Hello! It's Dr Sparky coming back with another topic I would like to share with you. Today, we're exploring what literacy means and why you should know how important it is, specifically English literacy. Take some time to read the article!
What is Literacy?
By definition, literacy simply means the ability to read and write. However, the truth is more than that. Under the initiative ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ by Scottish Education, literacy is defined as ‘the set of skills which allows an individual to engage fully in society and in learning, through the different forms of language, and the range of texts, which society values and finds useful’.
3 Reasons Why English Literacy is Important
An average child starts learning to read and write at three or four years old. Regardless of their age, every child needs it to navigate the world around them. It doesn’t just help them in school, it encompasses skills like comprehension, critical thinking and the ability to communicate effectively through written text, which are necessary in life. Generally, Malaysia’s literacy rate is above the 95% mark. However, the nation’s overall English literacy rate is only 27.2 percent. The Malaysian government is coming up with new plans to improve English literacy in schools recently, which is in line with the Malaysian Education Blueprint. One of the initiatives is to strengthen further the mastery of the English language among students, especially those who do not meet the minimum proficiency level. Here are 3 reasons why English literacy in Malaysia is important.
1. Navigating Daily and Social Lives
Being able to read and write means being able to keep up with current events. English is widely used in many written communications in Malaysia, and children need literacy in order to navigate the world and freely use written and text-based communication with ease.
2. Understand and Communicate with People of Different Cultures
English is the international language and lingua franca of many industries such as medicine, business, travel, information technology and many more. It is also the official language of 67 countries. Learning English opens doors to understanding cultural diversity as we communicate with people from around the world, fostering greater empathy and appreciation.
3. Creates More Job Opportunities
Many top and reputable organisations use English as the primary language of instruction. Working at these places means that we need to achieve a minimum proficiency level to communicate effectively with co-workers and stakeholders. Besides, a good command of English helps broaden our range of career prospects, especially in this time of age.
At Cambridge English For Life, our passion for almost 25 years is to build a strong foundation in our students to read, write, listen and speak in world-class English. Your child will learn in a class suited for their level so that they can progress until they have mastered the language. Start your child’s journey to English mastery today. Contact a centre near you: https://cambridgeforlife.org/centres
References
Curriculum for Excellence. Education Scotland. https://education.gov.scot/curriculum-for-excellence/
Literacy Rate in Malaysia (2010 - 2021, %) (2022, June). Global Data. https://www.globaldata.com/
Idrus, Faizah (2022, September 8) Cultivating A ‘Third Space’ to Boost Teen Literacy MalaysiaKini. https://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/635066#google_vignette
