Measuring Malay Language Fluency Among Foreign Workers Based on the CEFR Model

Abstract

Many studies in Malaysia have reported communication problem or a lack of fluency among foreign workers in Malay or English in the workplace. These issues have been examined using both qualitative and quantitative approaches across various employment sectors such as construction, services, and manufacturing. Overall, previous studies have consistently shown that the level of language fluency among foreign workers is weak. However, there is a lack of research that measures foreign workers’ fluency based on actual language use. Therefore, this study aims to measure the level of Malay language proficiency among foreign workers based on the CEFR framework. A total of 10 informants were interviewed through semi-structured open-ended interviews. The conversations focused on the informants’ work and personal environments. The study was conducted in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor. The findings indicate that the informants can be classified into two proficiency levels only: basic (A1 and A2) and intermediate (B1). At the basic level, informants were able to use basic vocabulary, respond to simple questions, and frequently made grammatical errors. Ar the intermediate level, informants were able to interact using simple sentences and appropriate discourse markers, although typical grammatical errors were still present. These findings provide preliminary insights into the Malay language proficiency of foreign woerks, particularly those from Bangladesh and Pakistan.