`Don't be shy to converse in English'

New Straits Times
04-09-2011
`Don't be shy to converse in English'
Edition: Main/Lifestyle
Section: Main Section

BACHOK: Students, especially those from rural areas, need not feel shy learning and conversing in English as it will help them later in life, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin.

Awang Adek said those who had poor command of English would find themselves lagging behind, especially when studying at higher learning institutions and attending job interviews.
"Rural students are at a disadvantage as the language is seldom used at home because of family and school backgrounds.

"It is also difficult to find English newspapers in their kampungs and Internet connection is limited.

"If this is not rectified, they would find themselves a step behind others," he said after the launch of his privately-sponsored communication English tuition classes yesterday.

Awang Adek said it was easier for urban children to improve their English because of social interaction and the availability of facilities.

"It is good if we can have children studying English at an early age, possibly at the pre-school level, but the government faces constraints, especially in finding teachers proficient in the language."

He said nationalists should not stop children from studying other languages, especially English, as it was for their own future.

"Why can't our children be bilingual? In Europe, some people speak two or three languages.

"It doesn't make a person less French or German if they speak English, but at official functions, they speak in their national languages.

"It should be the same here. We speak Bahasa Melayu at official events, but when we need to conduct activities in other languages, we should be able to speak in English."

On the tuition classes, Awang Adek said it started in 2008, targeting pupils from Year Four to Six.

"It is held at 34 schools in the district with 40 students from each school. The classes have helped more students get 5As in the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah examination since its inception."

The class is conducted 100 per cent in English. "The classes are effective as the number of students getting 5As in the UPSR examination has risen considerably since it started operations."

At the function, free copies of the New Straits Times and Berita Harian were distributed to students and parents.

The 5,000 copies of newspapers were sponsored by private college Kolej Islam Sains dan Teknologi (KIST).

KIST Holdings vice-president Roomai Noor Ali was also present.

(Copyright 2011)
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