Shahril+Hajeri+&+Khairol

Dear Shahril, Hajeri and Khairol, Minor corrections to your questionnaire. I'm uploading it here.

By the way, your literature review has information that is relevant, such as abt how people take short-cuts to judge others. However, the rest do not really related to what you are doing. Perhaps, I could help by linking some articles for you. You might want to look into [|this]. This link talks about how Malay and English were the national language and later it was only Malay.

Another [|link] to look into the limited function of English and the importance of the Malay language

~Siti, 1 Aug 2011

Thanks ... I managed to read something along the way..Appreciate your concern.... I was more in showing off my synthesizing skill... My mind is everywhere... Thanks again...

Shahril 1 Aug 2011

They were all from one source. I don't think that is synthesising. To synthesise, you need to combine info from several sources. Maybe you could read the links I gave you and see what info you can combine. I give feedback on your synthesizing ~Siti, 1 Aug 2011.

Another link for you on the status of English in Asia. Click [|here]. [|This] should be interesting for you. You should read it.

try looking at [|this] too.

I think u read the one which I took from the book... the latest literature reviews were posted in here with many sources... me slightly confused.... if u dont mind... pls scroll down and look at what i've written on here... not on the .doc ...please... thank u miss..

Shahril 2 Aug 11 time 0020

**Background of the Study**
 * Title **

Workplace perceptions toward standard English use: The case of Malaysia
**Changing the attitude from just Good to Great of Government workers in using English in the workplace **

**Background**
English is a foreign language based on the quantity of exposure and usage to the language. English is spoken in Malaysia as a second language. In Government Agencies speaking Bahasa is essential but lack of implementation using English degrades certain aspects of its corporate image.

**Problem Statement **
1. Low awareness of English Language among workers especially in Government Sectors. 2. Complaints from foreigners when asking information within Goverbment Agency- Miscommunication will effect foreign investment

**Objective of the Research **
1. To study the perceptions of Government workers in Communicating in English at workplace. 2. To raise the level of English Communications among colleagues especially Malay.

**Research Question **
1. What are workers perceptions towards communicating in English at the workplace?

2.What are the barriers for the g overnment workers to communicate in English at their workplace?

**Issues**

 * Government agency consists of 80% Malay. Communicating in English is rare.
 * Miscommunication between non-malay speaking client.

**Significance of studies**

 * Able to improve their proficiency by introducing policies
 * Improve image and competitive in a corporate world
 * Improve customer service

Methodology of Data Collections

 * Simple Statistics Survey
 * Personal interviews

**Literatures**
In: [|Journal of Asian Pacific Communication 13:2]. 2003. (pp. 231–267)

http://www.esp-world.info/Articles_24/Analysing%20EL%20needs%20of%20HR%20staff%20_Sarjit%20&%20Candice_.pdf

http://library.utem.edu.my/index2.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=2896&Itemid=208

http://eprints.usm.my/9995/1/Nina_1.pdf

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">**INTRODUCTION**

<span style="display: block; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">**Background of the study**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Malaysia has recently seen a sharp decline in English language proficiency which has provoked the implementation of certain measures calculated to check this and prevent recurrence. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was surprised to find out that English was not a must pass subject for the SPM course ( Asia One, 2009). <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The decline is largely due to art backwash effect from a change implemented in the 1960s and 1970s when Bahasa Malaysia replace English as the medium of instruction in schools and as the language used for official matters. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">English is becoming the lingua franca of the modern world at a fast rate particularly in such important areas, such as “new technologies, business, tourism and entertainment, and its global dominance encourages many speakers of other languages to gain at least a working use of the language in many fields” (Wilson, 2005). Competence in English is highly prized in whatever the field of interest, and workers are aware that acquiring English language greatly increases the chances of job opportunities and promotion in the workplace. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">A recent survey conducted by the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDEC) on IT students in Malaysia reports that many employers choose not to hire local graduates because of their misplace modifier “poor command of the English language" (The Star, 12 April 2009)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Bahasa Malaysia is sturdily and irreversibly established as an official language of Malaysia, thus clearing the way for a new emphasis on the importance without posing a threat to the status of the official language in government sectors.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">In general, location and background play an important part in determining workers’ perception towards English. In certain parts of government sectors, Malaysian workers need to possess effective English language skills in order to fit their organizational demands. Therefore the ability to communicate well is essential in order to function well at the workplace.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> Perception is the process of attaining awareness or understanding of the environment by organizing and interpreting sensory information. Why perception in using English is depleting: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 72pt; text-indent: -18pt;">1. Limited exposure to the language. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 72pt; text-indent: -18pt;">2. Government consists of 80% Malays, they prefer to use their mother tongue language in everyday communication <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 72pt; text-indent: -18pt;">3. English is not the main medium (important) in many government sectors <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 72pt; text-indent: -18pt;">4. English is not emphasize or only minimum grades required to acquire a job in government agency <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 72pt; text-indent: -18pt;">5. English is merely learn it as one subject with limited class time, therefore English always describe as unnecessary subject or too <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 150%; margin-left: 72pt; text-indent: -18pt;">difficult subject making English has been taken lightly by the Malaysian

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-Objective of the study <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">(i). To study the perceptions of Government workers in communicating in English at workplace. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">(ii) To raise the level of English Communications among colleagues especially Malay.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-Significance of Study <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">The government should help promote English by essay competition, English debate, English Awareness Month.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">-Scope of Study <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">- Research Methodology

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Questionaires

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">1. Do you think your English proficiency is adequate to your job-skills? Yes / No <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">2. What are your English level according to your academic qualification ? Excellent /Good / Fair / Weak <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">3. How many percent (%) of your work is English related ? ........ % <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">4. Do you think its necessary to improve your English proficiency??? Yes / No <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">5. What are the barriers for you to communicate in English among your colleague?



<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Perception is a process by which individuals organize and interpret their sensory impressions in order to give meaning to their environment. People’s behavior is based on their perception of what reality is, not on reality itself and t he world as it is perceived is the world that is behaviorally important. Attitudes is one of the key factors in the perceiver that influence perception (Robbins & Judge, 2009).
 * LITERATURE REVIEW**

In 2005, 77.4 per cent Malay, 9.37 per cent of Chinese and 5.14 per cent of India placed in community-based government service. The number of Chinese in the civil service is 20.2 per cent in 1971, dropped more than 10 per cent in the past 35 years (Musa & Seah 2007). The high numbers of Malay in government service making high awareness of English Language a daunting task since Malay language is heavily spoken as day-to-day conversations in their workplace. The government workers may come from various spots in Malaysia (urban or rural) and may create a gap in their English proficiency skills at work.

English-medium teaching was phased out of most schools by the 1970s. As a result the economy stagnated and Malaysia needed to develop a workforce skilled in the language of commerce and technology if it was to catch up with its south-east Asian competitors (Muhyiddin Yassin, Education Minister of Malaysia). Many schools struggled from the start to deliver maths and science lessons in English, but the promise of future economic gains, and enthusiasm among parents, particularly in urban areas, for their children to acquire ­better English helped to maintain government commitment to the policy. But in more recent years few have been able to ignore an emerging skills gap between urban and rural schools as education authorities outside the major cities failed to find enough staff able to teach in English. Meanwhile, government opponents have fanned nationalist fears by claiming that Malay culture was being undermined by PPSMI (Guardian, 2009)

Illing (2001), in his report on //Wanted : skills in communication//, stated that employers now seek graduates with skills beyond the standard paper degree; this comprises decision making, teamwork and outstanding level of skills in communication. Business acumen, marketing and public relations are among other areas in the report included competencies. Getting the work done in the most effective manner is more favourable than just having the most knowledge. Graduates attaining a diverse set of skills in differing work environment have been given considerable value by employers.

In Malaysia, as in most other parts of the world, being fluent in English means a bright, future ahead; many a parent would dream of their children going off to work overseas, or starting their career at an international company, where the pay is better and there are more opportunities in terms of career advancement (Heng, 2011).

The failure of the PPSMI should not be blamed to only teachers or students. Parents play a vital role in setting a great example to their children whom later will be the leaders of the future generations. Embracing the global challenge and achieving the Vision 2020 will never be possible without substantial awareness in English Language. In contrast, the government has taken necessary measures and introduces a New Economic Model (NEM) with a radical change in its approach towards economic development which will enable the nation to reach a high income status, within reach of everyone in the country and sustainable over a long period of time. Malaysia's economy over the years has slowed down and the prospect for economic growth has weakened. Our shortcomings are preventing us from getting out of the middle income trap and growth may spiral downward if nothing is done (National Economic Advisory Council, 2010).

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: 0.5in; top: 936px; width: 1px;">Malaysia has recently seen a sharp decline in English language proficiency which has provoked the implementation of certain measures calculated to check this and prevent recurrence. According to Asia One on June 15, 2009 Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was surprised to find out that English was not a must pass subject for the SPM course. The decline is largely due to backwash effect from a change implemented in the 1960s and 1970s when Bahasa Malaysia replace English as the medium of instruction in schools and an as the language used for official matters.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: 0.5in; top: 936px; width: 1px;">English is becoming the lingua franca of the modern world at a fast rate particularly in such important areas as “the new technologies, business, tourism and entertainment, and its global dominance encourages many speakers of other languages to gain at least a working use of the language in many fields” (Wilson, 2005:334). Competence in English is highly prized in whatever the field of interest, and workers are aware that acquiring English language greatly increases the chances of job opportunities and promotion in the workplace. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**QUESTIONNAIRE**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Completed questionnaire as attached

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: 936px; width: 1px;">**Background of the Study** <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: 0.5in; top: 936px; width: 1px;">Malaysia has recently seen a sharp decline in English language proficiency which has provoked the implementation of certain measures calculated to check this and prevent recurrence. According to Asia One on June 15, 2009 Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was surprised to find out that English was not a must pass subject for the SPM course. The decline is largely due to backwash effect from a change implemented in the 1960s and 1970s when Bahasa Malaysia replace English as the medium of instruction in schools and an as the language used for official matters


 * FINAL REPORT ( STILL PENDING )**



Salam, Thanks everyone for making this possible. We will post the final report shortly in Friday 5th of August 2011. We are terribly sorry to inform that the hard-copythis report couldnt be sent to you at an earlier date. However, we attached the final report (jeng! 3x.. tanjat boboi,,,haha tanjat ... suka suka la tuh) in soft-copy to compensate our slow progress and weakness (parallel x ayat ni?).... Alhamdulillah and Happy fasting!

<span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: 0.5in; top: 936px; width: 1px;">English is becoming the lingua franca of the modern world at a fast rate particularly in such important areas as “the new technologies, business, tourism and entertainment, and its global dominance encourages many speakers of other languages to gain at least a working use of the language in many fields” (Wilson, 2005:334). Competence in English is highly prized in whatever the field of interest, and workers are aware that acquiring English language greatly increases the chances of job opportunities and promotion in the workplace.