Why they need English in Malaysia: a survey

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper reports on a study that examines the functions served by the English language to Malaysian schoolchildren. Primarily, the study focused on nine separate functions related to three broad themes which were identified from 182 students’ responses to a questionnaire. It was found that English for academic functions, such as further education abroad and improving one's knowledge, received the highest priority, while social functions, such as using English to communicate with one's family and friends, received lowest priority. The findings of the study imply that English plays an important role in the personal advancement of the individual and in national progress. However, English can exist alongside native languages such as Malay, Mandarin and Tamil as they have a role in communication among Malaysians.

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