have difficulty getting jobs in the private sector.
Highlighting the Salary Survey for Executives 2010, which showed good communication skills as the main attribute sought by employers (68%), Shamsuddin says employers preferred to hire staff who could communicate well in English as globalisation has changed the current nature of jobs.
Today's workers have to deal with foreign companies and clients from all over the world, where the main language of communication is English.
“Today, we are not just talking about being proficient. Work demands have changed; you need to sell your company's products.
“In the old days, if you didn't want to talk so much, you could take courses like engineering. You just needed to do your work without talking to people. Now, even if you become an engineer, you will need to talk to clients and normally the common language is English,” he adds.
Shamsuddin describes students who oppose the use of English as being in denial.
“They refuse to see the importance of being proficient in the language. Instead of embracing it, they are saying it is not important.”
Malcolm Poole, director of multinational recruitment agency MRI Network Sdn Bhd, says a large firm or multinational is definitely more likely to hire an individual with better English communication and written skills.
“Employers look for talented people who can grow with the company, so business-level English becomes not just a preference, it makes it a must-have,” Poole explains.
With English being widely used by the business community both in Malaysia and internationally, it is important for Malaysian workers to master the language, notes Melissa Norman, managing director of Kelly Services (M) Sdn Bhd, one of the top headhunter agencies in the country.
She highlights the Kelly Global Workforce Index survey released in 2010, which also revealed communication skills as one of the top five most desired skills within the corporate sector.
The ability to converse adeptly in English has become a valued asset in today's world, reinforcing the importance of mastering English, stresses Norman.
But, she laments, “In today's labour market, waning communication skills are among some of the unspoken concerns among employers.”
The agency has found that an average of six out of 10 Malaysian graduates could not communicate effectively in English during interviews, she says.
“We have encountered many graduates who cannot speak or write proper English. Many are not able to transfer their academic knowledge or articulate their thoughts during interviews due to poor command of English and this has cost them jobs in the corporate sector.”
Graduates here also commonly make gross grammatical errors in their resumes, and some even use text messaging slang in their job applications, Norman adds.
The price of ignorance
Someone who knows too well the language problems among the younger workforce is Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Tan Sri Mustafa Mansur.
“In manufacturing, proficiency in English may not be as important as for someone working in the legal or financial field but we still need people who can communicate well because sometimes we need to send people out to negotiate deals and get contracts signed. If they cannot communicate well in English, we will lose out,” says Mustafa.
Unfortunately, many of the younger workers are not able to conduct a simple conversation in English, he laments.
“This leads to them having low confidence in using the language so they don't get involved in the discussions during meetings because they are afraid to talk.”
It makes them appear as “not as intelligent as they might be”, adds Dr Fong.
“Local employers complain that when our graduates attend interviews, meetings or conferences, they cannot put across their ideas, so they are made to look less smart when actually, knowledge-wise, they are comparable to any graduate from the rest of the world.”
Lacking in communication skills is no longer acceptable in today's world, Shamsuddin stresses.
“Basically, before the advent of the Internet and ICT, we (business community) communicated by letter. It took some time, so those who were not proficient in the language could ask someone who was more fluent to write their letters and notes.”
Now, correspondence is immediate, direct and fast. “So, you need to be proficient. If you cannot communicate in English, then possibly it will be some time before you can get a reply out and you will lose out in today's world.”
It is also essential for young workers to keep up with the latest developments in knowledge especially in science and technology, and unless they know another foreign language Mandarin, German, or Japanese for example the young need to know English, adds Shamsuddin.
“English is the language of knowledge as well as of the Internet. There is translation but it will take some time and before they can reach the targeted audience, the knowledge would have changed.”
More importantly, he adds, when employers recruit someone, they expect the new employee to hit the ground running and contribute straight away.
“They cannot afford to hire someone who is not able to communicate well. It is costly.”
Across the board
While the worry is over graduates and undergraduates, says FMM past president Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon, there is an even bigger group that needs to be addressed.
“We need to be reminded that the vast majority of school leavers who are not equipped with a satisfactory level of competency in English enter the labour market and are mainly absorbed into the services, manufacturing and public sector, including as teachers of our young in schools.”
Yong, who is also co-chair of Pemudah (Special Taskforce to Facilitate Business), reminds that effective communication is crucial not only in the corporate and business world but also in the government sector.
Long a moot point, particularly for those in the diplomatic circle, the opening of borders due to the advent of technology means that more and more public sector workers need to interact as global citizens.
We need civil servants who can articulate Malaysia's stand on issues internationally, including conducting negotiations on important agreements such as trade agreements, says Yong.
“Civil servants today do not only need to interact with overseas customers, visiting experts or delegations but must also attend overseas conferences, seminars as well as trade and technical fairs, all of which are in English.
“Their low proficiency in English has affected Malaysia's ability to compete in global markets as well as a destination for investment,” argues Yong.
Mustafa agrees, saying: “We are losing out in the global arena. We definitely need more good communicators who can negotiate for better trade deals and investments. As it is, our global competitiveness is low.”
More worrying, says Dr Fong, is we are even losing out to our neighbours who seem to have improved their level of English in the last decade.
“Our representatives used to be first choice to head committees at international events. But I have noticed that at many international events I attended, representatives from Thailand, Indonesia and China are beating us as they speak better English.”
Related Stories:
Top jobs only for those who know the language well
That special edge
By HARIATI AZIZAN and LEE YEN MUN
Sunday April 10, 2011
sunday@thestar.com.my
Proficiency in English is vital in today's world and Malaysia needs to arrest the decline urgently if it wants to remain competitive.
IT used to be easy for Malaysian students in Britain to get a part-time job or internship there.
An Engineering lecturer at a local public university who only wants to be known as Mar recalls how it was back then.
“Mention you are Malaysian and you will get one foot in the door. I remember one manager saying, Ah, we like Malaysians. They can speak English well, have no problem understanding instructions, not like other foreign students.'
“In fact, we spoke better English then than most Europeans. But, of course, that was in the 1980s.”
It was a different story when she went back to the UK to do her postgraduate studies in the late 1990s, she says.
“My thesis supervisor kept moaning about how the new batch of Malaysian students could not write or speak English well. He kept asking me what happened.”
The declining standard of English among the young in Malaysia has been well documented. For many years, many concerned stakeholders from employers, educationists and linguists to parents have voiced their concern.
However, with English being an important language of knowledge and global competition now, the need to arrest this decline has never been more urgent.
Recently, even former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad returned to the English soapbox, urging young Malaysians to master the language if they did not want to be left behind.
Steady decline
According to former Human Resource Minister Tan Sri Dr Fong Chan Onn, the decline in English among the young has been happening for more than two decades.
He relates his experience as an external examiner for Utar for Economics and Accountancy.
“In the 1980s, the standard of English in most of the answer scripts was still good but in the 1990s, there was a marked decline, so much so the examiners agreed to only assess the facts and leave the writing style and grammar alone. If they had marked the language as well, many of the students would have had low marks.”
While the declining standard of English in the country can mainly be attributed to policies that have not emphasised it in the education system, what is surprising is the lack of interest among the young to master the language, notes Dr Fong.
“Students need to realise that when they go out into the world, English is important and unless they brush up their skills, they will lock themselves from a big source of information and the latest developments in knowledge.”
Recently, the Higher Education Ministry's plans to increase the number of credit hours in English on campus were met with opposition from some students.
At Universiti Malaya, a group of students even called vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Ghauth Jasmon a traitor for pushing for English and sent him a memorandum demanding for an apology and his resignation.
During his tenure as minister, says Dr Fong, the main complaint from employers was the standard of English among graduates.
This is confirmed by the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF).
“The communication problem among school leavers, especially in English either in oral communication or writing is the biggest grouse among employers,” says MEF executive director Shamsuddin Bardan.
Various surveys on graduates' employability have found that English is their main weakness: many cannot speak or write proper English (Higher Education Ministry Survey 2008; World Bank Report 2005 on Malaysia Firm Competitiveness, Investment Climate and Growth among others).
This, he believes, is one reason they have difficulty getting jobs in the private sector.
Highlighting the Salary Survey for Executives 2010, which showed good communication skills as the main attribute sought by employers (68%), Shamsuddin says employers preferred to hire staff who could communicate well in English as globalisation has changed the current nature of jobs.
Today's workers have to deal with foreign companies and clients from all over the world, where the main language of communication is English.
“Today, we are not just talking about being proficient. Work demands have changed; you need to sell your company's products.
“In the old days, if you didn't want to talk so much, you could take courses like engineering. You just needed to do your work without talking to people. Now, even if you become an engineer, you will need to talk to clients and normally the common language is English,” he adds.
Shamsuddin describes students who oppose the use of English as being in denial.
“They refuse to see the importance of being proficient in the language. Instead of embracing it, they are saying it is not important.”
Malcolm Poole, director of multinational recruitment agency MRI Network Sdn Bhd, says a large firm or multinational is definitely more likely to hire an individual with better English communication and written skills.
“Employers look for talented people who can grow with the company, so business-level English becomes not just a preference, it makes it a must-have,” Poole explains.
With English being widely used by the business community both in Malaysia and internationally, it is important for Malaysian workers to master the language, notes Melissa Norman, managing director of Kelly Services (M) Sdn Bhd, one of the top headhunter agencies in the country.
She highlights the Kelly Global Workforce Index survey released in 2010, which also revealed communication skills as one of the top five most desired skills within the corporate sector.
The ability to converse adeptly in English has become a valued asset in today's world, reinforcing the importance of mastering English, stresses Norman.
But, she laments, “In today's labour market, waning communication skills are among some of the unspoken concerns among employers.”
The agency has found that an average of six out of 10 Malaysian graduates could not communicate effectively in English during interviews, she says.
“We have encountered many graduates who cannot speak or write proper English. Many are not able to transfer their academic knowledge or articulate their thoughts during interviews due to poor command of English and this has cost them jobs in the corporate sector.”
Graduates here also commonly make gross grammatical errors in their resumes, and some even use text messaging slang in their job applications, Norman adds.
The price of ignorance
Someone who knows too well the language problems among the younger workforce is Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Tan Sri Mustafa Mansur.
“In manufacturing, proficiency in English may not be as important as for someone working in the legal or financial field but we still need people who can communicate well because sometimes we need to send people out to negotiate deals and get contracts signed. If they cannot communicate well in English, we will lose out,” says Mustafa.
Unfortunately, many of the younger workers are not able to conduct a simple conversation in English, he laments.
“This leads to them having low confidence in using the language so they don't get involved in the discussions during meetings because they are afraid to talk.”
It makes them appear as “not as intelligent as they might be”, adds Dr Fong.
“Local employers complain that when our graduates attend interviews, meetings or conferences, they cannot put across their ideas, so they are made to look less smart when actually, knowledge-wise, they are comparable to any graduate from the rest of the world.”
Lacking in communication skills is no longer acceptable in today's world, Shamsuddin stresses.
“Basically, before the advent of the Internet and ICT, we (business community) communicated by letter. It took some time, so those who were not proficient in the language could ask someone who was more fluent to write their letters and notes.”
Now, correspondence is immediate, direct and fast. “So, you need to be proficient. If you cannot communicate in English, then possibly it will be some time before you can get a reply out and you will lose out in today's world.”
It is also essential for young workers to keep up with the latest developments in knowledge especially in science and technology, and unless they know another foreign language Mandarin, German, or Japanese for example the young need to know English, adds Shamsuddin.
“English is the language of knowledge as well as of the Internet. There is translation but it will take some time and before they can reach the targeted audience, the knowledge would have changed.”
More importantly, he adds, when employers recruit someone, they expect the new employee to hit the ground running and contribute straight away.
“They cannot afford to hire someone who is not able to communicate well. It is costly.”
Across the board
While the worry is over graduates and undergraduates, says FMM past president Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon, there is an even bigger group that needs to be addressed.
“We need to be reminded that the vast majority of school leavers who are not equipped with a satisfactory level of competency in English enter the labour market and are mainly absorbed into the services, manufacturing and public sector, including as teachers of our young in schools.”
Yong, who is also co-chair of Pemudah (Special Taskforce to Facilitate Business), reminds that effective communication is crucial not only in the corporate and business world but also in the government sector.
Long a moot point, particularly for those in the diplomatic circle, the opening of borders due to the advent of technology means that more and more public sector workers need to interact as global citizens.
We need civil servants who can articulate Malaysia's stand on issues internationally, including conducting negotiations on important agreements such as trade agreements, says Yong.
“Civil servants today do not only need to interact with overseas customers, visiting experts or delegations but must also attend overseas conferences, seminars as well as trade and technical fairs, all of which are in English.
“Their low proficiency in English has affected Malaysia's ability to compete in global markets as well as a destination for investment,” argues Yong.
Mustafa agrees, saying: “We are losing out in the global arena. We definitely need more good communicators who can negotiate for better trade deals and investments. As it is, our global competitiveness is low.”
More worrying, says Dr Fong, is we are even losing out to our neighbours who seem to have improved their level of English in the last decade.
“Our representatives used to be first choice to head committees at international events. But I have noticed that at many international events I attended, representatives from Thailand, Indonesia and China are beating us as they speak better English.”
Related Stories:
Top jobs only for those who know the language well
That special edge
I am in tears.... LOL
I am in tears !!!!............from LOL.
________________________________________
Ah Beng bought a new mobile.
He sent a message to everyone from his Phone Book & said,
'My Mobile No. has changed. Earlier it was Nokia 3310. Now it is 6610'
Ah Beng: I am a Proud, coz my son is in Medical College.
Friend: Really, what is he studying?
Ah Beng: No, he is not studying, they are studying him.
Ah Beng: Doctor, in my dreams, I play football every night.
DR: Take this tablet, you will be ok.
Ah Beng: Can I take tomorrow, tonight is final game.
Ah Beng: If I die, will u remarry?
Wife: No! I'll stay with my sister. But if I die will u remarry?
Ah Beng: No, I'll also stay with your sister.
Ah Beng: People consider me as a 'GOD'
Wife: How do you know??
Ah Beng: When I went to the Park today, everybody said, Oh GOD! U have
come again.
Ah Beng complained to the police: 'Sir, all items are missing, except
the TV in my house.'
Police: 'How the thief did not take TV?'
Ah Beng: 'I was watching TV news'
Ah Beng comes back to his car & find a note saying 'Parking Fine' He
writes a note and sticks it to a pole 'Thanks for complement.'
How do you recognize Ah Beng in School?
He is the one who erases the notes from the book when the teacher
erases the board.
Once Ah Beng was walking he had a glove on one hand and not on other.
So the man asked him why he did so. He replied that the weather
forecast announced that on one hand it would be cold and on the other
hand it would be hot.
Ah Beng in a bar and his cellular phone rings. He picks it up and says
'Hello, how did you know I was here?'
Ah Beng: Why are all these people running?
Man - This is a race, the winner will get the cup.
Ah Beng - If only the winner will get the cup, why others running?
Teacher: 'I killed a person' convert this sentence into future tense.
Ah Beng: The future tense is 'u will go to jail'
Ah Beng told his servant: 'Go and water the plants!'
Servant: 'It's already raining.'
Ah Beng: 'So what? Take an umbrella and go.'
source : unknown
________________________________________
Ah Beng bought a new mobile.
He sent a message to everyone from his Phone Book & said,
'My Mobile No. has changed. Earlier it was Nokia 3310. Now it is 6610'
Ah Beng: I am a Proud, coz my son is in Medical College.
Friend: Really, what is he studying?
Ah Beng: No, he is not studying, they are studying him.
Ah Beng: Doctor, in my dreams, I play football every night.
DR: Take this tablet, you will be ok.
Ah Beng: Can I take tomorrow, tonight is final game.
Ah Beng: If I die, will u remarry?
Wife: No! I'll stay with my sister. But if I die will u remarry?
Ah Beng: No, I'll also stay with your sister.
Ah Beng: People consider me as a 'GOD'
Wife: How do you know??
Ah Beng: When I went to the Park today, everybody said, Oh GOD! U have
come again.
Ah Beng complained to the police: 'Sir, all items are missing, except
the TV in my house.'
Police: 'How the thief did not take TV?'
Ah Beng: 'I was watching TV news'
Ah Beng comes back to his car & find a note saying 'Parking Fine' He
writes a note and sticks it to a pole 'Thanks for complement.'
How do you recognize Ah Beng in School?
He is the one who erases the notes from the book when the teacher
erases the board.
Once Ah Beng was walking he had a glove on one hand and not on other.
So the man asked him why he did so. He replied that the weather
forecast announced that on one hand it would be cold and on the other
hand it would be hot.
Ah Beng in a bar and his cellular phone rings. He picks it up and says
'Hello, how did you know I was here?'
Ah Beng: Why are all these people running?
Man - This is a race, the winner will get the cup.
Ah Beng - If only the winner will get the cup, why others running?
Teacher: 'I killed a person' convert this sentence into future tense.
Ah Beng: The future tense is 'u will go to jail'
Ah Beng told his servant: 'Go and water the plants!'
Servant: 'It's already raining.'
Ah Beng: 'So what? Take an umbrella and go.'
source : unknown
Life is a gift
Life Is a Gift
Today before you say an unkind word -
Think of someone who can't speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food -
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife -
Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.
Today before you complain about life -
Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before whining about the distance you drive
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job -
Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down -
Put a smile on your face and think:
you're alive and still around.
Today before you say an unkind word -
Think of someone who can't speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food -
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife -
Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.
Today before you complain about life -
Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before whining about the distance you drive
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job -
Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down -
Put a smile on your face and think:
you're alive and still around.
Life is a gift
Life Is a Gift
Today before you say an unkind word -
Think of someone who can't speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food -
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife -
Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.
Today before you complain about life -
Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before whining about the distance you drive
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job -
Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down -
Put a smile on your face and think:
you're alive and still around.
Source : unknown
Today before you say an unkind word -
Think of someone who can't speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food -
Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife -
Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.
Today before you complain about life -
Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before whining about the distance you drive
Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job -
Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down -
Put a smile on your face and think:
you're alive and still around.
Source : unknown
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