Increased Tourist Arrivals, Foreign Investment Has Boosted Proficiency Of English In Perak - Professor
IPOH, May 29 (Bernama) -- An increase in tourist arrivals and foreign investment into Perak, along with the implementation of the Perak Sejahtera 2030 Plan, are seen as contributing factors to the increased proficiency in English among the people in the state.
Professor in the Department of English Language and English Literature, Faculty of Language and Communication, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Dr. Raja Nor Safinas Raja Harun, said that several initiatives under the plan ensure that people of various age groups in Perak can acquire good English language skills.
"The Perak Menteri Besar's Office, Yayasan Perak, and the Perak State Education Department have launched an initiative for additional reference books under the Cikgu Sarani Tuition (TCS) program, and this includes English subject and additional reference books along with tuition to improve English proficiency in Perak.
"Besides that, Yayasan Perak also conducts English courses, for example, 'Practical English Proficiency in Working' and 'Business Communication Course' for the public and state government staff," she said when contacted by Bernama today.
Raja Nor Safinas said these courses emphasize and teach participants basic grammar skills, effective communication methods, and the use of English in the workplace, and as a result, it helps people feel more confident speaking the English language.
Additionally, she mentioned that the number of international tourists visiting Perak increased by 11.9 percent in 2024, and through the 2024 Hotel Guest Survey, 970,611 foreign tourists visited the state last year compared to 867,665 people in 2023.
"When there is an influx of international tourists, the people in this state will definitely meet them, and certainly there will be interaction and communication that requires a high level of understanding so that the intended message is conveyed accurately.
"Furthermore, these foreign tourists will also visit the many viral food spots in Ipoh and go to Pangkor Island as a duty-free zone, indirectly increasing the use and mastery of English as a communication tool," she said.
Earlier, Perak was crowned as the champion in English proficiency ranking in Malaysia with a score of 585 in the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI) 2024, surpassing other states.
Kedah took second place with a score of (584), followed by Penang (583), while Pahang and Sarawak shared a score of (580), and Selangor recorded (575), showing a significant increase in English proficiency in several states, which might be unexpected by many.
In the meantime, the General Manager of Yayasan Perak, Dr. Nasreen Khanum Nawab Zadah Khan, said that one of the main factors contributing to Perak's people now speaking more English can be measured by the foreign investment entering the state.
"Many foreign companies have started coming to Perak, seeing this state as a platform or a very stable state for investment, which encourages state officials to improve their English proficiency due to many state development activities.
"So that is one of the push factors that has led state agencies and also Perak state companies to prepare their respective workforces to be able to speak English well," she said.
Nasreen Khanum also stated that under Yayasan Perak itself, they have made it compulsory for all levels of officers and executives to attend English language skills courses and subsequently offer them to other agencies.
"If international companies come to Perak and state officials cannot communicate well in English, there will be communication barriers. So far, not only agencies but also local authorities like Kampar District Council and Manjung District Council down to the grassroots have participated in this course," she said.
-- BERNAMA
