While Bahasa Melayu stands strong as the national language representing Malaysia, a close second as a main medium of communication is English. Being a global language that connects people of different countries, it is unquestionable that English is commonly used among speakers of different languages, even in Kuala Lumpur.
KL, host to not only many of Malaysia’s unique attractions but also remaining an ever-steady growing economic hub, demands that its residents and even foreigners living here pick up the English language if they want to keep up with the city’s fast-paced life.
Picking up a non-native language can be a daunting task - however, it can be overcome with the right English course. We’re here to break down the steps for finding an English class in KL.
What are the benefits of learning with an English teacher in KL?
Are you passionate about learning the English language?
That’s awesome!
One of your concerns may be not knowing for sure whether you are using your English words and phrases correctly, and this is where learning with your English teacher in KL will come in handy. You may not notice the positive effects of taking an English class at first, but we are certain these benefits will encourage you to sign up for an English class near me.
Grow your confidence to use English around others
What if what you want to write sounds right in your head, but takes on a different meaning altogether in essay form?
How can you tell if what you want to say in English has been successfully communicated to your peers and acquaintances at work?
It seems that perfecting the use of the English language also requires one’s confidence when using it, which can be built if you’ve truly grasped the language with someone who is professionally trained to teach you the language. With an English tutor, you can learn how to write essays and throw English idioms in normal conversations without feeling weird about the thoughts you want to convey!
This is because your English tutor will work with you on improving the language areas you want to strengthen, as well as assess your English proficiency as you progress through the learning levels. You can target specific learning areas, such as useful business English phrases, by taking specialised English courses like a business English course.
Know your current level of English based on international standards
Most English courses for ESOL students (students learning English as an additional language) offer some form of grading criteria that will help students understand their strengths and weaknesses in the language, along with providing useful feedback on how well they are picking up the language.
In essay writing, for instance, it is difficult for an ESOL student (learning on their own) to assess whether their writing is accurate or if it requires a lot of amendments.
That is why, just like how it is in Malaysian public schools, it is useful to take an English course in Malaysia to have someone more experienced grade your understanding of the language: you will be able to unlock the areas that you need more support with and what areas you should continue to refine.
For individuals who are non-native to English, knowing their current level of English based on standardised programmes like an ESOL course will give them a clear idea of their proficiency and which language areas they should work on.
You can also boost your confidence in English with the best English tutor in Ipoh.
Get familiar with “Manglish”
Sure you can learn English off of videos available on the Internet, or perhaps by completing English exercises from the workbooks you can easily get from bookstores - but how does one successfully learn the specific kind of English spoken by KL locals?
In general, all Malaysians adopt British English - however, it does come with an array of local slang, with KL being one of the hotspots for such English. This Malaysian twist on English is called Manglish, or Malaysian English.
One terrific example of this local slang is the use of the word, “boss”. Although “boss” is used to refer to your manager or someone of a higher position than yourself, there are times when it shouldn’t be confused with your actual boss at work.
KL locals typically use the word to order food from a Mamak stall worker, so much so that even the worker himself can call you, the customer, their “boss”! “Boss” can even be used to try to get on someone’s good side.
For instance, one may say “Boss, roti canai satu!” (“Boss, one roti canai, please!”) to the worker at the Mamak stall or “No problem, boss, anything is possible for you!” when persuading a customer to buy a product from them. You too can be well-versed in the use of “boss” and other phrases that exist in the Manglish dictionary - hit that “English class near me” search suggestion and learn from an experienced English teacher who is familiar with the local KL slang!
How about a look at the available ESOL courses in Malaysia?
What materials do you need for English class?
Regardless of which English course in Malaysia you have opted for, you should know that you need to invest in some resources to have a great English course experience.
That being said, there are many ways you can save cost when preparing for your upcoming English class and you may not even need to break the bank when learning with the top English tutor in your area.
Here are some materials you will need for any English course along with creative ideas to reduce your expenses - save your money for when you need to head over to your English class!
English-Malay dictionary or other equivalent
It may help you to have a dictionary on hand that provides definitions and translations for English words and phrases in your native language. It doesn’t have to be an English-Malay dictionary: depending on your native language, you can even find dictionaries for English to Mandarin, Italian, Indonesian, Tagalog and other languages.
Instead of purchasing a new dictionary which will cost you some money and wear out over time, how about using an online dictionary which is often free for all users? Try the online Cambridge Dictionary as it offers numerous bilingual and semi-bilingual dictionaries at zero cost.
Laptop/ tablet to follow along during class
In most English courses these days, you will need a device on hand to follow the instructions of your English teacher or even just to access learning materials that have been shared with the class. With the rise of paperless classrooms and shared online learning spaces, it’s essential that you equip yourself with a laptop or tablet that you can use during your English class.
If it is difficult for you to find a laptop or tablet within your budget (we’ll consider you a rare case because how are you working without a PC?!), another option would be to use your smartphone throughout your English course to access online folders and other learning materials.
Just remember to tell your English tutor that you are using it for lessons and not for texting your friends during English class!
Stationery for note-taking
If you’ve been on social media a lot, you have probably come across various content creators using fancy pens, notebooks and sticky notes for note-taking during class or revisions.
If you are willing to spend a little more out of your pocket to enjoy the experience of note-taking throughout your English course, perhaps it’s time to invest in some good-quality pens, highlighters and notebooks that will motivate you to attend your English class!
However, you can always get creative with your devices and create popping, eye-catching digital notes instead. Are you aware that you can make attractive headings and bullet points by simply using Google Docs?
Watch this video for tips on taking structured, aesthetic digital notes using Google Docs.
Of course, we welcome simple, straightforward note-taking during your English course, too!
How to make the most of your English class
Again, you don’t need to spend a lot of money to learn English the right way. By taking an English class near me, you are already saving on travel expenses - now you just need to focus on making the most of your English course and doing what you can to improve your language skills.
Here are some things you can do to enhance your English learning experience without having to spend a single sen!
Keep asking questions
Anatol Rappoport, known for his work in mathematical psychology, once said: "To gain knowledge, we must learn to ask the right questions; to get answers, we must act, not wait for answers to occur to us." A productive way to boost learning is to therefore ask questions often - if you take an online English course, then the only way to learn the language in more depth would be to ask others questions!
Questions facilitate knowledge construction, encourage discussion, help students monitor and self-evaluate their understanding, and increase the interest of students in the topic being learnt.
Throughout your business English course or English class, you can get specific answers to your questions on the English language by reaching out to your English teacher who is a master of the language.
If I were a non-native English speaker wondering what the difference was between “learned” and “learnt”, who do you think is the best person I should ask to get a clear explanation?
Of course, an English teacher!
If you are living in Penang, you might also want to check out these English classes at Seberang Perai and George Town.
Talk to your classmates
Unfortunately, simply sitting in class listening to your English teacher deliver the lesson will not provide you with the benefits of completing an English course in the first place because this does not involve any active participation in the class.
While it may be awkward to use English with your classmates at first, speaking with other students in a physical or online English class allows you to practise the English you’ve already learnt so you can apply English in a normal conversation or during classroom activities.
Not sure where to start? How about a little self-introduction so that others know how to call you by your name: you probably already know the basic “My name is…”, so attempt to practise your English by including details like your likes and dislikes, favourite foods, places you want to go to or even dreams for the future.
We admit that can sound pretty weird at first (who comes up to a random person talking about their dreams and hopes from the get-go?!) but that’s all part of the fun of learning a new language. Your classmates will likely warm up to you after you introduce yourself, and they’ll feel more at ease to use English around you, too. Call it a win-win situation!
Ask for additional learning materials
When taking an English course in Malaysia, any English tutor will have to refer to their initial teaching materials before delivering their lesson for the day. That means if what you are learning today is English idioms about happiness, your English tutor should have further learning resources that list out all the popular English idioms!
That is why we recommend that you approach your English teacher after every lesson not only to ask questions you may have but also to ask for additional learning materials that could aid in mastering the day’s topics or even just to improve your knowledge of English.
Feeling awkward again about asking your teacher for more learning materials? Well, you should know that your English teacher appreciates enthusiastic learners of the language!
Where is the best English class for adults?
For ESOL adult students, the experience of learning a new language will be different than that of younger learners. Children are often taught phonics from an early age but this is usually omitted for older learners who are already familiar with the sounds and letters of the English alphabet.
Adults often look for specific language areas to improve on, such as conversational English and business English which they can learn through a business English course. These are some English language centres in KL to consider if you want to take an English class as an adult learner.
EMS Language Centre
If you look for an English course in Malaysia, you will notice that EMS also has an excellent track record in organising workshops, seminars, and vocational programmes - so you can even choose to learn English at a more intense pace and over a short period if that fits into your schedule better.
Located along Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, EMS provides an English For Work programme for learning business communication skills and a Speaking programme for improving English fluency - perfect for ESOL adult students looking to upgrade their English language skills in line with their professional needs.
Direct English
Direct English helps adult learners who are preparing for future employment, looking for promotion or wanting to gain a competitive edge at work - benefitting their students who come to their centre along Jalan Bukit Nanas.
Additionally, Direct English is an authorised BULATS (Business Language Testing Service) test centre, an assessment developed by Cambridge Assessments and recognised by employers across the globe. This allows the centre to measure student outcomes and provide their students with a learner-focused approach to achieving their goals. The centre promises to help individuals of any level become proficient in English - give it a go!
Check out ESOL lessons in Shah Alam too.
Find an English class for kids
There are various reasons why kids may need to go for an English course outside of their regular classes at school. As a child, being a non-native English speaker can be challenging and sometimes unwelcoming if one is in the presence of teachers and students who are of different cultures or ethnicities.
Sometimes, the child may be weak in the language and require extra guidance if their parents are unable to teach them at home. It should be noted a conducive, social environment where English is consistently spoken will help children pick up the language better.
Try these places below for English courses in KL catered to kids.
The Language Studio Ampang
The Language Studio Ampang offers English lessons to kids from preschool to teen ages, but they have also taught students from different embassies.
As an approved centre for the prestigious Cambridge Young Learners, students from other parts of the world such as Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Poland, Peru and the Middle East have greatly benefitted from their multi-level English courses. If you are looking to place your child in a learning environment with other children who are also just learning the language, it would be worthwhile to check out this centre renowned for English Language Studies.
Pingu’s English Desa Sri Hartamas
If your little ones are looking for fun and entertainment in learning, then Pingu’s English Desa Sri Hartamas might be the right place to go. Based on the popular television character, Pingu, this language centre aims to teach English to young children of 3 to 7+ years by engaging them in highly stimulating topics and situations.
At the centre, your child can expect interactive English learning through songs, storybooks, games and exercises, which can provide an imaginative way for picking up English, all while remaining focused on learning the fundamental skills of the language.
Would you be interested in ESOL Classes in Petaling Jaya?
The best English class with Superprof Malaysia
You will be delighted to know that Superprof offers English courses specifically for ESOL students!
What is most attractive about learning English through Superprof is that you have the power to select your English tutor - all you need to do is hit the search suggestion that says “ESOL (English)” (make sure to select Kuala Lumpur in the search box, too!) and that will take you straight to the available tutors in the area.
As you have the option of having one-on-one classes or group classes with your English tutor on Superprof, you can cater your English class to meet your needs and personal learning style - which is a definite win for ESOL students who most need to learn at their own pace.
In addition to the efficiency of looking for an English teacher in your area and choosing your preferred learning mode, Superprof also provides affordable learning options for students: choose between virtual or in-person learning for English courses, whichever is friendly on your pocket or saves your travel expenses.
Are you ready to meet your English teacher on Superprof? After signing up for the Superprof Student Pass, you can conveniently message your preferred English tutor to let them know what you would like to learn in your English class and set preferred days for your English course. You can even leave your contact number and email for smoother communication with your English teacher.
Heads up: many Superprof English tutors are offering their first lesson FOR FREE - go ahead and sign up today!
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
