Project READ: An Added Step to Improve Proficiency in English

EWRF is highly committed in improving English language proficiency among Tamil school students by encouraging the reading habit among them. No one can deny that reading helps sharpen a child’s mind. It also creates room for ideas and thoughts to grow.

EWRF, in collaboration with Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Berhad, provides a helping hand to students at five Tamil schools to improve their standards of English through a program called “Project Read”. This program is carried out for year four students at SJK(T) Kajang, SJK(T) Rinching, SJK(T) Bangi, SJK(T) Serdang and SJK(T) Seaport. It receives overwhelming responses from students, teachers and parents.

Mrs Kamaladevi, Headmistress of SJK(T) Seaport

English has been the third language for Tamil school students after Tamil and Bahasa Melayu. Only 120 minutes are allocated for English for year four students in Tamil schools. That duration is not enough to teach English effectively to students. Hence, the effort by EWRF is greatly appreciated as Project Read for year four students is a weekly affair and is carried after school hours between March to September.

Since a majority of my school children come from low income families, this program provides them an additional exposure in order to improve their English proficiency level. Besides reading a variety of English books which have been provided by EWRF, the students are also facilitated by my school teachers during the program. I can see that the participating students show greater interest to learn English now. I hope the passing rate in English will further increase from the current rate (57.1%) in two years time when this batch of students sits for UPSR in 2009. I record my gratitude to EWRF and Carlsberg for running this program for my school children. Not forgetting, for the reading materials and lunch as well.

Mrs A. Kavitha, Teacher of SJK(T) Kajang

Project Read at SJK(T) Kajang is held on Saturdays from 9.30am to 12.00 pm. During the class, the students on their own initiatives take the books out from the cupboard and start reading without needing my presence and instructions unlike classes during school hours. This shows that they like to read and want to improve themselves in English. But some students do not attend the program regularly due to transportation problems as their parents work on Saturdays. Thus I urge parents to do the necessary so that their children could fully benefit from this program.

Sugashini Ganesan, student of SJK(T) Seapor

My father works as a Security Guard. My mother is an Operator. I am the only child in my family. I don’t speak English at home. I have only one English book at home thus I don’t read much in English. Now I am happy that I am provided additional hours to learn English. Through Project Read, I learn a lot of new words and moral values by reading a variety of books. I also get a chance to clear whatever doubts that I have in English with my teacher. If I do this consistently, I am sure that I will be able to speak good English and get better marks in the examinations.

Mr Munusamy, a parent

We as working parents do not have adequate time to teach our children at home regularly. That is why I send my children for extra classes like this so that they can catch up with their studies. Furthermore most of the children just stay at home on Saturdays without doing anything significant as some parents work on Saturdays. It is better to send children to school where they can learn a lot of things especially ways to improve their proficiency in English. My only hope is that, the children will benefit greatly from the extra classes.