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English has been one of the crucial subjects to learn in this 21st century, just like how Bahasa Melayu or Malay has been used as the lingua franca in the 14th century, where there were almost 300 million people in Southeast Asia according to the Jakarta Post.
With the world being dominated mainly by the US and China in both politics and economy, the majority of the spoken language has shifted to English and Chinese. During the western imperialism in Asia, British had made Malaysia (was then called Malaya), a colony in 1867.
Since then, English has been widely used in Malaysia as a medium of communication. Today’s generation has seen the importance of speaking English that is far more vital than being able to learn English. Is there a difference between both?
Spoken English is a means of at least being able to communicate with other people while learning English is a comprehensive study on the English subject that consists of writing, speaking, reading and listening. Do you see the difference now?
Wait, is there a difference between English language and English as Second Language (ESOL)?
What is English Education for Non-Native English Speakers?
There are different types of English education. The English syllabus for public school has been designed to follow the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The road to mastery has been divided from students entering year 1 primary school and finishing when they are in their last year of form 5 secondary school. What about the other types of English programs?
English as Second Language (ESL), English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and English Foreign Language (EFL) is an English program developed to provide opportunities for international speakers to learn English with any bilingual teachers.
These programmes provide a high quality of English learning experience available across the globe through numerous platforms and learning centres. The classes are not limited to young people but are also capable of teaching adults of any age.
The main focus of the classes are generally to improve an individual's skills in writing, speaking, and reading comprehension.
These learning centres are not only limited to worksheet studying, instead, they help students improve their accent and pronunciation in communication and usually there will be at least 1 or 2 native English teachers available to have them immerse in the foreign society.
Besides, Tesol certification online is available to take for reading comprehension that might help students understand literary references. The whole program might lead the students to become a good writer too.
Nonetheless, the adults who’d be interested to take up an English lesson are usually due to involvement in international business. Some are thinking about migrating to a new country where they are required to pass a certain English level for visa approval.
It is not uncommon to use English as a medium of communication in any businesses that are connected worldwide. Familiarity in English has become a must in business. Look at Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba.
He often preaches that everybody needs to look far beyond in order to achieve success. He learns English despite coming from a country where English is rarely spoken. Now, Alibaba has become a worldwide online trading platform.
Click here for English courses in Seberang Perai!
What is ESL, ESOL and EFL?
English is not very complicated. You must have heard different types of English programmes and which one to enrol to. Not to mention, the usual English class at school is also considered as one of the English courses. What are the differences between these English programs?
As I mentioned earlier, the road to master English through public school’s type of English takes a long time to finish. Nearly 10 years. However, though ESL, ESOL and EFL, the courses are more comprehensive and use a better holistic approach that helps the students to be fluent in English faster.
Here is the difference between ESOL, ESL and EFL.
| ESOL | ESL | EFL |
|---|---|---|
| English to Speakers of Other Languages | English as a Second Language | English as a Foreign Language |
| The context can be applies to ESL and EFL | Learn English where English dominantly spoken or where English is the official language | Learn English in a non-English-speaking country |
| Students learn English in a native English-speaking country (ESL) | English is acquired as a means of communication | English is not the official language of the country. |
| English might be the students third or fourth language |
Malaysia is quite a unique country. Here, there are a mixture of all of these different courses scattered in the country. Why?
Malaysia was once a British Colony, so the leftover from the British reign and cultures remains in the society. Before the 1970s, most schools used English as the main language before it changed to Bahasa Melayu.
This has allow most of our grandparents and parents to be able to speak English at home. So we can’t say that English is a Foreign Language in Malaysia. However, the most common English programme that we can see here is ESL and ESOL.
Check out the ESOL Classes in Petaling Jaya.
What Makes Learning ESOL Important?
In Malaysia, English is one of the major subjects. Students need to pass the English examinations in order to further their study. Plus, mastering English is important for anyone trying to keep pace with our shifting society as English has been vastly used by those working and dealing on an international scale.
Are you curious about where to find an English tutor in Ipoh?
Here are few importance of ESOL.
- Aiming to Study Abroad – this is the main reason for people to take ESOL. You will need to be familiar with speaking English, be more resourceful and have critical thinking to adapt to complex situations.
- Invaluable International Experience – learning ESOL will enable you to mix with the English county’s native culture. Students will be able to improve language skills in a shorter period of time. There are more opportunities to mingle with other students with the same interest in communicating in English.
- Personal Development – Having a better understanding in English can help you grow your own value. Most businesses and jobs currently need a fluent English speaker in their workplace.
No matter what the reasons for someone's motive in learning English, these programs offer them a great opportunity to improve and obtain numerous important skills for working, living, and learning in today's world.
Are you looking for ESOL Classes in Shah Alam?
Where to find English Courses, ESL, ESOL or EFL in Malaysia?
There are many prestigious English learning centres in Malaysia with a wide variety of programmes. The fees can be as low as RM 1,000 per course ( around 1-6 months) or as high as RM 10,000. However, the fees depend on the ages and the courses that you are going to take.
The kids’ courses are (not limited to)
- Phonics
- Primary
- Secondary
- Secondary IGCSE Preparation
For Adults, the courses are (not limited to)
- IELTS Preparatory Course
- English Course
- Intensive English
- Business Skills
- Business Communication
The most common English language centre in Malaysia is British Council Malaysia and Cambridge English for Life (CEFL). They have a few branches set across Malaysia.
These are a few other top English Learning Centres in Malaysia.
- KLC Language Centre
- ELS Language Centres
- Erican Language Center
- Stratford International Language Centre
- SLC Malaysia
Go here to find an English tutor in George Town.
How Can You Speak English Fluently in No Time?
Learning a new foreign language will always take some of your time. However, you can always try to shorten the time by doing a few of the things listed below on a daily basis to enable you to speak English fluently.
- Take advantage of the normal daily routine to speak/read/learn English. The simplest things are easy to do. You can first change your phone language to English. Then, you can switch to English newspaper or E-news instead. Whenever you watch movies, use the English subtitles or watch any English movie and try to mimic their pronunciation.
- Read a page of English texts or articles before bed. There's research showing that our brains process any new information in our brains while we sleep. So by reading before bed, the brain will process everything that you’ve read while you sleep.
- Speak English aloud. When? Anytime. When you are exercising, in the shower, walking to school, driving to work, or even while you are brushing your teeth and looking at yourself in the mirror, you can always speak English to yourself. Listen to your pronunciation and practice so that your tongue can speak clearer words without stuttering.
- Listen to English 5 minutes a day. You can start listening to English radio, or English songs or any other English listening materials. 5 minutes a day is enough but you need to fully listen and absorb all the information at the time. Learn to understand the context and by doing this, it will develop the habit of listening to English on a regular basis.
- Take an English Lesson. Some people do have the ability to learn English by themselves, but for some it might take forever. So, the best way is to look for an English tutor, or English courses near you. They are able to help you improve in a short time.
The end result will still depend on your effort and time invested to learn English. Superprof can help you find the best English expert tutor that can help you learn English fluently. The fee is so affordable with only RM 30/hour and you can have a personal tutor that can help you in your English learning journey.
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