Radzi: Master languages to get ahead

Radzi: The ‘Reading Progress in School’ initiative will optimise the learning of English among students. – K.K. SHAM/The Star

THE learning of English should be fun to build interest and confidence among students to speak the language.

Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said an interesting approach to the teaching and learning of the subject will improve students’ mastery of the language.

Being fluent in English, he said, is a necessity in an increasingly globalised world.

“Students have no choice but to master English because it’s an international language. It’s an important language that is used around the world,” he said during the launch of the “Reading Progress in School” initiative in Shah Alam on Oct 18.

Radzi said teachers need to consider the usage of new technology and digitalisation to enhance the learning process of the subject.

On its part, the ministry is piloting the “Reading Progress in School” initiative, which involves 1,188 teachers from 576 schools nationwide.

The initiative, which is also implemented in rural schools, is set to optimise the learning of English among students.

The ministry expects to roll out the system in full after the pilot period ends in the first quarter of 2023.

“This system will introduce students to new vocabulary and teach them how to construct better sentence structure,” Radzi explained.

With the Reading Progress project, students would be able record audio and video of themselves reading in English.

The system would subsequently help to pronounce certain words.

Through the initiative, he added that teachers will have a better resource to gauge students’ proficiency and cater reading materials accordingly.

Learn more languages

The learning of languages was also stressed by the minister during the 2022 Education Sector National Language Decade (DBK) celebration in Putrajaya on Oct 6.

He said those who master a particular language will always triumph over those who don’t.

“The world is becoming increasingly globalised every day. For that reason, the basic premise is that those who are fluent in a particular language will always have an advantage in today’s world,” he told reporters.

On globalisation, Radzi encouraged students to pick up several languages. Doing so, he said, will enable them to be more competitive.

In learning a language, he stressed that it is vital to go beyond just the basics.

“It is important for us to ensure that our mastery of a particular language is at a good level,” he said.

Among the elements which need to be mastered include sentence structure, word selection and the arrangement of chapters in writing.

“The choice of words, for example, should be mastered by students on a wider scope,” he said.

The Education Ministry, he said, always emphasise the best usage of language when it comes to the communication of policies.

“The most important thing is that everything that needs be conveyed in the policy can be understood by those who read it,” he said.

Tool for unity

Language as a communication tool aside, Radzi said it’s also an important element of unity. He highlighted the importance of the Malay language as the national language.

“In the social context, the national language plays a role as a pillar of unity in our society,” he said.

To strengthen students’ mastery of languages, especially the national language, Radzi said the ministry has implemented various initiatives.

These included poem recital, choral speaking competition and debates.

During his speech, Radzi also paid homage to teachers, journalists and writers who have played a role in helping languages flourish.

The articles published in newspapers, for instance, should be used as reference materials to pick up new vocabulary and learn grammar, he said.

DBK is the latest iteration of the National Language Month celebration. The education sector’s celebration of DBK, which is typically celebrated in October, included many language and literature activities this year.Among the objectives of DBK include strengthening the role of the national language and encouraging the correct usage of the national language.