Passing English will soon be a must - Why not aim to ace it?
by StudyMalaysia.com on September 8, 2014 | Top Stories, Learning English in Malaysia
If you ever thought you needed a good reason to improve your English, this could be it. Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced on 2 September 2014 that English will soon be made a mandatory pass subject at the university level
Although the minister did not specify the implementation date of this new policy, it's not too early to start thinking about how to improve your English.
"Good English, well spoken and well written, will open more doors than a college degree. Bad English will slam doors you didn't even know existed."
— William Raspberry, columnist
Many of us may not realise how important English proficiency is at university level, but it does play a big part in a college student's learning. For starters, many courses at universities, in particular, at private higher education institutions, are conducted in English. In addition, learning at university level is quite different from secondary school. Don't expect to get textbooks and carefully organised notes that will help you pass exams. Forget model answers – there is usually none. Instead, you'd be expected to read extensively, research on a topic and give your opinion on various areas. Is it starting to get obvious for you? If it isn't, here it is spelled out for you: Good Proficiency in English is Important.
Another plus point of having a high proficiency in English is employability. According to an article in The Star, employers prefer graduates who can speak, read and write well in English. A showed that 56% of 571 employers surveyed rejected applicants because of their "poor command of English language". Communication skills also rank at the top of many employers' wish-list when hiring fresh graduates.
So don't wait till you've graduated to improve your English – enrol in an English programme today. Most private colleges and universities offer English proficiency courses at various levels. You may also want to sign up for a class on academic English or work towards a qualification such as IELTS or TOEFL. If you've already entered the job market, or if you're looking for employment, you could consider a course in Business English.
Here are some English courses offered at private colleges and universities in Malaysia. Click on each course to find out more
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"Good English, well spoken and well written, will open more doors than a college degree. Bad English will slam doors you didn't even know existed." – William Raspberry, columnist
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