Love Thy Language

This article was written a year ago, when I first entered UIA. Though it’s outdated, hope it proves useful to some people out there! :-)


Stepping foot into the IIUM Centre for Foundation Studies inevitably results in culture shock for some, especially to those who have never dared to speak a word in English without their Bahasa Inggeris teacher within ten feet of them.

Why? Because all lectures here are conducted in English. If you don’t understand a word of English, or are only able to understand English when it’s spoken v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y and. With. Pauses. Between. Each. Word, the lecturer might as well be speaking in Elvish. Within minutes through a lecture, you’ll probably be wishing you were back in your room, blissfully sleeping. Or, if you’re the type who thinks ahead, you’ll be worrying about how to cope once you start learning your core courses.

But have no fear! I am about to share with you some simple, everyday tips on improving your English outside of your classrooms.

Tip 1: Read
Everybody reads, whether it’s encyclopaedias, comics, or even the subtitles of some crappy Malay drama, but does everybody actually pause to take in the way a sentence is structured, or the way all those tenses are used? Forget about buying a textbook -- Grammar, Comprehension, Essay-Writing can all be picked up easily just by curling up on your sofa and reading some fluffy chick lit. Not only do you enjoy yourself while you read, but you’re learning how English is used at the same time. Talk about killing two bookworms with one shotgun! Keep a dictionary beside you so that you can find the meanings of all the new vocabs you come across. And, if you don’t know which novels to start with, please get in touch with me; I have a whole list I’d be more than happy to recommend to you.

Tip 2: Write
Try writing a short story or essay on anything that interests you. Refer to any novel you have to see how you should begin a paragraph, how dialogue is written, whether you should use past tense or present tense, etc. Let the creative juices flow and your imagination to get a hold of you. When you’ve got the hang of it, try developing a style of writing. In my opinion, you don’t have to use bombastic words to write a good essay; it’s the way you write that engages the reader. But of course, correct grammar and a wide vocabulary helps a lot, so practice! Have a friend or whoever that is good in English check your essay afterwards, so that you know where you went wrong or right!

Tip 3: Speak English!
You won’t go anywhere if the only time you speak English is in classrooms. Think about it; you’ve been learning English almost as long as you’ve learnt Bahasa Malaysia, so why have you mastered one so successfully, while the other makes you cringe in embarrassment? If people have been laughing at your mangled English all your life to the point that you want to give up speaking English altogether, I have one word for you: Don't. Never let people look down on you just because your spoken English isn't perfect -- there is rarely a person who does have perfect English, anyway. Too ashamed to speak English to others? No problemo; you can practise with things that definitely can’t make fun of you, like the mirror, your teddy bear, or even the cats that are strategically placed all around campus for your daily needs. (However, do be sure you're alone when doing this, otherwise you'll be labeled The Freak Who Talks To Inanimate Objects for the rest of your life on campus). Once you’ve plucked up enough courage, you can try having conversations in English with those closest to you, like your roommates or your siblings. I’m sure they’ll be more than willing to join in, whether to improve their own English or to help you out.

So, that’s all there is to it from me. I’d love to elaborate more, but I don’t want you to be late for class, or waste some of your precious nap time! Remember; never hesitate to ask for help when you need it. After all, what are friends and lecturers for?