LETTERS: English proficiency is very important for those looking for employment.
In a letter published on Jan 21, Dr A. Soorian urged us to emphasise English, to either "use it or lose it".
The language plays a vital role in getting a job offer from an employer.
Malaysian Employers Federation president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said having good English proficiency allows employees to expand their knowledge and develop a better career path.
However, many Malaysians still have a poor grasp of English despite learning it for 12 years from primary to secondary school.
Teachers and lecturers often encourage students to use the language and improve their proficiency. But it is not an easy task. Without the willingness and motivation to learn, improvement is hard to achieve.
The importance of English has grown significantly as more and more jobs require proficiency in the language.
Many youth understand the value of learning the language, yet are hesitant to use it in public as they can't comfortably speak and write in English.
They are aware that being proficient in the language can help them make a good first impression and improve their chances of getting the job they are applying for.
Many companies consider good English proficiency as a major criterion when hiring.
According to the Malaysian Employers Federation's 2021 salary study involving executives and non-executives, it was found that English is among the top five job skills that employers look for.
The value and relevance of English in the employment market cannot be overstated.
It is the language of the business world and most job interviews are conducted in the language.
NURULADILAH MOHAMED
NURUL AMILIN RAZAWI
Academy of Language Studies, Universiti Teknologi Mara, Terengganu
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times