Latest news with #EnglishProficiency
Malay Mail
14-07-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Your MUET band doesn't define you — Shazlin Niza Ab Razak
JULY 14 — In Malaysia, English is more than just an academic subject. It is often perceived as a marker of intelligence, a pathway to higher education, and a key qualification in the job market. The Malaysian University English Test, or MUET, has become more than an assessment. For many, it feels like a verdict. Band 5 and 5+ are celebrated. Anything below that is met with silence, sometimes even shame. MUET, or the Malaysian University English Test, is more than just a language exam. Taken by over 80,000 candidates each year, it is a key requirement for entry into local universities and is often perceived as a measure of academic worth. The test assesses listening, speaking, reading, and writing, yet many students who perform well still struggle to speak with confidence in real-life situations. Nationally, most candidates score between Band 3 and Band 4, a range that reflects developing proficiency, not failure. And yet, anything below Band 5 is often viewed with quiet disappointment. This mindset must change. MUET is a benchmark, not a sentence. It is meant to guide learning, not to define potential. But here is the truth. Your MUET band does not define your future. It is not the final word on your ability, your intelligence, or your potential. It is simply a snapshot, not the full story. Real English proficiency is not just about exams. It is about expression. About having the courage to speak, the willingness to make mistakes, and the determination to improve. I have taught English for nearly two decades, and I have seen students with Band 3 or 4 speak with more confidence and clarity than those with higher scores who remain too afraid to open their mouths. So if you received a lower band score, do not be discouraged. It does not mean you are less capable. It certainly does not mean you should stop trying. Unfortunately, we have built a culture that prioritises correctness over communication. Our students memorise essays, drill grammar rules, and rehearse oral tests like performances. But when it is time to use English in real conversations, many fall silent. Why do so many second-guess every sentence they speak? Why fear ridicule more than embracing the chance to connect with others? We have built a culture that prioritises correctness over communication. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon Many Malaysian candidates achieve impressive scores such as Band 5 and 5 plus in MUET, a testament to their linguistic knowledge. Yet those with lower band scores should not feel discouraged or afraid to speak. In fact, fluency grows with courage, not just grades. Even if you obtain a lower band, that should never be a reason to fear speaking in English. The real barrier is not the score but the mindset. We hesitate because we have been taught to avoid mistakes, when in fact, mistakes are essential to learning and growth. The truth is, the only way to improve our English is through consistent practice by speaking regularly, regardless of our MUET band score or how good we think we are. This is a crucial truth that Malaysian learners must come to recognise. A Band 3 student who dares to speak in English is often making greater strides than a Band 5 plus candidate who remains silent out of fear. Strong academic scores alone do not ensure meaningful progress. Confidence is not a privilege reserved for top scorers. It is nurtured through consistent effort, perseverance and a readiness to embrace mistakes. Every spoken attempt, no matter how imperfect, brings you one step closer to fluency. Perfection is not a prerequisite for improvement. What truly matters is the courage to keep speaking English, regardless of your MUET band score. So do not let your MUET score shrink your voice. Why let a number hold back your potential? Why stay silent when your ideas are worth hearing? Speak anyway. Speak with heart, even if your grammar falters. It is perfectly okay to make mistakes because you are learning, and every slip is part of the journey toward improvement. Speak with intent, even if you must pause to find the right word. Speak because you deserve to be heard, no matter what your band is. Your voice matters, and it starts with the courage to use it. English should not be a barrier that holds anyone back. It is meant to be a bridge, a means to express your ideas, your vision, and your story to the world. A test score alone should never have the authority to silence your voice. So go ahead. Ask the question. Join the conversation. Use the language you have learned and let it evolve with you. You are not failing. You are learning. Because in the real world, it is not your MUET band that will open doors. It is your voice. * The author is the English Language Lecturer at the Centre for Foundation Studies in Science (PASUM), Universiti Malaya. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump commends Liberian president's English during lunch with African leaders
Donald Trump questioned Liberian President Joseph Boakai about his English proficiency during a White House lunch with African leaders. Trump asked Boakai where he learned to speak English 'so beautifully', despite English being Liberia 's official language. President Boakai chuckled in response and confirmed he was educated in Liberia. Boakai, who has held top roles in both public and private sectors, was born in a rural village and pursued education in Monrovia, according to his official biography. Trump has previously made similar remarks regarding the English-speaking abilities of other international figures.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
ELP Rule Threatens 10% of Truckers, Risks Carrier CSA Scores
The English Language Proficiency (ELP) rule, now in effect, could significantly reduce trucking capacity. For a decade, large truckload carriers have embraced regulations like the ELD mandate and Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to limit market capacity, but effects were typically short-lived. The ELP mandate, enforced by a DOT Executive Order, requires commercial drivers to demonstrate English proficiency or face out-of-service (OOS) violations. FreightWaves estimates 10% of CDL holders may lack sufficient proficiency, based on insurance executive insights. Will carriers comply with enforcement? DOT and law enforcement officers can issue OOS violations to non-compliant drivers, a major deterrent. When DOT officers or law enforcement deem a commercial driver or vehicle unsafe, often due to hours-of-service breaches, vehicle defects, improper load securement, or driving under the influence, they issue OOS violations. The DOT now includes English language proficiency as grounds for placing a driver out of service. These violations appear on a driver's Pre-Employment Screening Program (PSP) report for three years and affect a carrier's Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) score for two years. Poor CSA scores raise insurance costs and lower shipper rankings, discouraging carriers from risking violations. Although the ELP mandate did not create new laws, as English proficiency requirements preexisted, it empowers DOT and law enforcement to place non-compliant drivers out of service, reversing Obama Administration guidance to overlook such violations. Like a credit score, a CSA score influences insurance rates and shipper partnerships. Shippers often query CSA scores in RFPs and onboarding to assess reliability, deprioritizing carriers with eroding scores by shifting freight to safer alternatives, lowering them in routing guides, or excluding them from contracts. Non-compliant carriers face severe consequences. A driver under a load placed out of service cannot move cargo until compliant, risking service failures and cargo theft from stranded loads. Brokers overlooking such carriers will face disruptions, prompting shippers to avoid them to protect cargo and ensure reliability Capacity is close to being in balance with volume, with outbound tender rejection rates sitting at 6.77%, in spite of weak truckload demand. The post ELP Rule Threatens 10% of Truckers, Risks Carrier CSA Scores appeared first on FreightWaves. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
English Language Proficiency Standards Could Drive Rates Higher
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is intensifying enforcement of English Language Proficiency (ELP) standards, signaling major operational changes for the trucking industry. As of today, June 25, 2025, drivers who fail to meet these requirements face immediate grounding, potentially straining trucking capacity, increasing tender rejections, and driving up national truckload rates. FreightWaves estimates that 10% of truck drivers currently fall short of the Department of Transportation's (DOT) English proficiency standards, highlighting the potential for widespread impact. Market Dynamics The FMCSA's directive is already reshaping the industry. FreightWaves' SONAR data shows a 6% tender rejection rate, indicating a balanced market. However, stricter enforcement threatens this equilibrium. Trucking companies are revising hiring policies to prioritize candidates who meet ELP standards. Stricter enforcement is likely to reduce the pool of qualified drivers, shrinking trucking capacity. This could increase tender rejections, giving carriers more leverage to select loads and influencing the tender rejection index. Effects on National Truckload Rates Reduced trucking capacity is expected to push national truckload rates higher. SONAR's National Truckload Index currently stands at $2.27 per mile. Due to limited truck availability, rates are likely to follow as tender rejections rise. Carriers will likely use tightening conditions to adjust pricing to offset costs tied to compliance. Strategic Preparations Fleet operators should act proactively. Providing language training for non-English-speaking drivers can ensure compliance and maintain operations. Staying updated on FMCSA policies through resources like the ELD & Safety page is essential for adapting to changes. As ELP enforcement intensifies, shippers should prepare for potential capacity shortages in the coming months. The post English Language Proficiency Standards Could Drive Rates Higher appeared first on FreightWaves.
Japan Times
24-06-2025
- General
- Japan Times
Japanese students' English proficiency keeps improving
The English proficiency of public junior high school and senior high school students in Japan continues to improve, an education ministry survey for fiscal 2024 showed Monday. The proportion of junior high school third graders with English skills equivalent to Grade 3 or higher in the country's Eiken proficiency tests stood at 52.4%, up by 2.4 percentage points from the previous fiscal 2023 survey. The share of senior high school third graders with English skills equivalent to Grade Pre-2 or higher Eiken levels was up 1.0 point at 51.6%. The government aims to raise the both figures to at least 60% by fiscal 2027. The ministry has conducted the survey every year since fiscal 2013, except fiscal 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest survey was based on data for students who had a qualification or score from external certification tests such as Eiken and those who were judged by their school teachers to have equivalent English language skills as of December 2024. By prefecture and ordinance-designated major city, the city of Saitama marked the highest figure for junior high school third graders with Grade 3 or higher Eiken levels, at 89.2%, followed by Fukui Prefecture, at 79.8%, and the city of Fukuoka, at 65.9%. The figure exceeded 50% in 37 of the 67 prefectures and municipalities covered in the survey. The city of Niigata logged the lowest figure, at 34.5%. For senior high school third graders with English skills equivalent to Grade Pre-2 or higher Eiken levels, 21 of the country's 47 prefectures hit a share of over 50%. Fukui Prefecture had the highest figure, at 61.2%, followed by Tokyo's 60.5% and Kyoto's 60.2%. Kumamoto Prefecture marked the lowest figure, at 42.4%. The share of senior high school third graders with Grade 2 or higher Eiken levels came to 21.2%, up by 1.4 points. The survey also showed that the share of English teachers with skills equivalent to Grade Pre-1 or higher rose by 1.4 points to 46.2% at junior high schools and grew by 1.5 points to 82.2% at senior high schools. The ministry said that there are correlations between teachers' English proficiency and that of students. "We want to give detailed support to municipalities that have challenges" in improving teachers' English skills, a ministry official said.
