They Actually Can Speak
June 29th, 2009 | 11:39 pm | Nasional | 1,943 views | 18 responses
Last weekend I’ve assisted a friend conducted an assessment for a new intake of employees for an organization. A one day assessment center has been done somewhere in Petaling Jaya and the instruction for the panel was very simple “you’re here not to choose the best candidates but to eliminate the unneeded one”, and we were given certain criteria and guidelines how to meet that particular organization’s recruitment objective.
One of the activities arranged for the candidates was an Intellectual Discourse, it was actually a free flow of discussion on certain topic, not a heavy or serious topic but a simple general topic which I assumed every candidates exposed about it. The activity was conducted in English and small group of candidates were given around 40 to 45 minutes to share their ideas and opinion regarding given subject matter.
Almost 90% of the candidates are Malays and what I’m trying to share here is about English language proficiency among Malay graduates which have been discussed and somehow highlighted around the nation that most of the Malay graduates are weak in mastering English.
However from my two day observation on the candidates I’ve found that actually our Malay graduates can speak English properly, they have all the communication skills, appropriate grammar and quite interesting ideas. So personally for me the claim that Malay graduates are weak in English is actually wrong, it may be portrayed to be like that by certain organization as an excuse for not recruiting the Malay graduates.
Of course my expectation toward Malay graduates in English proficiency not so high, I didn’t expect them to sound like normal Briton since I know they’re not born in England, and of course the intonation not same as British standard. But even the Japs or Korean speak English their own way.
May be the only thing they lack is Self confident, this is what actually the Malay candidates are facing right now, they actually know English is all about since it was taught to them as early as 5 years old, but when it comes to self confident, especially knowing that they are being evaluated, their nervousness overcame their self confident.
For me apart from individual initiative to develop self confidence, universities and colleges should also introduce certain courses to help students how to build their self confidence.
said on January 1st, 1970 at 7:01 am
Nadzrina Abdullahat 1:00am on June 30th
said on January 1st, 1970 at 7:01 am
Jelira Etömyamat 2:45am on June 30th
said on January 1st, 1970 at 7:01 am
Rose…heheheh…dah double triple entry nih
said on January 1st, 1970 at 7:01 am
Nadz…..ha ah….same la tu..dua2 steady hehehe
said on January 1st, 1970 at 7:01 am
Jelira Etömyamat 2:46am on June 30th
said on January 1st, 1970 at 7:01 am
Jelira Etömyamat 2:54am on June 30th
said on January 1st, 1970 at 7:01 am
jangan pening rose…abaikan yg shafawi tu….jarang2 on yang tu……
said on June 30th, 2009 at 1:11 am
I agree with you. The Malay graduates are actually good in their English language. The only thing that makes them nervous is the lack of self-confidence. And they find it difficult to overcome it. I believe that during the discussion, they still have afford to stand tall and proud with their head high and answer questions clearly but calmly. Actually, not everyone was born with “built-in” self confidence. In fact, many of us had to work hard to achieve some semblance of confidence.
said on June 30th, 2009 at 2:06 am
Rose…heheheh…dah double triple entry nih
said on June 30th, 2009 at 2:06 am
Nadz…..ha ah….same la tu..dua2 steady hehehe
said on June 30th, 2009 at 2:06 am
Rose….ada dua jer jazmanie dlm FB nih….lagi satu yg ntah dari negara Balkan gamaknye hehehe
said on June 30th, 2009 at 2:06 am
jangan pening rose…abaikan yg shafawi tu….jarang2 on yang tu……
said on June 30th, 2009 at 9:06 am
org yg sama ler tuh..memg saje dia suke wat gempakkkk
said on July 1st, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Salam,
Wow! sound interesting! Everyone craves to possess self-confidence because it makes life so much easier and so much more fun. Self confidence gives us the energy to create our dreams. Self confidence
is an essential element to being able to create powerfully. Yes, I agree, Malay graduates are actually good in their English language.
The only thing is, the lack of self-confidence then they become a nervous. Maybe i can share with you my experience, When I asked people speak in front of audience then they started hide their face. Everybody say, girl first, man first BUT! nobody say Me first! What I do, I let one of the 20 audience in the seminar room and ask him/her to start the conversation face to face.
After 5 minutes, I bring one by one people inside the room and this person still talking, talking and talking…..and talking. Yes, you can C the result. From zero 2 Hero..
Finally, they know that Having self-confidence does not mean you are unworthy. It does not mean we should feel guilty for wanting to possess it.
said on July 9th, 2009 at 8:59 am
@zara : ..indeed, self confidence is actually the most crucial elements needed by Malay candidates
said on July 9th, 2009 at 9:07 am
@Muhd Suhaily: ..thanks for sharing your very fruitful idea bro, in most of the situation, I notice that malay graduates are ‘malu tak bertempat’.
As for me, I’ve consistently stick to the book that I’ve read long time ago “How To Develop Self Confidence and Influence people by public speaking” by Dale Carnegie…the simplest yet most practical guide to develop personal self confidence
said on July 10th, 2009 at 9:13 am
En Jaz, I’ve never experienced the assessment in PJ, but they say candidates there are better exposed (in terms of knowledge, creativity, and language) and well versed in English as compared to the ones from other centres like Johor, Kedah and Terengganu.
My experience in Terengganu, some of them didn’t even speak, even when the session is conducted in Malay. But there some, who are VERY QUIET during English session but so dominating in Malay session and vice versa.
said on July 10th, 2009 at 9:44 am
@KI : ..hahaha..interesting, yes and I also noticed the different atmosphere when conducting assessment session in English and Bahasa malaysia….you’re absolutely right
and I go back to my assumption that they actually don’t have confident to speak in BI, not because they didn’t have the knowledge and ability but due to lack of practices….
…err bila nak jadi panel lagi?