Petaling Jaya, commonly referred to as “PJ” by locals, is a city in Selangor and the second-most visited place for foreigners or travellers to visit after Kuala Lumpur. Not to mention, PJ is a city serving as an epicentre for education for both locals and foreigners.
Most expats who live in metropolitan KL and neighbouring areas would even send their kids to study in schools within the PJ area. With a distance of less than 30km from KL, as well as the convenience of various modes of public transportation, PJ attracts a lot of visitors from in and out of Malaysia.
PJ has all types of schools which allow parents to send their kids in for boarding, although this is usually the case only for private schools or international schools. However, government or public schools are an option in PJ as well.
While all these schools may use varying languages as their mode of instruction - take Malay, Mandarin and Tamil as some examples - you will still find English being used to communicate with the students and as a readily taught subject in all schools.
Have you ever wondered which are the top-ranking international schools in Petaling Jaya? Check this list out.
- Sri KDU Schools
- St Joseph's Institution International School
- Sri Emas International School
- Sunway International School
- Beaconhouse Sri Inai
And yes, all these schools emphasise that students complete the necessary English courses so that they can explore educational and career opportunities in PJ and beyond.
You’ll understand more about why it is important to take ESOL courses in Petaling Jaya. Check out ESOL classes in Shah Alam too.
What English courses are available in Petaling Jaya?
When you walk around Petaling Jaya, it should come as no surprise that a lot of foreigners walk past you. And if you listen in on most of the conversations happening around you, you’ll hear others speak in English a majority of the time, regardless of whether they are Malaysians or foreigners.
Have you ever wondered why?
Parents today have accepted that being able to speak English is a crucial way to survive in this world. Without knowledge and fluency in English, children will have a hard time in the future: just look at the number of tertiary studies where every course is taught in English, as well as the working world where English fluency has become one of the requirements for everyone to fulfil.
That is why it is so important that not only residents of PJ, but all Malaysians complete a standard English course to help them hone the necessary language skills.
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the English language taught at public schools using the KSSM or KSSR syllabus, an English as a Second Language (ESL) programme and an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course?
English Class
When attending an English class at a public school, you will get an “English for All” experience where you will learn the language according to the general fluency, understanding and knowledge of English that is expected of your current learning level.
In other words, a Standard Four or Primary 4 student will learn English grammar at a level based on the general speed of others at their age who are learning the language (based on international English language standards), regardless of whether their current English proficiency is lower or higher than this level.
This is why it takes you all your primary school and high school years to learn English as a Malaysian. However, the mastery levels between students depend on each individual.
Usually, those who are native speakers of English or are considered good bilingual English speakers won’t face any problems in taking English courses to enhance their English knowledge.
However, say that you are not a native English speaker nor are you fantastic as a bilingual English speaker. Does that mean the English courses you are taking in school are not sufficient?
No, that is not usually the case.
The English syllabus in Malaysia has been designed to help Malaysian students from the primary to high school levels learn and master English. However, it should be noted that the difficulty of the English language in public schools has been reduced to basic and medium levels where the standard English level or CEFR for SPM leavers are set to B1 only.
So, the English class you are taking in your public school has been designed to help you achieve an average level of standard English.
ESL Class
ESL stands for English as a Second Language. Usually, ESL programmes are conducted in countries where English is the dominant language and any foreigners from non-native English-speaking countries who have come to the country to learn English are considered to be taking an English course known as ESL.
In other words, for ESL learners, English is the means of communication in the community they reside in and it is necessary for everyone who comes into the country to be able to speak English at the ESL level.
And yes, you can find an English tutor in Petaling Jaya with an ESL accreditation if that is your choice for an English course in Malaysia.
ESOL Class
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is related to ESL contexts. This term was created as a result of the varying opinions from students who are learning ESL in native English-speaking countries but who are not necessarily good at learning a second language.
This is highly applicable to Malaysia where many residents have learned another second or third language: just think of the diverse communities in Malaysia that speak second or third languages such as Mandarin, Tamil, Bahasa Dusun, Bahasa Iban and many more. Plus, we need to keep in mind that Malaysia’s official language is Malay.
In a way, using the term “ESOL” allows for a more comprehensive description of English learners who are picking up the language - not only in Malaysia but for those of other non-native English-speaking countries worldwide.
However, some English schools in Petaling Jaya still use “ESL” to describe their English courses. So bear in mind, the context of ESL and ESOL is pretty much the same thing, only the descriptions of what these terms mean are different.
Go here for English courses in Seberang Perai!
What are the common misconceptions about learning English and taking an English course?
At your school in PJ, what you will learn is English as a subject. Your English teacher provides holistic English lessons, tests you according to your level of understanding, and trains you to use English in areas like critical thinking, spelling, vocabulary, grammar and so on.
Nonetheless, as a non-native speaker (now you know we mean an ESOL learner), learning English as a second or third language may not be as easy as it seems. This would lead many ESOL learners to develop various misconceptions about learning English and deter them from signing up for an English class near me.
We’re here to say that these misconceptions shouldn’t be considered facts!
Give us a chance to explain some of the common misconceptions about English and learning the language with an English tutor.
Learning English as a child vs as an adult is not the same
Yes, we are not talking about learning the ABCs all over again with an English teacher.
There is the idea that kids pick up languages faster than adults. Just look up videos of toddlers who can speak English simply by listening to adults or copying their parents like a parrot.
BUT this shouldn’t dissuade you from taking an English course in Malaysia!
Science today tells us that there is a difference between being able to learn a language faster versus learning a language better, and as long as adult learners expose themselves to listening, speaking and other ways of using a new language, they too can become fluent users of any language they like.
So while we can agree that the experience of learning English as a child as compared to how adults learn it won’t be the same, we cannot negate the effort of adults who often possess higher critical thinking skills and extensive life skills that will help them pick up the English language like a pro.
Just to remind you though, everyone who is new to English will start with a basic English class anyway, even if it’s just for a business English course.
You can become proficient in English after just a few classes
We hate to break it to you but this misconception is simply not true.
Especially if you are an adult ESOL learner, you will find that you tend to translate new English words from your native language - this is different for children who are practically learning from scratch. It’s also why children appear to grasp English concepts way better than adults do, even though adults will probably use new English words more accurately than children.
As a rule of thumb, you will take about 360 hours to reach a standard level of English that matches English course requirements in the UK. If you were to take an English course which lasts 2 hours per week, it should take you about 3 years to become proficient in English.
So, you can become proficient in English after completing the necessary English courses, but definitely not as fast as only taking a few classes.
As long as you possess basic English vocabulary, you can speak the language fluently
This is something for us to ponder. If you have ever watched Malay movies, you may have seen characters acting flustered when they have to communicate with an English-speaking person. Hmm… what English words are usually used by these characters?
“Hi.”
“How are you?”
“My name is Alif.”
“Thank you.”
“Goodbye.”
If this is what it means to use basic English vocabulary and speak English fluently… sorry, it seems like you still have a long way to go before you can speak English as well as a native speaker.
Still looking for the best English course near your area? Click here to find an English tutor in Ipoh.
If you can speak good English, you can write good English
This is one of the most common misconceptions that seems to be circulating within both native and non-native speakers of English communities. Being able to speak English doesn't make one a good writer. Sometimes, the person who speaks the language well could need help with their spelling!
While you are browsing through social media, have you ever noticed that even native English speakers sometimes make grammatical and spelling mistakes? That is why even native speakers of the language need to fulfil their own English course requirements to say that they are fluent in the language.
Anyone can teach English as long as they speak the language
It takes a high level of knowledge and skill to be able to teach another person, especially in language learning. Learning a new language isn’t like mathematics, whereby everybody in the whole world uses the same set of equations and numbers. English is subjective, and it would help you the most to learn with an English teacher who can help you express your opinions and thoughts as if you were speaking in your mother tongue.
Your level of English will 100% improve with the right English teacher. It takes experience and professionalism to be able to teach English!
Interested to know more about a fantastic English class near me? Visit this link to find an English tutor in George Town.
Where to find the top ESOL English courses for adults in Petaling Jaya?
As PJ is one of the most booming education hubs in Malaysia, there is a wide range of English class options for you to choose from. These days, everyone is looking to become better in English, either for study purposes or career improvement. There are a lot of English learning centres that will cater to each individual’s learning needs.
Why not further enhance your learning experience with an English teacher in Kuala Lumpur?
Here are a couple of the top ESOL learning centres for adults in Petaling Jaya.
SLC Malaysia
A private institution aimed at promoting the importance of language skills and lifelong education, adult ESOL learners will be happy to know that SLC Malaysia provides various English courses, including the chance to work one-on-one with an English tutor. Here is a list of their English courses:
- English language skills training programme to achieve communicative competence
- IELTS preparatory course
- Intensive English programme which covers essential language skills like reading, comprehension, writing, conversation and more
- Individual language programme for one-on-one lessons with an English teacher, designed to suit students’ specific needs
Location: 262, Block A2, Leisure Commerce Square 9, Jln PJS 8/9, SS10, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
The Language House
Adults will also enjoy attending their English class at The Language House if they are looking to expand their language skills in General English and Business English. Here, your English teacher will adopt a blended learning approach that promotes independent learning, and you can expect to work with additional learning resources to improve your English. According to the website, these resources include “Sensations English” and “ELSA Speak”.
We are particularly attracted to their business English course that covers subjects for advancing your career prospects as an adult, including customer relationship management, managing organisations, presentation skills and technology in business.
Location: 1, Jalan 13/1, Seksyen 13, 46100 Petaling Jaya, Selangor (inside Centrestage Block C)
The best English courses for kids in Petaling Jaya
You are already aware that adults and kids learn languages differently. Surely, if you want your child’s level of English to improve, you will want to enrol them in an English class led by a reliable and fun English teacher who will encourage them to practise the language in their own time!
That is why we have included these English learning centres for kids in PJ that have been positively reviewed by parents and young learners alike.
English Matters
An English language centre that has been teaching students English since 1999, you can count on English Matters to run high-quality, professional English courses catered to various kids’ age groups.
When attending an English class at English Matters, students generally choose from the “6-11” and “12-19” groups, but it doesn’t mean that there are only two levels of English courses available. There are a total of 12 levels shared between these two age groups, which include English courses like Specialist Writing Classes, as well as FCE (First Certificate in English) and Cambridge English-focused programmes.
Location: No.1-3, 2nd Floor, Jalan SS 23/15, Taman SEA, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor,
The Language Arts Studio
Perhaps you are a parent who is seeing your child getting bored of learning English at school.
Would you like to expand on their creativity and fuel their interest once again in the language?
Reading and writing are among the best language areas for developing English literacy, and it is this approach that The Language Arts Studio uses to support students of diverse backgrounds and different learning needs. Coached reading, expressive writing and personal teacher-student consultations are some of the underrated language areas used to build young learners’ creative freedom in the language.
This is a very interesting English course in Malaysia, especially if your child needs some encouragement to pick up a storybook and start reading.
Location: The Hub at SS2, Jalan 17/47, Seksyen 19, 46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Indeed, learning English takes passion and patience. No one can learn new things in the blink of an eye.
Just look at all the ESOL courses in Malaysia.
Know that you will need to make two major investments to become a fluent English speaker.
Answer: Time and Money.
Don’t say we didn’t tell you about Superprof to ensure you spend your time and money wisely!
Why learning with an English tutor on Superprof is the best choice for boosting your language skills
As the modern world continues to build pace faster than ever before, time is the hardest thing to attain and that makes it difficult if you want to get good at any new language quickly. Even if you’d like to take an English class near me from any of the above learning centres, you’d have to choose from any one of their fixed schedules to have an English class. Meanwhile, it will cost you a lot to enrol in a high-end language centre, especially in an education hub like PJ.
However, Superprof has a solution for you!
Do you know that Superprof is one of the most reputable online education hubs that houses thousands of experienced and expert English tutors?
You could be looking for a qualified ESOL English teacher who can facilitate a business English course for you and your friends.
Or how about a one-on-one English course where you can work on conversational skills and research writing skills in English?
Superprof makes the search for your preferred English tutor as easy as pie. Start by visiting the Superprof Tutors page and key in “ESOL” or “English” (depending on your choice), and then select “Around Me” or “Online” (face-to-face or virtual lessons). You’ll be immediately led to our catalogue of English teachers who have detailed their teaching style, qualifications, current number of students and other information on their profile. Just click on the profile of any English tutor that interests you!
Compared to other learning centres in PJ, we recommend Superprof for using your time and money wisely as you can select the date and time of your English class according to your availability, and even learn with an English teacher for as low as RM25 per hour!
What are you waiting for? Let’s find the best English tutor who can design an English class, especially for you!
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