Do white-collar workers in the Malaysian workforce really need to learn grammar to upskill or reskill themselves in the current challenging economic environment? Yes, they really do.
White-collar workers in Malaysia cannot just brush off the need to learn grammar if they are really serious in getting recognition from their employers, peers or organisations which are on the lookout for talent. As the economic scenario in some sectors in Malaysia become even uncertain, it is mandatory for Malaysian white-collar workers to remain relevant in a global economic environment which places a lot of emphasis on people to be proficient in spoken and written English. Malaysians who think that they do not need to be proficient in spoken and written English, which are the Transmission Skills, run the risk of dropping out of the rat race.
As a trainer, I observe that many adult Malaysians struggle to speak and write English clearly, correctly and confidently. Although these adult Malaysians possess degrees or Masters in their respective disciplines, most of them still don’t understand the basics of the English language. Hence, I always mention about the need for adult Malaysians to understand how the English language really works.
In order for these adult Malaysians to understand how the English language really works, they must spend time, effort and money (in some instances) to learn grammar which is geared towards the use of Sentence Patterns and Sentence Structures in spoken and written English.
In the training field (face-to-face and online) in Malaysia, I still come across many professionals (white-collar workers) who struggle to write in Standard English. Most of them have this foolish notion that they just need to speak English and that written English (in the Standard Form) is not necessary for them at all. Therein lies their error of misjudging the whole situation. It is their way of acknowledging their inability to write in Standard Written English, highlighting why Malaysian white-collar workers need English grammar skills to thrive in a challenging economy.
A professional, who is a part of the white-collar staff, cannot claim to be a true professional if he or she struggles to write in Standard English. If that professional possesses a degree or Masters, then that person must speak and write in Standard English proficiently if that professional studied for the degree or Masters in the medium of instruction called English.
In the Malaysian context, these professionals exhibit a lot of confidence in spoken English. Can most of them exhibit a lot of confidence in Standard Written English as well since they have obtained their degrees or Masters in the medium of instruction called English? Most of these professionals in Malaysia can’t write in Standard English.
As such, these same professionals in Malaysia are ready to scoff at any attempts which bring their inability in Standard Written English to the forefront. They will hide behind such statements:
- I hardly write in Standard English at my workplace,
- My spoken English alone is enough for me to communicate with my peers at the workplace or in the MNCs,
- I hire someone to write a detailed report and business letter for me,
- I just copy and paste from the millions of websites,
- I am not a writer and I don’t need to write in Standard English at all; and,
- Now, I can use ChatGPT to write on any subject for me.
What these professionals really don’t understand is their inability to write in Standard English can expose their inability to others in their profession when they are called upon to deliver their professional contribution when the going gets really tough. Eventually, things and events have a way of unfolding for the worse, rendering many professionals (white-collar workers) jobless at any time. Remember the pandemic which hit the world in January 2020.
These professionals are not required to be writers but they are required to write in Standard English if they intend to make a mark in their professions.
English Grammar (A-3 day Training)
For that reason, I have developed a 3-day programme, English Grammar, which can help white-collar workers to understand how Sentence Patterns and Sentence Structures can help them to present their ideas in Standard Written English forcefully. In this 3-day programme, trainees learn Traditional Grammar, Vocabulary, Sentence Patterns and Sentence Structures which can help them write in Standard English clearly, correctly and confidently.
There is no need for professionals to hide their inability in Standard Written English anymore. This is another reason why Malaysian white-collar workers need English grammar skills to thrive in a challenging economy. Join this 3-day programme on English Grammar and learn how to write in Standard English.