The appropriateness of the CEFR to assess Malaysian university students’ English language proficiency

Abu Sufi, Mohd. Khairul and Idrus, Faizah and Zubairi, Ainol Madziah (2022) The appropriateness of the CEFR to assess Malaysian university students’ English language proficiency. In: International Language Symposium 2022 (ILS 2022), 27th-28th September 2022, Virtual. (Unpublished)

	PDF (Certificate) - Supplemental Material Restricted to Registered users only Download (1MB) | Request a copy
	PDF - Presentation Restricted to Registered users only Download (767kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Realising the importance of English language in Education, the CEFR-aligned English language curriculum was introduced by the Malaysian Ministry of Education for the primary and secondary level English language education in 2017. With the introduction of CEFR into the nation, Malaysian higher education students’ English language proficiency are assessed based on the universally recognised standards of CEFR. Realising that the CEFR Can Do statements and standards are not prescriptive, any attempt to use and adapt them in the local contact of higher education in Malaysia, need to be done based on well informed decisions. Therefore, this study embarked on to investigate the local perspectives and views of English language teachers and practitioners in the utility of the CEFR illustrative descriptor scale to assess English language proficiency of tertiary level students. The study employed a qualitative research design where 10 experienced academics at Malaysian higher educational institutions provided their views through semi structured interviews based on a four-cyclical process of the language management theory (LMT). The findings revealed that the CEFR was met with positivity among the academics who participated in this study. Further findings provided both positive and negative insights to the utility and the teaching and learning of writing at the tertiary level of education. The findings from this study conclude that the CEFR could be used at Malaysian higher educational institutions for its English language teaching, learning and assessment. Notwithstanding, the negative perception points towards the need to locally contextualise CEFR into the Malaysian higher education system so that it mounts comfortably with the aims of academics who aspire to produce students who are proficient to function in the English language. Keyword: CEFR, higher education, assessment, reform, language management theory

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Slide Presentation)
Additional Information:	6205/100894
Uncontrolled Keywords:	CEFR, higher education, assessment, reform, language management theory, English Language proficiency
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General) P Language and Literature > PE English
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Centre for Languages and Pre-University Academic Development (CELPAD) > English Language Division Kulliyyah of Education > Department of Language & Literacy Centre for Languages and Pre-University Academic Development (CELPAD) Kulliyyah of Education
Depositing User:	Mohd Khairul Abu SUfi
Date Deposited:	10 Jan 2023 12:09
Last Modified:	10 Jan 2023 12:09
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/100894

Actions (login required)

View Item