Likas Assemblyman Junz Wong agreed that students must be dedicated to speaking in the language to be proficient in the language.

Human Rights Advocate Daniel John Jambun chipped in that it helps to immitate those who habitually speak in English in order to be proficient in the language. “Many of our students can understand English, they can even score A in the examinations in the language, but can’t speak it,” said Jambun who is President of the UK-based Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (Bopim). “English Day, every Tuesday, gives an opportunity to all to imitate those who habitually speak English.”

Chin, resuming, agreed that students will also learn English quicker if they have an opportunity to use the language. “Students who studied abroad speak English very well because they were immersed in an environment where they spoke the language all the time.”

“Teachers play an important role here. This is not easy. Our teachers, including English language teachers, lack training. This problem should be addresed as well as part of English Day. Quality is lacking among English language teachers as well.”

Chin, using his school as an example, said the students did better in English compared to other languages but can’t speak the language. “Even the students who do well in the language can’t speak it.”

“Taking the examination in English and communicating in the language are two different matters. Hence, the English Day every Tuesday is a step in the right direction. It gives an opportunity for all to immerse themselves in the language for several hours with those who are proficient in the language.”

Junz added that studying English must not just be for the sake of passing the examinations in the language. ” Learning English for a few hours every week in the classroom won’t do. The students must immerse themselves in the language as well.”

He recalled that when he was studying in Singapore, his school would make one student from each class to speak spontaneously in English for five minutes, every Friday, during the weekly school assembly. Over 52 weeks, every student in every class had a chance to speak in English for five minutes during the weekly school assembly. “This is one of the innovative ways to strategise and ensure that students become proficient in the English language.”

He agreed the civil service should emulate the SED and observe the English Day every Tuesday. He does not say whether the Sabah Assembly should take a leaf from the SED as well and have an English Day. At present, although assemblypersons are allowed to speak in English, very few of them do. Those who can’t speak English complain that they can’t understand most of what’s said in English or misunderstand.

The Association of Sabah National Type Chinese School Management Committee president Ben Lim Kiat Kong said that creating an English-speaking environment was important. He said that he studied at Kota Kinabalu High School, a Chinese school, but picked up English speaking skills in England where he went for further education. “I once visited a cafe at a school in China run by students. The cafe does not serve customers unless they speak in English.”

Institute Sinaran Principal William Pan cautions against making fun of those students who make mistakes when speaking English. “Students who come to Sinaran from mission schools are generally more proficient in English, ” said Pan who runs pre-university including diploma courses. “Those from Chinese and other schools are relatively poor in the language.”

He called for the Dual Language Programme (DLP) to be extended to all schools instead of being confined to just a few schools.