ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETENCE AMONG SECURITY PERSONNEL IN FACULTY OF MEDICINE UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY MARA
1. CHAPTER 1
1.1. INTRODUCTION AND THEORITICAL FRAMEWORK
Faculty of Medicine is a new faculty in UiTM , located in Selayang, Sg Buloh Selangor and Telok Intan, Perak. Consist of 500 staff ( majority are medical doctors and administrative staff) and 400 students. Faculty of medicine UiTM operates internationally with the official language is English and majority of the academic staff are professors from foreign countries and from local. Students are also using English as communicative English and for their studies ( medical ). Administrative staff is also advisable to use English as a medium while on campus when communicating or speaking.
The security personnel who are working with UiTM must have basic qualification Sijil Rendah Pelajaran (SRP) , but now many of them are Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders. How ever, for security duty, UiTM has not stated as a policy ; that is qualification in the English Language is not a compulsory requirement. Because of that, not many of them able to speak or write using English Language well.
As time goes by, at faculty of Medicine, majority of the staff especially medical doctors, students who are studying and majoring in medical or even visitors who are coming to our campus are using English language as their spoken language. This situation is now become a culture and every staff including security personnel must able to speak and communicate using English.
UiTM is now playing a vital role to be one of the world class universities and must posses a world class standard that is using L2 ( English language ) as its L1. English language is now a medium and official language of communication in Faculty of Medicine UiTM. The use of English at the faculty reflects the UiTM’s image in the eyes of the public.
However, not many security guards are able to communicate using the English language. Therefore, this study intends to look into the matter; what to be done in making sure all the staff is at par with others on campus, not just in identifying their capability but also to identify weaknesses and strength in planning the suitable programs for them.
1.2. PROBLEM STATEMENT
Presently Faculty of Medicine UiTM stressed on the need to have a workforce that can fulfill UiTM inspirations, that is to achieve world Class University. Security department is working very hard in educating all of our security personnel towards achieving this inspiration by telling them to speak using English language with their colleagues, other staff and students at the university.
Realizing the importance on English language in Faculty of Medicine UiTM, the management must have efforts to improve the capability of security personnel in using English language correctly. Therefore, the study is to look into the capability in using standard/proper English language, problems faced in pronouncing words/grammatical error.
1.3. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
This study is carried out with the following objectives, taking into consideration some aspects in the problem statement:
i. To identify the level of competence of security personnel in using English language when they communicate or speak
ii. To identify steps taken to improve English language among security personnel
iii. To identify the pattern of English language used when communicating with others
1.4. RESEARCH QUESTIONS
i. What level of English competence they posses when communicating
ii. What steps taken to improve English language among the security personnel
iii. What pattern of English language used when communicating
2. CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2.1. THE IMPORTANCE OF ENGLISH AT WORK FOR THE SECURITY PERSONNEL AT UiTM
UiTM is using English language as the medium in the university in teaching and also as a spoken language among staff and students on campus. There are no exceptions for every security personnel; they also must use English at their workplace. The demands in performing duty functions increased in Faculty of Medicine UiTM because English language is functioning as a language in giving instructions.
Teaching visitors/ visiting professors are from local and overseas, product suppliers ( mostly Chinese) will definitely use English language when visiting UiTM. Visitors must be from all over the country or from other countries. When they are on campus , they will look for security personnel if they have problems. The security personnel must be able to answer all the questions and help them whichever they could and by doing so, they have no choice but to speak in English language. They cannot use Malay language because foreigners don’t understand Malay language.
Students ( major in Medical ) are told to use only English language in their conversation either in the classroom or outside of their classroom not just among them but also when talking to staff or visitors. English is a language of instruction. When they will come and look for security personnel when they have problems, they’ll talk using English language, Security personnel must help students to solve their problems and definitely they must talk to them in order to help them. When talking to these students, the security personnel must understand clearly what they are saying so that the students will understand.
Other than that, computers are used widely in the office. They use computers in record keeping, writing reports etc. The medium used is English language. Security personnel who are using computers must understand English language well, to be able to operate the software.
2.2. FUNCTIONS OF ENGLISH IN MALAYSIA
In Malaysia English is a medium of communication and instruction and acknowledged at the universities as the official language. It’s recognized as business expansion, image building of the universities.
Evans and St. John (1998) suggest two particular aspects of English to business communication, which can observed in Malaysia and they conclude that as illustrated in the following diagram:
2.3. ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETENCE
Generally, companies need potential staff who able to speak and write in both Bahasa Malaysia and English. A person who demonstrates high ability when dealing and communicating with customers and visitors have brighter future for promotions.
The Minister of education in 2000, highlighted in the newspapers
“……employers did not just look at one’s qualification
but also factors like personality, potential, English
Proficiency and experience”
Realizing the importance on English language, organizations have taken efforts or initiative to conduct courses or programs to increase the language competence among staff. These programs just to motivate staff, inculcate confidence in speaking using English language.
2.4. THE STUDY OF ENGLISH TO FACE COMPLEX PROBLEMS IN FUTURE
The acquisition if English shows one’s intellectual and experiences in thinking and communication skills among staff. This is important for everyone to be prepared for more complex and worldwide problems in the future. Everyone shoulder responsibilities in helping society with complex problems , educate society to read and view materials appropriate to their abilities and interests ( Rosli 1995:3)
2.5. PROMOTES EXCELLENCE IN ENGLISH
English is the most important foreign language in Malaysia and used extensively and practically in all aspects of daily life. As for now has been a major motivating factor to gain information in Information and technology, Internet and Information age, everyone is aware of the vital need to be literate in English in order to access the data worldwide.
2.6. THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEEDS IN MULTINATIONAL COMPANIES
Personnel of multinational companies are expected to possess good English language skills, hence the requirement of communication skills and the ability to speak and write effectively in English are given prominence in the sector (Maimunah Aminuddin, 2005). UiTM as part of this system need to have personnel that able to enhance their communication skills and handle their work intensively.
According to Brian Ridge (2004), English has become a very widespread and superficially powerful language . So, English has all the key characteristics that make it likely to remain the dominant worldwide language.
3. CHAPTER 3
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
3.1. RESEARCH DESIGN
This study will involve only quantitative design. The questionnaire will be designed and distributed among the security personnel working on campus at Faculty of Medicine UiTM Selayang, Sg Buloh and Telok Intan campuses. The data will be analyzed using graph and chart.
3.2. SAMPLE SIZE
Target sample will consist of 70 of the security guards which will be picked up at random in UiTM Selayang, Sg. Buloh and Telok Intan. However, not all security guards can be met at one time because they work in shift work.
3.3. INSTRUMENTATION
Questionnaire shall be distributed to the security guards in UiTM Selayang, Sg. Buloh and Telok Intan, by hand, because they are working at the same place. Each questionnaire shall be attached with written envelope. Respondent will send back using self address envelope to surveyor . I will make each respondent tick/answer each question.
3.3.1. The instrument will be used:
3.3.1.1. Questionnaire
3.4. DATA COLLECTION
This study will be carried out at UiTM Selayang, Sg. Buloh and Telok Intan distribute questionnaire and collect back. The duration for distributing/collecting questionnaire will be done in one month. Security personnel are working on shift and one day able to meet 7-8 of them.
3.5. DATA ANALYSIS
3.5.1. Data collection:
The data from the questionnaire will be treated on frequency. The score of the test will be evaluated and analyzed to identify suitable programs or courses for them
3.6. RESEARCH ETHICS
The data from respondent will be treated as confidential. Permission will be asked to carry out research.
3.7. CONCLUSION
Based to the findings, proper programs can be arranged like competency tests to improvise their capability. All the security personnel must attend all the programs that would be arranged to develop competency. All of them will understand all the words and can expressed/pronounce them correctly in conversations , use the language confidently.
References:
H. M. Faizal, (2004) English Language and the language of development: a Malaysian Perspective, Jurnal Kemanusiaan, 1. Pp. 107-120. ISSN 1675-1930
2. Ridge, B. (2004). Bangsa Malaysia and Recent Malaysian English Language Policies. Journal of Current Issues in Language Planning, Vol.5,No.4, p. 414-417.
3. Nurugesan, V. (2003) Malaysia Promotes Excellence in English , ESL Magazine, March/April 2003
Kaur, S., C.M. Candice, (2009) Analyzing the English language needs of human resource staff in Multinational companies, English for Specific Purposes Issue 3 (24), Volume 8
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