‘Speak freely – mistakes and all – to build English confidence'
That is the first step that Ebright Public Speaking Academy managing director Kevin Khoo Kuan Xiong ( pic ) believes Malaysians must take.
'If they have the right environment, they will speak without fear,' he said when met at the Star Education Fair 2025 at the IOI Grand Exhibition and Convention Centre here yesterday.
He said that environmental factors like discouragement from peers are among the reasons why students are reluctant to speak the language.
'Whenever they try to use English, they are condemned or sarcastically mocked.
'That's why we have to get rid of this mentality in the first place,' he said.
He stressed the importance of encouragement in helping students overcome their fear of speaking English.
'When we encourage students to speak, we shouldn't nitpick every single word they use.
'Let them speak naturally, and then we can try to fine-tune their grammar. Doing so will improve their self-confidence,' he said.
Khoo also advised parents to give their children a platform to shine.
'That means enrolling them in courses, classes or platforms where they have the opportunity to speak in public.
'That will train and boost their confidence in using the language,' he said.
Ebright students Dhiya Humaira and Seshasri Rajan, both 12, agreed that having a platform to practise the language is essential.
Dhiya said it helps to speak more and read storybooks.
'Other than that, you can ask your friends for help.
'Try communicating with them in English, and read signboards or anything written in English,' she said.
Seshasri also recommended joining English courses and competitions such as Scrabble and public speaking.
'I've joined many competitions. I've also learnt from online resources and my mum. My English teacher, especially, helps me improve my English,' she said.
The duo, along with team member Sathes Rajan, 13, also an Ebright student, are winners of the World Scholar's Cup Kuala Lumpur round recently. They will be heading to the global round in Bangkok, Thailand, next month.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rakyat Post
9 hours ago
- Rakyat Post
Casper Joins The Civil Service? Meet Putrajaya's Spooky New 'Recruit'
Subscribe to our FREE A series of photos and videos circulating online has painted question marks over the heads of many Malaysians as it shows an alleged 'haunting' taking place inside an office building in Parcel C, Putrajaya. Based on a post uploaded on social media platform Threads, the 'apparition' is not a product of artifical intelligence (AI), and emphasised that it's a real ghost. One of the images in the post shows a man in a poorly lit hallway holding what looks like a broomstick, performing a 'cleansing'. The second image is a photo of a photo taken on a phone screen where a person dressed in white and long black hair covering their face can be seen standing in the office hallway. Meanwhile, one of the two videos in the post shows the side of a building, presumably the office exterior, with what looks like lit candles or torches in two windows. In the second video, a man is seen sprinkling water with his hands while walking through the office corridor — which is typically seen in local exorcism rituals — and a hanging exit sign swings back and forth on its own. Threads users weigh in on the alleged office haunting Many took to the comments section to give their guesses and share their doubts about the post's ghostly content. One user even joked and said that the 'ghost' has better hair than hers. A Threads user shared his own paranormal encounter while working at a service counter in the middle of the night. 'My experience in working at a service counter until late at night, there are 'things' that come and disturb you. Sometimes they just harmlessly disturb you, and those who are used to it can just ignore them. These things will become aggressive if we do something unusual, such as moving something that has always been in that place,' the user said. On the other hand, many expressed their doubts and called the incident a fake one with edited photos. Some also pointed out that the sign was hanging just under an air vent, which would explain why it's swinging so much. Another individual commented on the picture of the 'pontianak', saying that its clothes are too clean, when it should look worn. Meanwhile, Kosmo! reported a source claiming that the supernatural event occurred 'It's said that there was a tree behind Complex C that was cut down. It was its home,' the source said. What do you make of this 'paranormal activity?' Is it a real ghost? Or just an elaborate prank? Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Malay Mail
17 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Results for 2025 SPM repeat exam out tomorrow, candidates can check online or via SMS
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 — The results of the 2025 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia Repeat (SPMU) examination will be out tomorrow, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE). It said that a total of 10,049 candidates had registered to sit for the repeat examination at 186 examination centres nationwide. 'Candidates can check their 2025 SPMU examination results from August 21 to August 27 between 10am and 6pm,' it said in a statement today. Candidates can check their results online via the website or through the short messaging service (SMS) by typing SPMU followed by the identification card and index number and sending it to 15888. 'The MOE congratulates all candidates on their 2025 SPMU examination results,' it added. — Bernama
Malay Mail
19 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Revisiting classical Malay is not nostalgia — Amir Rashad Mustaffa
AUGUST 20 — According to William Shakespeare, 'what is past is prologue'. This serves as a poignant reminder that history lays the foundation for what lies ahead. Just as students around the world study Shakespeare and Chaucer to understand the evolution of English thought, culture, and language, so too should Malaysians turn to the literary and linguistic treasures of Old and Classical Malay. Now in an age where we are zooming forward with technology, globalisation, and modern language trends rapidly reshaping the way Malaysians communicate, there is an urgent need to look in retrospect, reflect on the roots of our national language, and reconnect to our past. Revisiting the inscriptions of Old Malay and the rich manuscripts of Classical Malay is not merely an academic exercise; it is a crucial step toward preserving and understanding Malaysia's cultural identity. By re-engaging with these earlier forms of Malay, we not only honour our heritage but also ensure that future generations inherit a language anchored in history and meaning. Old and Classical Malay, found in inscriptions or manuscripts dating as far back as the 7th century and flourishing during the height of the Sultanate of Melaka circa the 15th century, serve as the linguistic fingerprints of our civilisation. These historical forms of Malay are not just predecessors of the language that we speak today, but are the repositories of our shared knowledge as inhabitants of the beautiful land we now lovingly know as Malaysia. Each text, whether engraved in stone like the Old Malay Telaga Batu inscription, written on tree bark like the Old Malay Tanjung Tanah manuscript, or copied in Jawi script like the Classical Malay hikayat, offers clues about how our ancestors thought, governed, traded, and worshipped. This is not just language; it is memory carved into time. Understanding the language that our ancestors had once spoken reveals how it evolved over centuries. It provides a map of historical contact with Sanskrit, Arabic, and later, Portuguese and Dutch influences, among others. Manuscript Hikayat Hang Tuah kept at the National Library of Malaysia. — Photo from Through it, we learn how Malay society adapted foreign concepts into its own lexicon and worldview without losing its identity. For instance, the shift from Sanskrit-influenced Old Malay to Arabic-influenced Classical Malay shows not only linguistic evolution, but also the religious and intellectual transformation of the region. Words such as budi and derma from Sanskrit, as well as hikmat and adab from Arabic, carried nuanced meanings that informed the values of belief, governance, education, and conduct for centuries. The National Language Act rightly prioritises Bahasa Melayu as a symbol of unity. However, this symbol is only as strong as the foundation it rests on. A deeper knowledge of Old and Classical Malay, poetic forms like pantun and syair, and legal documents like Undang-Undang Melaka can enrich our appreciation of the language we speak today. More importantly, reinvigorating interest in Old and Classical Malay can inspire a new generation of Malaysians to take pride in their linguistic heritage. At a time when young people are rapidly absorbing global pop culture, studying our ancient texts can re-anchor us in local wisdom and identity. Unfortunately, the study of what we might even call the Malay classics is often confined to the ivory tower or perceived as niche. We need greater integration of classical texts and linguistic history in school curricula, museums, and digital platforms. For example, by digitising, translating, and popularising these texts, as done by Dr Annabel Teh Gallop from the British Library, we can allow for greater reach and access to these materials. Let students interact with Hikayat Hang Tuah not just as a story, but as a lesson in how our ancestors used metaphors, allegory, and high-register Malay to express complex emotions and ideas. As Malaysia continues to define itself on the global stage, understanding the linguistic architecture of Old and Classical Malay reminds us of who we are, where we come from, and what we must protect. Our language is not just a tool for daily conversation; it is a living legacy that binds us to the past and guides us into the future. Studying the classical forms of Malay is not about nostalgia. It is about reclaiming intellectual sovereignty, deepening cultural understanding, and passing on to future generations, the rich inheritance of the land we call home. The land speaks through stone, manuscript, and rhyme. It is time we listen! * Dr Amir Rashad Mustaffa is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Malaysian Languages and Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya, and may be reached at [email protected] ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
