KUANTAN: Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah is proposing a language diplomacy programme between Malaysia and the United States (US).
This would entail Bahasa Melayu teachers being sent to the US to teach the national language, while Malaysian students are sent there to perfect their command of the English language.
Speaking on behalf of His Majesty, the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah said the King in proposing the project, had asked the United States embassy in Kuala Lumpur to consider it.
“His Majesty would also like to propose a language diplomacy programme whereby not only do we send our students to learn and perfect their English in the United States, but, perhaps, you can also consider sending our Bahasa Melayu teachers to teach the language there.
“Because (Bahasa) Malay is one of the oldest languages in the world,” she said in her speech at the Pahang English Teaching Assistant Showcase here this morning.
Tunku Azizah cited the case of 15 teachers from the United Arab Emirates teaching Arabic in schools across in Pahang, where they in turn had become fluent in the local language.
Conveying Al-Sultan Abdullah’s message further, she said: “When you educate a child, you educate the whole family and community.
“That is why His Majesty has his own education project, the Menara Gading (Academy) and we hope that this project will be able work together with the ETA (English Teaching Assistant programme) and send maybe some of our students to America to learn how to speak the language and understand their customs and culture,” she said, urging the crowd not to be “katak bawah tempurung” (living under a rock).
Al-Sultan Abdullah accompanied Tunku Azizah to the event.
Thanking those who had made the programme a success, Tunku Azizah also reminded the students that despite their teachers, ETAs, supportive parents and best school principals, none of them would make a difference unless they were committed to shaping their own future.
“I truly believe that whether you want to become a scientist or a surgeon, a teacher or even the next prime minister of Malaysia, you must take advantage of every opportunity given such as the ETA programme so you can make your future bright just like Fullbright,” she joked to the audience, which included students from 14 secondary schools across the state.
The event was intended to showcase the results of student outcome of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Programme 2019 as well as to celebrate the 14 ETAs in Pahang who are ending their service this month.
Deputy Education Minister Teo Nie Ching, who was at the event, said the government would continue sending Fullbright ETAs to Malaysian schools next year.
“I am sure that we have created an English-speaking environment for previous schools chosen for this programme and we hope to continue this spirit among students for next year.
“The programme promotes not only English language learning but also cross-cultural exchange,” she said, adding that it would enable students to become sensitive and more tolerant of others.
The programme, now in its eighth year, is collaborative effort of the Malaysian and the American governments, complementing the ministry’s policy of “Upholding the Malay Language and Strengthening the English Language Policy”.
Also present were United States ambassador to Malaysia Kamala Shirin Lakhdir, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Fuziah Salleh.