Time to revive our love for the English language

The importance of English in our daily life has made it crucial for much more than landing a job.

COMMENT

The government’s decision to improve the standard of English by making it compulsory to obtain a pass at public universities is certainly laudable.

This came about as a measure to address the many graduates in the market today who are jobless due to their lack of proficiency in English. Employers too have also voiced their concerns that graduates turning up for job interviews, often lack the ability to communicate effectively in English.

The new policy of making it compulsory to obtain a pass in English, is a natural progression of the government’s earlier decision to make English a mandatory passing subject for students sitting for their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams from 2016.

It is high time that the government places equal emphasis on English and Bahasa Malaysia.

Bahasa Malaysia is a necessity because it is our national language and the language of unity, but English is equally important as it is the global language of knowledge, commerce, science and technology.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that neglecting the English language would result in us losing our global competitiveness.

A simple example of this can be seen in the aftermath of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Flight MH370 which went missing on March 8.

In dealing with the global media, political leaders and families of those on board the flight, then Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and MAS corporate leaders had no choice but to fall back on the universal language of English to communicate effectively with the various parties.

This in itself proved why effective English communication skills are a must in the global environment we live in today.

Even the government of China has recognised the importance of the English language and has taken proactive steps to emphasise its use. As a result, countless Chinese attend English language classes daily after office hours thereby resulting in scores of language centres mushrooming in China.

Malaysia however has taken its time to embrace the merits of English and are now in the midst of playing catch-up.

If we want to make a success of it, children in primary schools should be encouraged to read regularly and English language periods in schools should be increased.

The benefits of reading are manifold. It sharpens one’s mind because it stimulates the imagination while improving one’s language skills in an entertaining, non-threatening manner.

It would be a wise move if our ministry of education implemented an English reading programme for rural children who may have difficulty obtaining English story books compared to those in urban areas.

Books should also be priced affordably so that more people can avail themselves of the pleasures of reading.

Truth be told, reading can be a rather expensive pastime in Malaysia. A paperback costs at least RM35. However in the UK, books are priced at just 99 pence and £1 to encourage those who have lost the reading habit to pick up a book and rediscover this love and the love of the English language. As a result reading groups are also common in the UK where books are devoured and discussions are carried out rigorously about every aspect of the books read.

With the implementation of the GST (Goods & Services Tax) on April 1 next year, reading will be an even more expensive hobby for those in the lower income group. Perhaps the government could do something to lower the price of books.

It’s a cause worth taking up if we are indeed serious about making the English language a tool for our global success.