MUET TUITION - MUET MADE EASY in 30 HOURS

MUET TUITION JANUARY 2013 INTAKE
INTENSIVE COURSE FOR MUET FEBRUARY 2013 CANDIDATES

Preparing for MUET FEB/MARCH 2013?
Need to score band 3, 4, 5 or 6 for entry into university?
Need to improve your band score after your first attempt last year?

MUET can be easy with practice, patience and guidance.
Hundreds of our students who started with minimal ability in English, have gone on to score Band 3, 4 and 5 in their test.
They are now in universities like UM, UITM, UIA, UKM, UPM, IMU, UCSI pursuing their tertiary education in Medicine, Pharmacy, Business, Finance, Biotechnology, Law.
Some and improved on their Band score from Band 2 to Band 3 and Band 4, which allows for them to continue their studies in Law, Biotechnology, Engineering etc.

This is a short intensive course for candidates who need help in their MUET preparation.
Notes and materials provided and prepared specifically for scoring in MUET.
Lessons are exam driven for scoring in MUET.
MUET tutor with 12 years experience
15 lessons x 2 hours = 30 hours
Tuesday and Thursday @ 7.45 to 9.45pm
Lessons will be held in Cheras
Reasonable fees

If you are serious about doing well for MUET, serious about applying for university  and serious about graduating from university, please call to register and book a seat.

Please call Ms Tang at 014 639 6212 for more information.

(If you can't reach me when you call, its because i'm in class, please leave me a text and i'll call you back.)

Part 1: 4 MUST-KNOWs / Tips for MUET Speaking

Speaking! The fun part of MUET. With a little know-how and practice, this part of the test can be ACED!

Here are 4 MUST-KNOWs / Tips for Speaking.

must know #1: The speaking test is quite predictable.
Why do I say so? It's because the structure is fixed so you'll know what to expect in the test and you can practice for it.


must know #2: There are 2 parts; the individual turn and the group interaction.
Students will be grouped into groups of 3 or 4 candidates. You will be given time to prepare your answers. Use this preparation time wisely.


must know #3: Keep it simple.
Don't start long and complicated sentences if you don't know how to finish them. Keep your sentences simple and words understandable.


must know #4: Remember to breathe.
Whenever you feel nervous, uncomfortable, uneasy during the test for any reason, remember to take a deep breath and then focus on the question. If you allow your fear to build up, panic or going blank, might set in. So, remember to breathe and gather your thoughts. Don't worry about pausing for a minute during the test.


This is post 1 on the speaking test; just a little introduction. Look out for my next post, where i'll expain a little more about the different sections of the speaking test.

4 Simple Steps: How to answer MUET Writing Task 1

4 Simple Steps: How to answer MUET Writing Task 1?


Step 1: Read the question and instructions carefully. What is the question about? How many words required and how much time do you have?

Step 2: Plan your essay. Label the charts for easy reference and make notes on the charts.

There are 3 pie charts, you MUST compare them. The total student population pie chart is the base, you compare the undergraduates to all students and then postgraduates to undergrates and all students.

Use the relevant target vocabulary to descibe the pie charts, i.e. majority, minority, one third etc

Step 3: Write it. Write in paragraphs.

Step 4: Check your answer. Make sure its between 150 to 200 words.

You are advised to spend 40 minutes on this task.

The pie charts below show the number of hours spent in a Malaysian university library by undergraduates, postgraduates, and the total student population over the past year.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

Write between 150 to 200 words.

         The pie charts provide information on the time spent in a Malaysian university library by undergraduates and postgraduates compared to all students over the past year. It is noticeable that postgraduates spend a significant amount of time in the library when compared to the other students.

        Overall, the time spend in the library by undergraduates and the total student population was quite similar. The majority of undergraduates spend 1 to 7 hours in the library, which is similar to the total student population, the figures were 63% and 50 % respectively. The minority of both groups spend 15+ hours in the library, at 9% and 15% respectively.

       Meanwhile, the majority of postgraduates spend 15+ hours in the library, which was slightly above half at 51%. While the minority of postgraduates spend 1 to 7 hours in the library. This is the complete opposite when compared to the total student population and undergraduates.

       The only similarity between the undergraduates and postgraduates was that about one third of both groups spend 8 to 14 hours in the library, the figures were 28% and 32% respectively.

       In conclusion, there is a clear trend towards using the library more as students move towards post-graduation.

Past Year Speaking Questions: Theme: Crime

Past Year Speaking Questions - Crime


June 2001

There has been an increase in burglaries in your neighbourhood and the residents are very worried about their safety. A committee has been set up to look into this matter. As a member of the committee, suggest ways to make the neighbourhood a safer place.

Task 1 Individual
A. You suggest the residents improve safety features of neighbourhood. Give reasons for your suggestion. B. A police officer be invited to talk on security measures C. Residents be taught to defend themselves against intruders. D. “Rukun Tetangga” teams be set up to patrol the neighbourhood at night

Task 2 Group Discussion
Discuss the best way to make the neighbourhood a safer place.


May 2002

As members of the Neighbourhood Watch, you and your friends are concerned about the increase in the number of petty crimes (handbag snatching, stealing of shoes, and breaking into cars) in your neighbourhood. You suggest one reason for this increase.

Task 1 Individual
A. In your opinion, the rise in petty crimes is caused by the increase in the number of drug addicts. Give reasons to support your opinion.  B. the increase in the number of illegal immigrants C. the lack of interest shown by the public D. the increase in the number of unemployed

Task 2 Group Discussion
Discuss which one of the following reasons is the main cause for the increase in petty crimes.


October 2002

Lately there have been several break-ins and vandalism on your school premises. There is a great need to improve security. Your School Board welcomes suggestions from anyone. You would like to recommend a security measure.

Task 1 Individual
A. You feel that the school authorities should employ security guards for the school. Justify your opinion. B. Install an alarm system C. Install grills on all doors & windows D. Get police to make regular patrols.

Task 2 Group Discussion
Discuss which is the most effective measure to improve security in school.


October 2007
 

Crimes against children, such as kidnapping, assault and abuse, are on the increase. The Social Welfare Department invites suggestions from the public on what can be done to protect children from such crimes.

Task 1 Individual
A. You suggest that children should be taught how to protect themselves. Elaborate. B. The school authorities should take safety measures to protect children while they are at school C. The government should impose more severe punishment on those who commit crimes against children.
D. Parents should take greater responsibility in ensuring the safety of their children.


Task 2 Group Discussion
Which is the most effective suggestion to protect children against crimes?

Don't miss any MUET postings : )

Hi all,  in order to not miss any MUET postings. Please follow by email. How? Go to the bottom right hand side of the page. See follow by email? Fill in your email address and hit submit. Whenever I update the blog, you'll receive it in email.

Happy Studying!

Past Year Speaking Questions: Theme: National Service

Past Year Speaking Questions

Theme: National Service

May 2005

Task 1

You and your friends have to go for National Service training. How could you help prepare yourself for this event?

A You feel that you should prepare yourself to be physically fit

B You should learn to be more independent

C You should get to know more about the different cultures in Malaysia

D You should get involved in community service

 

 

Task 2

Which of the following would be the most useful way to prepare oneself for NS?

 

 

 

October 2007

Task 1

It is generally agreed that the National Service Programme can be improved. Suggest some ways in which the NSP can be enhanced. Elaborate.

 

A. Boys and girls should be placed in separate camps

B. The NSP should be compulsory for all youths

C. The duration of the programme should be extended

D. The facilities at the camps should be upgraded

 

Task 2

Which is the most useful suggestion to improve the NSP?



MUET Tuition in Cheras - MUET MADE EASY

MUET TUITION STARTING DECEMBER 2012
INTENSIVE COURSE FOR MUET FEBRUARY 2013 CANDIDATES
Preparing for MUET FEB/MARCH 2013?
Need to score band 3, 4, 5 or 6 for entry into university?
Need to improve your band score after your first attempt last year?

MUET can be easy with practice, patience and guidance.
Hundreds of our students who started with minimal ability in English, have gone on to score Band 3, 4 and 5 in their test.
They are now in universities like UM, UITM, UIA, UKM, UPM, IMU, UCSI pursuing their tertiary education in Medicine, Pharmacy, Business, Finance, Biotechnology, Law.
Some and improved on their Band score from Band 2 to Band 3 and Band 4, which allows for them to continue their studies in Law, Biotechnology, Engineering etc.

This is a short intensive course for candidates who need help in their MUET preparation.
Notes and materials provided and prepared specifically for scoring in MUET.
Lessons are exam driven for scoring in MUET.
MUET tutor with 12 years experience
15 lessons x 2 hours = 30 hours
Tuesday and Thursday @ 7.45 to 9.45pm
Lessons will be held in Cheras
Reasonable fees

Target date for commencement of class is December 2012, call to register and book a seat.
Please call Ms Tang at 014 639 6212 for more information.

(If you can't reach me when you call, its because i'm in class, please leave me a text and i'll call you back.)

For those who are not able to make it on the days and times given, arrangements for weekend classes can be made to accomodate your group (if you can gather your own group of at least 8 students or more). For those who have transport issues, private lessons are an option, however, the tuition fee will be different from the intensive MUET course fee. However, many of my former students have travelled from Cyberjaya, Putrajaya, Nilai, Seremban, Rawang, Bangi and Selayang for class. They take the bus, train and taxi to attend classes.

The 3 Rule of Thumbs: MUET Writing Task 2

MUET Writing - Opinion Essay Sample

There are a few rule of thumbs when writing the essay (task 2) for the MUET writing component.
Here's a brief outline.

1) Write in clear paragraphs
2) Write at least 350 words
3) Use formal language

Click on the link below. The sample is in the powerpoint.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B53jrH-4k8Q1SG9VdDlUemVNQ0k

Register for MUET! Daftar untuk MUET!



Today is the last day to register for MUET Feb/March 2013. Head to the nearest BSN to purchase your PIN. Then register online, http://www.mesp.gov.my/online/loginPermohonan/uicontroller.jsp?cmd=12

MUET Writing - Task 2 Sample

Writing Task 2 Sample

Prison is not a cure for crime. To reduce crime in the long-term, courts should significantly reduce prison sentences and focus on education and community work to help criminals not to re-offend.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with the opinion?


Note: The general subject of the question is the best way to reduce crime. It has been given that long prison sentences should be maintained or to reduce it and emphasis on education and community work. Comment on both views. This is a short example. You should write at least 350 words. 4 body paragraphs.


                              There are many different opinions on the best way to reduce crime. The traditional solution is to be hard on criminals and put them in prison for a very long time. An opposing point of view is expressed by people with more modern ideas. They think that education and community work are the long -term solutions to cutting crime. So, who is right - the traditionalist or the modernist?

                              People in favour of reducing prison sentences often argue that prisons should not simply be places of punishment. In traditional prisons, people learn a lot about crime, so when they leave prison, they will commit more crimes. Education, however, gives people the skills to get a job when they leave prison, which means that they will probably not re-offend. Part-time work experience in the community is also very helpful as it is a step back into everyday life in society. People can be in prison, but they can also feel they are doing useful work.

                              On the other hand, some people argue that long prison sentences are right because the punishment should fit the crime. If, for example, someone commits a serious crime such as bank robbery, they should go to prison for a long time. They also believe that reducing prison sentences significantly reduces people's fear of prison and consequently, people will commit more crimes. People will not be frightened of going to a prison which is like a university with learning and work experience opportunity.

                               In conclusion, it is agreeable that education and community work can have an important role in helping reduce crime, but there should also be strict controls on the type of community work prisoners can do. It is important to understand that some people are a real danger to society and need to stay in prison for a very long time.

Good Luck MUET Candidates!

Hi All,

All the best to my students and MUET candidates who'll be sitting for the final 3 papers of MUET.

Remember to manage your time properly for the various components.

For listening, use the reading time wisely, seach out KEY words and PREDICT the possible answers.
Don't despair if you missed a question or two, move on and focus for the next section.

For reading, remember to utilise the reading skills we practiced in class, skim for gist and scan for key words. Circle questions which you are unsure of and come back to them later.

For writing task 1, spend time planning your answer, plan on the graphs, identify the general trends and specific details.

For writing task 2, spend time on reading and understanding the question, identify the general subject and specific task. PLAN your answer. Use the connective phrases. Use the essay structure which you have learned in class.

You have worked hard in class and spend time on your MUET revision.
Just do your best tomorrow.

Good Luck!

MUET TUITION FOR FEB 2013 CANDIDATES

MUET TUITION STARTING DECEMBER 2012
INTENSIVE COURSE FOR MUET FEBRUARY 2013 CANDIDATES

Preparing for MUET FEB/MARCH 2013?
Need to score band 3, 4, 5 or 6 for entry into university?
Need to improve your band score after your first attempt last year?

MUET can be easy with practice, patience and guidance.
Hundreds of our students who started with minimal ability in English, have gone on to score Band 3, 4 and 5 in their test.
They are now in universities like UM, UITM, UIA, UKM, UPM, IMU, UCSI pursuing their tertiary education in Medicine, Pharmacy, Business, Finance, Biotechnology, Law.
Some and improved on their Band score from Band 2 to Band 3 and Band 4, which allows for them to continue their studies in Law, Biotechnology, Engineering etc.

This is a short intensive course for candidates who need help in their MUET preparation.
Notes and materials provided and prepared specifically for scoring in MUET.
Lessons are exam driven for scoring in MUET.
MUET tutor with 12 years experience
15 lessons x 2 hours = 30 hours
Lessons will be held in Cheras
Reasonable fees

Target date for commencement of class is December 2012, call to register and book a seat.

Please call Ms Tang at 014 639 6212 for more information.

(If you can't reach me when you call, its because i'm in class, please leave me a text and i'll call you back.)



 

Article for MUET reading

Article for MUET reading

Thursday October 11, 2012

Women’s rights not there yet

Musings By Marina Mahathir

Malaysian women’s groups have fought hard over the years and won some battles. But does this mean women are now truly equal to men in the country?
DO we women not matter at all? Are we only valuable around election time? Is the fact that we can vote the only indicator of our equality?
Women’s groups were in shock last week when – at a National Women’s Day celebration – the Women, Family and Community Development Minister stated that Malaysia had no need for a women’s rights movement because we were given equality from the start.
I understand that the remarks were off-the-cuff but it begs the question of how unimportant are Malaysian women viewed that they didn’t merit a carefully-prepared speech.
To say that we are better off than developed countries because we got the vote from the beginning is to skim the surface of history.
Yes, developed countries did not give the vote to women “from the beginning”. But they are also older countries, established during eras when archaic attitudes about women prevailed.
When we gained independence, of course we had to give women the vote because by then attitudes towards women had changed.
But what is more important is what has happened since then.
Switzerland did not give women the vote until the 1970s. But today they have had not only a woman president but half of their Cabinet members are women.
We, on the other hand, did not even appoint our first woman minister until a full 12 years after independence, despite the efforts that women put in during the independence struggle.
What’s more, we only amended our Federal Constitution to prohibit gender-based discrimination as late as 2001 – an act that even now is not fully implemented because a judge ruled that it does not apply to the private sector. Gender-based violence is also a discrimination issue because it is women who tend to suffer more.
If we had all our rights in 1957, why then did we need to fight for a Domestic Violence Act, a law that took six years to be passed by Parliament and a further two years before it could be gazetted?
Why did we need a Law Reform (Marriage and Divorce Act) in 1976 if women did not think their situation was unfair?
Why did we need the Guardianship of Infants (Amendment) Act in 1999 so that, finally, women could be recognised as guardians to their own children?
None of these changes that benefited women happened on their own.
A recent study by two American academics showed that, far more than women politicians, women’s groups are crucial in pushing for laws that benefit women.
Similarly, Malaysian women’s groups fought hard to gain these rights. They wrote memoranda, attended meetings, marched and protested. In the end they won some of the battles they fought.
Does this mean that we are now completely equal substantively to male citizens of this country? Of course not!
We are expected to work outside the home, and indeed often have no other choice, but we are still expected to cook, clean and care. This double burden can be deeply stressful especially if we have no support.
The Government has called for crèches at workplaces, but they seem to have no will to enforce that in the private sector.
But we are proud that companies are now being compelled to include women on their boards.
All well and good but the numbers being trained to do so are nowhere near the 30% government-mandated requirement. So, are we just meant to be tokens?
What is not mentioned is that when we signed up to the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, we said we would allocate 30% of the positions in all decision-making positions to women.
This means more than being on the board; this includes political positions.
So if we comply, we need to have nine women in the current Cabinet instead of the two we used to have. What’s more, 30% of all candidates in the coming elections should be women.
To say that we already have equality is to deny the very many reports on the status of women in this country that clearly states that we do not.

Article for MUET reading

Article for MUET reading

Wednesday October 17, 2012

Building a more just and caring nation

BRAVE NEW WORLD BY AZMI SHAROM

It is important for us to embrace the ideal that all sectors of society must be helped if they need help.
IT has been said many times in this column that as a nation we need to move away from race-based politics and policy-making.Whenever the issue is raised, however, there will normally follow responses that refer to the inequitable distribution of wealth in the country. The usual argument is that Malays still make up the largest number of poor and thus require affirmative action.

I agree that the largest number of poor households is still largely Malay. This being the case, if we discard ethnic-based policy-making and focus purely on poverty alleviation, the largest group that would be receiving help will still be Malays.

The difference with a colour-blind policy, however, will be two-fold.

Firstly, as a nation that purports to hold civilised values, it is of vital importance for us to embrace the ideal that all sectors of society, regardless of their skin colour, must be helped if they need help.

Secondly, it is unsustainable for us to continue to be governed based on race for there is no way we can grow successfully as a nation if there is a deep and abiding sense of division among us.
As the saying goes, talk is cheap. If one were to take this route, how does one go about it?
Surely the priority should be towards the building of a more equitable society, in terms of income, education, opportunities for development and institutional fairness.

Fortunately, two NGOs have decided to take the bull by the horns and have come up with an interesting suggestion.
Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM) and the National Human Rights Society (Hakam) have drafted a proposed law called the Social Inclusion Act (SIA).The SIA does not actually provide immediate answers or quick fixes.
Instead, it proposes a method through which we can develop policies that will be beneficial to Malaysians who are disadvantaged and marginalised.What it suggests is the creation of a Social Inclusion Commission. This commission will consist of seven people who are knowledgeable and experienced in the issues at hand, i.e. poverty and social marginalisation.

The shortlist is to be drawn up by a bipartisan parliamentary committee. The committee then passes the shortlist to the Prime Minister who then advises the Yang DiPertuan Agong who finally makes the appointments.
In other words, the commissioners will not be appointed on the say-so of one person.
There is also a strict requirement of disclosure in the SIA where commissioners are bound to disclose any interest they, their family members or associates might have with any matter which is related to their work.
This commission is to be responsible to Parliament to whom they will have to report regularly. These reports are also to be made available to the public.

The commission, once established, has the responsibility to address issues of poverty reduction, income inequality, institutional discrimination, capacity building for marginalised and vulnerable communities, and the provision of social safety nets.They are to then draft policies to deal with these issues and governmental plans of action are to be made in line with these policies.

There is a close link between the commission and Parliament, with the commission having the responsibility not only to report to the House but to also take all necessary steps to involve MPs in the development and implementation of their plans.

To me, this proposed law is attractive for many reasons.
Firstly and most crucially, it is concerned with the most vulnerable and needful sectors of the Malaysian community.
Secondly, it provides for a transparent modus operandi.
Thirdly, its work is closely intertwined with Parliament, thus respecting the democratic system.
And finally, it functions on the premise that concerted research has to be done in formulating policies.

Naturally, there is much work to be done to refine the SIA.
However, it is a bold first step forward for the country and it ought to be taken seriously by anyone who is serious about creating a nation which is more just, inclusive and caring.


 

Jadual MUET 2013

Note these important dates!

29th October registration opens and 16th November registration closes.

ITEM	MUET 2013
	March Session	July Session	November Session
Registration opens	29 October 2012	1 April 2013	8 July 2013
Registration closes	16 November 2012 (All types of candidates)	19 April 2013 (All types of candidates)	25 July 2013 (All types of candidates)
	14 January 2013 (Candidates who wish to improve on their MUET November 2012 test scores)	2 May 2013 (Candidates who wish to improve on their MUET March 2013 test scores)	26 September 2013 (Candidates who wish to improve on their MUET July 2013 test scores)
MUET Speaking Test Dates	18, 19, 20 February 2013 and 25, 26, 27 February 2013	1, 2, 3, 4 July 2013 and 9, 11 July 2013	21, 22, 23 October 2013 and 28, 29, 30 October 2013
Written Test Dates	2 March 2013	27 July 2013	9 November 2013

Powerpoint - Re-cap for MUET

This week, i'll be doing last classes for a few MUET classes.

Last powerpoint to re-cap the MUET lessons we had gone through the past 7 weeks.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B53jrH-4k8Q1OXlKR0p5dGZBbmM/edit

Past Year Questions for Writing Task 2

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B53jrH-4k8Q1OWhTR3dCaXdLOEU/edit

MUET is not meant to torture you : )

Many students still wonder about the importance of MUET. Its not meant to torture you. The preparation for MUET and doing well for it, will help ensure that you don't have to struggle with English when doing your Business degree, Finance degree, Law degree ect.

The preparation for MUET will help ensure that you have what it takes to join the working force; the ability to speak and write well in English.


Sunday September 30, 2012

Using the universal language

By ANDREA FILMER
educate@thestar.com.my

There is an urgent need for jobseekers to be armed with skills in English to work and communicate effectively.

EVEN after the master of ceremony had brought the question-and-answer session to a close, hands continued to wave frantically across the room.

With questions and statements ranging from intentional learning to early childhood education and from the level of English proficiency in rural schools to the failure of university graduates to perform in interviews, everyone wanted to weigh in on the topic at hand.

Entitled English Proficiency: Does the national education system support the needs of the workplace?, the forum, held in Penang on Monday, was part of the English for More Opportunities initiative by The Star.

Education Ministry deputy director-general Datuk Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof (Teacher Development Professionalism) started the ball rolling with a startling revelation — that two-thirds of students and two-thirds of teachers involved in a survey struggled with English proficiency.

“In formulating the Preliminary Report Malaysia Education Blueprint (2013 - 2025), we conducted a survey involving 13,000 students and 11,000 teachers in government schools.

“From that survey, there were two main findings.

“First, we benchmarked SPM English results with that of the Cambridge English Language 1119 standards and found that although students had good grades in SPM, two-thirds of them failed to meet the basics of English proficiency (a credit of C6) in the 1119 paper,” Dr Khair said to the 160-member strong crowd.

“In the second (finding), we found that teachers did not fare well as two-thirds of those surveyed failed to reach “proficient” levels of C2 and C1 in the Cambridge Placement Test,” he added.

“The ministry is not in a state of denial about the problems we face. The aim of the system is to provide students with the basic skills to communicate and although they know the language, the question now is whether they can communicate confidently and master the language to an extent that they can face the challenges of the globalised workplace,” Dr Khair said.

He added that the final Malaysia Education Blueprint, scheduled to be sent to the Cabinet in December, will put a focus on the country’s 70,000 English teachers.

That news was welcomed by the next speaker — the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP), Penang branch chairman Ng Weng Tutt - who, however, cautioned that successful implementation was the key in getting the right results.

“What we are more concerned about is the implementation of our national education system.

“For example, the new Education Blueprint states an intention to introduce English Literature in primary schools.

“We support that proposal but we need to have enough trained English teachers who are well-versed in teaching literature,” Ng said.

He said currently, some schools were already taking non-English trained teachers to teach English in schools, which was not something that should be repeated with English Literature.

“Teaching English Literature is not as easy as it sounds.

“We do not want something that is implemented in a slipshod manner.

 

“We want it to be very well planned so we can fully reap the results of what the government intends to do,” Ng said, adding that courses to upskill and upgrade the nation’s 450,000 teachers were sorely needed to keep them up to date with the best practices.

Pulling the focus onto school leavers, Taylor’s University deputy vice-chancellor Pradeep Nair gave an analogy of an “unbalanced” bodybuilder when talking about undergraduate students.

“Just imagine a body builder with muscles in all the wrong places, or not in all the right places. They may be very good at one or two things, but are not perfect in some of the other areas.

“These are the people you wouldn’t want taking part in competitions,” Pradeep said, to knowing nods from the audience.

Lacking skills

He said to make matters worse; students were frequently ignorant that they lacked skills to succeed in the workplace.

“If there is a problem, it is that these young men and women who leave secondary school actually don’t know that there is a problem.

“This is because the system has conditioned them to rate their degree of success by one set of rulers while the university and workplace may have a different set of scales,” he said.

Quoting the 2012 World Bank Malaysian Economic Monitor report, Pradeep said 46% of Malaysian firms that participated in the survey cited poor English proficiency as a key restraint to hiring.

“A total of 37% cited poor communication skills as another restraint.

“The sad thing is good academic qualifications did not even feature in the top 10 reasons for hiring,” Pradeep said.

He said language was a great enabler for students to pick up discipline-specific knowledge, cognitive capabilities and soft skills which were all needed by graduates looking for successful careers.

He added that students first needed to realise how crucial language and communication in English were to the job market before they embarked on equipping themselves for the job world.

“Getting graduates to master engineering or accountancy may not be sufficient anymore and what is far more important is to first get them to a space where they know what they don’t know rather than remain in ignorance,” he said.

For Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, the Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) Malaysia chairman, giving children a strong foothold in the subjects of Science and Mathematics was something she knew was beneficial.

Advocating the group’s push for the teaching of both subjects in English, Noor Azimah said that it was a myth that students could not cope with the new system.

“The teaching of Science and Mathematics in English was introduced in 2003 and we see that there has been an upturn in the graph (of the percentage of passes in Science and Mathematics among UPSR, PMR and SPM candidates) for the last seven years.

“These are good results and we ask, when have the results ever dropped? They haven’t and we are outperforming the times when we had these subjects taught in Malay,” she said.

She added that having English as a second language in Malaysia was a plus point for students who would benefit from acquiring scientific knowledge in its lingua franca of English.

“We should capitalise on our strengths, not suppress them.

“What we are hoping for is that the government will nurture schools that teach Science and Mathematics partly in English and let the schools that teach these subjects 100% in English to continue doing so,” she said.

Strong voices

In her welcoming speech, The Star’s deputy group chief editor (II) Leanne Goh said people who felt strongly about English usually had a lot to say and encouraged the audience by telling them to “Give them (the speakers) all you got!”

During the question and answer session, the crowd took her advice to heart with question after question raining down on the speakers.

From undergraduate students to seasoned teachers and industry leaders, all who put up their hands had specific points to raise about the importance of English and the role of the national education system in fostering it.

Umar Man, the chairman of the SM Seberang Prai Parent-Teacher Association, lamented about the gap of English proficiency among today’s students compared with those from the previous generations.

“We look at the ‘good old days’ and wonder where we have gone wrong.

“As parents, you have to worry when you see your children go through the whole school system but end up unemployed because they cannot get through the interview stage,” he said, questioning the declining standard of English among teachers.

This opinion was echoed by 72-year-old Lim Hock Huan who said that many university graduates had not been as successful in securing the right and relevant jobs for themselves.

Forum moderator Datuk Noor Rezan Bapoo Hashim, a former Education Ministry deputy director-general and Khazanah National Bhd’s current education advisor and consultant, came to the rescue of teachers by saying that the declining proficiency of English could not be put solely on their shoulders.

“I have been posed this question many times — why are the quality of teachers not as good as the quality of teachers before?

“I always tell people that they have to be fair to the teachers today.

“If you have passed through an English-medium school, the English that you speak is different than the English that is spoken by children today.

“And we cannot really blame the teachers because they are products of the system,” Noor Rezan said.

She said language was learnt and developed through usage and limited exposure to the language was not enough to make a person proficient.

“However, there is one reminder I want to make to all of us and myself — do not link the teaching of a language to race and religion.

“Think of the teaching of English as a matter of functionality and how useful that language is wherever we are,” she said.

Different perspectives

Two teachers also stood up to outline the challenges they faced in teaching English to their students.

A 40-year-old secondary school teacher said the standard of English in the classes she taught was of varying levels.

“I have one Form Four class where the English proficiency is ‘very good’, another that is of medium standard and a final one which I call the ‘Oh, my English!’ class.

“They mix up the basics like ‘is’ and ‘are’, ‘a’ and ‘an’ and ‘her’ and ‘she’. So, what I have done is to go back to basics with them with nursery rhymes, songs, poems, story-telling and drama.

“There is no point in giving them essays as they were not able to write them and it would just be a waste of time,” she said.

Another English language practitioner, Khor Sim Ee, said the subject of English Literature concentrated too much on local texts with the curriculum lacking a world view.

“When you only use Malaysian texts, it destroys the global perspective of the subject.

“Also, abridged texts are used which causes the language element to suffer as well,” said Khor, 56.

University undergraduates also had their say in the 50-minute question and answer session.

Mohd Zayani Zulkifli, 22, from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) asked if the teaching of English could be brought forward to the kindergarten stage to take advantage of the incredible learning capacity of young children.

Farhana Abdul Fatah, 21, lamented about her experience as an intern in the tourism industry.

“My boss has said to me that in this (tourism) field, they don’t need very proficient English speakers so long as it is enough to get by.

“What happens when we’re proficient in the language but we are underutilised?” asked Farhana, who also hails from USM.

Pradeep replied that: “The statistics in all industries in Malaysia are pointing to the reverse.

“What is being said now is that your academic transcripts will get you through the door, but to get the job, employers want to see what your views on life are, and what you think about the future of the world.

“They want to see whether a person is reflexive and whether he can articulate his ideas. In this context, language becomes so important,” he added.

Businessman Tham Soon Seong suggested English be used in the teaching of History and Geography to teach students the basics and give them more versatility.

“People entering the workforce now are still unable to write a good letter or communicate with a customer in English.

“Globally, Malaysia’s top 20 trading partners are countries where the language used is English, and if you are not proficient in the language, you lose out,” he said.