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Why Malaysian Educational Institutions Are Keen On English As A Medium Of Instruction?

16th January 2023

English in the education system of Malaysia is a hot topic and there have been a lot of arguments about whether schools and universities should be using English or Melayu Bahasa as the medium of instruction. Even though this is debatable, we cannot deny the fact that rural Malaysians are at a disadvantage as their English proficiency is not even close to average.

Students coming from a privileged background or going to private schools have a decent command of English. This is because they get the chance to mingle with international students and are taught by well-qualified teachers to get a high-quality education.

Since the interest in using English as a medium of instruction is increasing day by day, let us look at why universities are putting emphasis on EMI and how effective this move is.

Why Malaysian Schools & Universities Are Keen On Using EMI?

The factors for the growth of EMI vary from country to country. However, in higher education, the move is established at the grassroots level. Here are three practical reasons why schools and universities in Malaysia are adopting EMI.

1. Boost English Language Fluency

The first and foremost reason to adopt this is to develop English language proficiency in students. The thought is that by teaching selected courses in English, students will garner more exposure and acquire more opportunities to use the language. This will indirectly help them to enhance their English proficiency.

2. Status Of English As An Academic Language

English in the academic world is considered the lingua franca. Since the majority of academic publications are written in English, educational institutions are of the thought that it would be better to teach academics in a similar language. This will enable the students to develop a love for the language and understand the resource materials easily.

3. Improve The Economic Status Of The Country

This move is an obvious strategy to improve the economic conditions of the country. By teaching academic subjects in English, they will be able to attract more international students which will help them to increase the revenue of the institutions and in turn contribute to the overall economy.

How Effective Is The Use Of English Language As The Medium Of Instruction?

Despite the surge in using English as a medium of instruction, there is very little evidence in terms of research that shows the effectiveness of this move. This is certainly a major concern as it becomes tricky to determine whether or not EMI is actually achieving the learning objectives and improving students' English.

A study found that the average IELTS score of the students taking part in the language proficiency test only rose by 0.5% after using EMI. Universities claim that doing this will allow the teachers and students to have more exposure to the English language, but the fact that an intensive English language program will achieve the same results in just ten days cannot be declined.

At this point, EMI might not seem as effective as a traditional language study. However, bigger gains have been achieved in the reading and listening proficiency of the students. But this is not unsurprising, since EMI focuses on reading more texts and listening to lectures. 

There are also studies that show students can grasp more content when they are learning in their first language. This is because in a country like Malaysia, students are not having advanced English capabilities, and hence coping with this move might result in massive dropouts.

What Can Be Done Differently?

Students and teachers have very different viewpoints when it comes to approaching EMI. Students when enrolling in programs to improve their English proficiency, expect a degree of English language support. Thus, universities need to offer a clear rationale for the EMI programs and make a detailed outline of what the students will learn and how much English will be used in the classrooms.

Additionally, some students felt that teachers who used a mix of the native language and English while teaching actually lack English proficiency. This misconception should be cleared by introducing the idea of 'global Englishes’ at the start of the semester. They should be aware of the fact that an EMI teacher might not be someone with a native or a native-like accent.  
 

Learning Never Stops!

While there are many factors to be considered while implementing EMI in Malaysia, the success of EMI cannot be guaranteed. And even though the rationales are understandable, policymakers should have a thorough understanding of the needs of educators and students. However, if you want to teach English in Malaysia, consider pursuing a 120-hour certificate online TEFL program to establish the kind of support required for English learning.

Looking for earning a TEFL/TESOL certification to teach English globally? If yes then contact us at 6531631068 or 66812628832. You can send us an email at asiancollegeofteachers@gmail.com too! Happy TEFLing!